Greetings from the Sakyadhita Conference
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Dhammadharini
Jan 11, 2013, 6:06:09 AM1/11/13
to dhamma...@googlegroups.com, Dhammadharini-Board Google Group, Friends of the Hermitage
Dear friends,
--
I am forwarding this message to you from Venerable Adhi. I would also like to send photos but I won't be able to do so until I can get access to a computer. Will follow up with more info when I get access. With metta, Shari
Hello, everyone-
The 13th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women is held in Vaishali (Bihar) India, January 5-12, 2013
Sakyadhita, Daughters of the Buddha, the world's leading International organisation of Buddhist women, is an alliance of women (and men) committed to transforming the lives of women in Buddhist societies.
About 600 participants came from 32 countries to attend. As Christie Chang, President of Sakyadhita Commented: "We are here to remember how the Buddhist nuns' sangha started, to remember Mahaprajapati and the achievements of the nuns, and how this lineage managed to sustain itself for so many years in so many different places, and now we're bringing them back, nuns from all round the world to the place where it all began."
Venerable Karma Lekshe Tsomo mentioned on the first day of the conference that as Buddhist nuns we have few resources, power or prestige but this puts us closer to the poor of the world, and means we can really work at the grass roots and close to the ground. For myself, I have been very inspired by how much deep transformation and change arises from these conferences which are organised on a shoestring budget with a skeleton crew and in the midst of third world infrastructures. The deep dedication and brilliance of those who gather together at conference after conference at different countries all round the world means something very magical happens even in the midst of often difficult conditions. I think for myself and many others who participate, the conferences have been deeply transformative, given us the chance to meet personally and talk with great women leaders: bhikkhuni and lay who we have been inspired by, greatly changing our vision of what is possible in the world.
Also, by hearing each other stories, we can see how no ones story is easy or without great obstacles, but much change can be possible over time with deep dedication, wisdom and a good amount of patience and endurance.
This is now my 4th Sakyadhita Conference, and the lessons, visions, encounters and experiences that I have had at the conferences have substantially shaped my monastic life. I attended my first Conference while I was a struggling Mae Chee in Thailand, and I remember those four days at that time as being incredibly uplifting and inspiring, especially coming from a context where women were largely invisible and passive, being immersed in a context where there were so many intelligent, strong, eloquent female leaders, and where it was possible to discuss openly, freely and intelligently many of the issues I had struggled with alone.
The next conference I attended was in Vietnam, at a time I had left my monastery and was feeling deeply shaken by the ramifications after the Perth Ordination. It was so encouraging me at that time to spend time with those such as Venerable Karma Lekshe Tsomo and Venerable Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, to make friendships with Vietnamese Bhikkhunis, and to be surrounded by thousands of Bhikkhunis and to feel the true strength and power of the Bhikkhuni Sangha.
Then there was the conference in Thailand, and now here in Vaishali. To some degree the incredible has become the everyday for me, so it has been wonderful to share the experience with Shari and to relive what it is like to be at this conference for the first time: when everyone one sits by has the most incredible life stories, and where there are so many top scholars, leaders, artists and pioneers gathered together from all over the world. I think in my best dreams I couldn't come up with a context that was more inspiring.
Sakyadhita, Daughters of the Buddha, the world's leading International organisation of Buddhist women, is an alliance of women (and men) committed to transforming the lives of women in Buddhist societies.
About 600 participants came from 32 countries to attend. As Christie Chang, President of Sakyadhita Commented: "We are here to remember how the Buddhist nuns' sangha started, to remember Mahaprajapati and the achievements of the nuns, and how this lineage managed to sustain itself for so many years in so many different places, and now we're bringing them back, nuns from all round the world to the place where it all began."
Venerable Karma Lekshe Tsomo mentioned on the first day of the conference that as Buddhist nuns we have few resources, power or prestige but this puts us closer to the poor of the world, and means we can really work at the grass roots and close to the ground. For myself, I have been very inspired by how much deep transformation and change arises from these conferences which are organised on a shoestring budget with a skeleton crew and in the midst of third world infrastructures. The deep dedication and brilliance of those who gather together at conference after conference at different countries all round the world means something very magical happens even in the midst of often difficult conditions. I think for myself and many others who participate, the conferences have been deeply transformative, given us the chance to meet personally and talk with great women leaders: bhikkhuni and lay who we have been inspired by, greatly changing our vision of what is possible in the world.
Also, by hearing each other stories, we can see how no ones story is easy or without great obstacles, but much change can be possible over time with deep dedication, wisdom and a good amount of patience and endurance.
This is now my 4th Sakyadhita Conference, and the lessons, visions, encounters and experiences that I have had at the conferences have substantially shaped my monastic life. I attended my first Conference while I was a struggling Mae Chee in Thailand, and I remember those four days at that time as being incredibly uplifting and inspiring, especially coming from a context where women were largely invisible and passive, being immersed in a context where there were so many intelligent, strong, eloquent female leaders, and where it was possible to discuss openly, freely and intelligently many of the issues I had struggled with alone.
The next conference I attended was in Vietnam, at a time I had left my monastery and was feeling deeply shaken by the ramifications after the Perth Ordination. It was so encouraging me at that time to spend time with those such as Venerable Karma Lekshe Tsomo and Venerable Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, to make friendships with Vietnamese Bhikkhunis, and to be surrounded by thousands of Bhikkhunis and to feel the true strength and power of the Bhikkhuni Sangha.
Then there was the conference in Thailand, and now here in Vaishali. To some degree the incredible has become the everyday for me, so it has been wonderful to share the experience with Shari and to relive what it is like to be at this conference for the first time: when everyone one sits by has the most incredible life stories, and where there are so many top scholars, leaders, artists and pioneers gathered together from all over the world. I think in my best dreams I couldn't come up with a context that was more inspiring.
--
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