Reflections on the year, from the board of Dhammadharini's support foundation

[Dhammadharini Support Foundation Board]

Dhammadharini Reflections on 2019

As this year is coming to an end, the Board of Directors of Dhammadharini Support Foundation would like to offer a reflection on the accomplishments at Dhammadharini. 

Before we share these extraordinary moments, we feel it’s important to review our journey over the last three years (2016-2019). Susie (Srisakul) Kliks took the leadership as president of Dhammadharini Support Foundation in 2015. This was a key turning point as the search for a monastery property began and resulted in the purchase of our Penngrove monastery property in April 2016, and the opening of Dhammadharini Monastery in July of that year.

This major step forward dictated our need for a facility management director, as well as a new treasurer capable of overseeing the repair and improvement of the property to meet the needs of a growing monastic community, guided by effective financial analysis of our commitments to the monastery mortgage and maintenance of Aranya Bodhi Hermitage. Annaneia Poder stepped up to be our competent Facilities Director followed by Chanaka Ekanayake, CPA, as Treasurer in 2017.

During this time, we have come a long way in developing our Dhammadharini Monastery in Penngrove: as a residence for growing numbers of monastics and aspirants, and a Dhamma Hall for teaching and practice of the lay community with the monastics, while also maintaining Aranya Bodhi Hermitage for monastic retreats and forest practice. 

We’ve sought and received guidance from professionals and developed administrative, financial, and communication tools towards sharing a common voice with you, our dedicated supporters, and outward to those interested in learning about Dhammadharini. Our monastic leaders forged ahead with their important and essential tasks of training new monastics and aspirants, conducting ordinations, sharing Dhamma teachings with the public, and participating in and advocating for international collaboration for the Theravada Bhikkhuni Sangha in revival. Ayya Tathaloka made teaching and research visits to Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka (where a sister monastery was founded with her help), together with teaching in Australia and New Zealand. In mid-December 2019 Ayya T will join an international mission to Cambodia dedicated to reviving the Bhikkhuni Sangha there.

We are most grateful to all the previous Dhammadharini Support Foundation board members and dedicated supporters of Dhammmadharini and all their contributions over these years who created the possibility we now have realized. In 2019, Dhammadharini:

1. Played a key role in the 11th Global Buddhist Conference in Berkeley, with meditations and teachings by Ajahn Brahm and other teachers;

2. Solidified our long-term lease on the Aranya Bodhi Hermitage property;

3. Increased monastics, anagarikas and aspirants to an all-time high of 18 this past Vassa;

4. Hosted important teachers and visitors including Ayya Phap Hy Dhammananda, Sayadaw U Jagara and Bhante Sujato, and first Khmer bhikkhuni Ven Mettajivi;

5. Supported printing and distribution of the first bhikkhuni Dhamma Dana book, the anthology Let the Light Shine, and Bhikkhuni Patimokkha Fourth Edition;

6. Celebrated one of our best attended Kathina’s ever at Dhammadharini Monastery;

7. Repaired the winter storm-damaged roads and bridge at Aranya Bodhi Hermitage;

8. Completed renovations of  anagarikas’ and aspirants’ lodgings at Dhammadharini Monastery;

9. Raised funds for replacing the monastery roof (this will be completed within the next few months); and

10. Paid down our monastery’s mortgage by $33,000 since 2018.

All of us came to the Dhamma in different ways. Some of us were graced with being Buddhist from birth in our home countries, and others came to know the Dhamma through personal exploration. We all understand and support the greater truths of the Buddha’s Path as we experience it within ourselves, and we are very fortunate to have this opportunity, here, in our own backyard with Dhammadharini. Furthermore, it is a women’s monastery, and we all know that without our moms we would not have had this opportunity! One way to show gratitude to the sacrifice our moms made for us is through this opportunity to practice now, to offer Dana, and to be here in this moment.

As we celebrate our successes in 2019, please reflect upon the future and the sustainability of this great endeavor! We encourage each and everyone of our supporters to continue to visit Dhammadharini Monastery and Aranya Bodhi Forest Hermitage to experience Dhamma. 

For your convenience, we have provided several ways to continue supporting our monastics by providing their requisites. Please see the enclosed card with donation options. 

We wish you all a very successful upcoming 2020 and look forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely,
Dhammadharini Support Foundation

Susie (Srisakul) Kliks President

Annaneia Poder Director of Facilities

Chanaka Ekanayake Treasurer

Dhammadharini’s Dana Devas Pledge Form

Your timely pledge makes it possible for the Dhammadharini support foundation to provide the requisites of life for our bhikkhuni sangha. May the Bhikkhuni Sangha put down deep and well-grounded roots! 

Our goal is to raise enough in monthly pledges to fully fund lodgings, food, medicine, and the basic operating cost of Dhammadharini Monastery and Aranya Bodhi Hermitage. You may set up your one-time or recurring donation here:

By Network for Good

Secure online donations can be made via DHAMMADHARINI SUPPORT FOUNDATION through Network for Good. The Network for Good donations can only be made by USA residents 

Click here to make a donation through Network for Good

By PayPal

Online donations through PayPal can be made through your debit card linked to your bank account, most major credit cards, or through your PayPal account. PayPal donations can be made internationally from any country. Our email for international PayPal donations is Dhamm...@gmail.com.

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By mail

Checks or money orders may be made payable to "Dhammadharini" and posted to:

DHAMMADHARINI SUPPORT FOUNDATION
6791 Sturtevant Drive
Penngrove, CA 94951, USA

By Your Bank’s Bill-Pay Service

Many financial institutions offer a Bill Pay service. A payment can be sent in the amount you indicate. Your bank mails a check to the payee in 4-7 days. Contact your financial institution to verify the services they offer.

To create a donation in Bill Pay to support the Dhammadharini Bhikkhuni Sangha, you will need the following information:

Payee:	Dhammadharini
Address:	DHAMMADHARINI SUPPORT FOUNDATION 6791 Sturtevant Dr. Penngrove, CA 94951, USA
Phone:	+1 (707) 583-9522

You may send a brief note to dhammadhari...@gmail.com to let us know that you are joining our "Dana Devas", or to ask for assistance in setting up your online payment.

Thank You

[Dhammadharini Support Foundation Board]

Oops, the link in this letter for making a PayPal donation to Dhammadharini was broken! Here is a corrcted link

You may send a brief note to dhammadharini.treasurer@gmail.com to let us know that you are joining our "Dana Devas", or to ask for assistance in setting up your online payment.

Thank You