"Living the Dhamma Life in the Way of the Noble Ones" - Celebrating the Pabbajjā of Sāmanerī Ariyā Dhammajīvī
❧ Dhammadharini Monastery
Blessings of the Buddha, Dhamma & Sangha
Dear Venerables & Dhamma friends, some good news to brighten your day ~ On this full moon this past Friday November 15th, our long-time friend and supporter, Upāsikā Dr. Marlai Ouch, received sāmanerī pabbajja (novice ordination) at Wat Meangkolvorn in Santa Rosa, and has joined us here with the Dhammadharini community.
Marlai, who has now received the name Sāmanerī Ariyā Dhammajīvī, "Living the Dhamma Life in the Way of the Noble Ones,” has been a long-time friend and supporter of Dhammadharini. Tathālokā Therī has served as her bhikkhunī mentor for the last seven years as she has worked tirelessly in support of reviving the Cambodian Bhikkhuni Sangha.
On Friday, she took the first step towards joining the Sangha herself. That morning, she shaved off her hair, surrounded by friends and family and assisted by the Bhikkhuni Sangha.
Headshaving
That afternoon, she donned the saffron-brown "banner of the arahants" kāsāya monastic robes, and undertook the ten sāmanerī training precepts.
Receiving her new robes
She undertook training commitments (nissāya) with her senior bhikkhu mentor and preceptor, Venerable Bhikkhu (Bhante) Chandara Ñāṇadīpako Mahā Thero, of Wat Meangkolvorn in Santa Rosa, California.
Undertaking Pabbajja with Bhante Chandara Mahā Thero
That evening, by candlelight as the full moon rose, she undertook nissāya with Tathālokā Therī as bhikkhuni mentor (bhikkhunī nissāyācariyā), with the blessings of our Dhammadharini bhikkhunī sangha, in our Dhammadharini Monastery Dana Sala Abbūḷhasalla Sīmā “The Barb-removed”.
Undertaking nissāya with Tathālokā Therī
This was followed by a time for blessings on Zoom from friends around the world. You may see the recording of that evening program here.
These verses from the Itivuttaka's Sīlasampanna Gāthā inspired her monastic name "Ariyā Dhammajīvī," in the lineage of, and blessed by her senior Khmer bhikkhunī Dhamma sisters, for whom likewise North American has been their second home, Ayyās Mettajīvī Bhikkhunī and Dhammānusārī Bhikkhunī.
“Pāmojjakaraṇaṁ ṭhānaṁ, etaṁ hoti vijānataṁ;
បាមោជ្ជករណំ ឋានំ ឯតំ ហោតិ វិជានតំ
Yadidaṁ bhāvitattānaṁ, ariyānaṁ dhammajīvinaṁ.
យទិទំ ភាវិតត្តានំ អរិយានំ ធម្មជីវិនំ។
Te jotayanti saddhammaṁ, bhāsayanti pabhaṅkarā;
តេ ជោតយន្តិ សទ្ធម្មំ ភាសយន្តិ បភង្ករា
Ālokakaraṇā dhīrā, cakkhumanto raṇañjahā.
អលោកករណា ធីរា ចក្ខុមន្តោ រណញ្ជហា។
We offer the following English translation for concordant chanting with the Pāli, which you can hear at the end of this time of post-ordination blessings:
This is a state creating joy for those who know—
the way that those who cultivate themselves grow
as Noble Ones who live the Dhamma life.
They illuminate true Dhamma, with words creating light—
radiant heroic sages of vision and insight,
who leave behind the battlefield, abandoning all strife.
ម្នាលភិក្ខុទាំងឡាយ អរិយសាវ័ក ជាអ្នកដែលបានត្រាស់ដឹង ពោលគឺនូវជីវិតដ៏ខ្ពង់ខ្ពស់តាមធម៌ ដូចជាអ្នកប្រកាសពន្យល់ធម៌ល្អ អ្នកបង្កើតពន្លឺ អ្នកប្រាជ្ញបរិបូណ៌ដោយភ្នែកដែលឃើញ។ អ្នកដែលបានបោះបង់ការខូចខាត។
As our Bhikkhunī Ovadācariya Venerable Nivitigala Sumitta Thero so aptly said:
"These inspiring gāthās from the Itivuttaka’s Sīlasampanna Sutta beautifully capture the essence of those who walk the noble path and embody the Dhamma in their lives. The imagery of illuminating the true Dhamma as “makers of light” resonates deeply, reminding us of the transformative power of living with integrity and wisdom.
It is a call to cultivate the qualities of joy, insight, and clarity through the practice of sīla (ethical conduct) and the Dhamma. These verses inspire us to become sources of light in the world, brightening the path for ourselves and others while abandoning harm and delusion.
May we all strive to embody the spirit of these noble ones—living the Dhamma, dispelling ignorance, and bringing light to the hearts of all beings."
Echoing the words of the most venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi:
"In this new stage of her life, may she illuminate her own life with the light of the Dhamma, bring glory to the Buddha Sāsana, and serve as an inspiring model of renunciation, wisdom, and loving-kindness for all her Cambodian students and the larger Buddhist community here in the U.S. and also in Cambodia."
And the good Dhamma words of Bhante Kusala addressed to Sāmanerī Ariyā Dhammajīvī:
"Your unwavering dedication to the Triple Gem, and your tireless support of the Bhikkhu & Bhikkhuni Sangha; these are profound acts of merit, bringing benefit to countless beings.
On this auspicious occasion of your Sāmanerī Pabbajjā, may you be blessed with strength, wisdom, and inner peace, as you embark on this sacred journey.
May your commitment to the Dhamma, and the legacy of Sanghamittā Therī, serve as a beacon of inspiration for others.
I offer my heartfelt blessings and prayers for your ordination. May this important step bring you ever closer to liberation, with loving kindness."
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We have made a slideshow of photos from the day, accompanied by chanting of the blessing for new Samaneri Dhammajīvī, we welcome you to watch that here. We have a playlist of videos for Samaneri Dhammajivi’s pabbajja, including well-wishes from fellow monastics.
For those who would like to offer something useful to Samaneri Dhammajīvī, there are still a few useful items remaining to be offered on the list of useful gifts. "Anumodana!" to everyone who has offered something!
May she have success in her noble aims and efforts through her cultivation and training in the Buddha's ennobling Noble Eightfold Path in the way of the Ariyas.
Sādhu sādhu sādhu!
Jill Lippitt
Blessings of the Buddha, Dhamma & Sangha
Dear Venerables & Dhamma friends, some good news to brighten your day ~ On this full moon this past Friday November 15th, our long-time friend and supporter, Upāsikā Dr. Marlai Ouch, received sāmanerī pabbajja (novice ordination) at Wat Meangkolvorn in Santa Rosa, and has joined us here with the Dhammadharini community.
Marlai, who has now received the name Sāmanerī Ariyā Dhammajīvī, "Living the Dhamma Life in the Way of the Noble Ones,” has been a long-time friend and supporter of Dhammadharini. Tathālokā Therī has served as her bhikkhunī mentor for the last seven years as she has worked tirelessly in support of reviving the Cambodian Bhikkhuni Sangha.
On Friday, she took the first step towards joining the Sangha herself. That morning, she shaved off her hair, surrounded by friends and family and assisted by the Bhikkhuni Sangha.
<Headshaving 1.jpg><Headshaving 2.jpg>
Headshaving
That afternoon, she donned the saffron-brown "banner of the arahants" kāsāya monastic robes, and undertook the ten sāmanerī training precepts.
<With robes outside.jpg><With robes.jpg>
Receiving her new robes
She undertook training commitments (nissāya) with her senior bhikkhu mentor and preceptor, Venerable Bhikkhu (Bhante) Chandara Ñāṇadīpako Mahā Thero, of Wat Meangkolvorn in Santa Rosa, California.
<Requesting pabbajja.jpg><After putting on robes.jpg>
Undertaking Pabbajja with Bhante Chandara Mahā Thero
That evening, by candlelight as the full moon rose, she undertook nissāya with Tathālokā Therī as bhikkhuni mentor (bhikkhunī nissāyācariyā), with the blessings of our Dhammadharini bhikkhunī sangha, in our Dhammadharini Monastery Dana Sala Abbūḷhasalla Sīmā “The Barb-removed”.
<Samaneri Dhammajivi Pabbajja Commemorative with Bhikkhuni Sangha at Dhammadharini-1 (reduced).jpg>Sharing blessings from the Bhikkhuni SanghaWe have made a slideshow of photos from the day, accompanied by chanting of the blessing for new Samaneri Dhammajīvī, we welcome you to watch that here. We have a playlist of videos for Samaneri Dhammajivi’s pabbajja, including well-wishes from fellow monastics.
For those who would like to offer something useful to Samaneri Dhammajīvī, there are still a few useful items remaining to be offered on the list of useful gifts. "Anumodana!" to everyone who has offered something!
May she have success in her noble aims and efforts through her cultivation and training in the Buddha's ennobling Noble Eightfold Path in the way of the Ariyas.
Sādhu sādhu sādhu!
<Robe and bowl.jpg>
--Dhammadharini Monastery6791 Sturtevant Dr., Penngrove CA 94951tel or text: +1 707.583.9522email: dhammadhari...@gmail.commore info on the web @ dhammadharini.net
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