Join Dhammadharini to celebrate Sanghamitta Day, Sunday Dec 19th
❧ Dhammadharini Monastery
The full moon night of December 18 is one of the most important days of the year for women in Theravada Buddhism. It is the lunar anniversary of the arrival of the arahant Bhikkhuni Sanghamitta Theri on the shores of the beautiful isle of Sri Lanka, bringing the light of Dhamma, a sapling of the sacred Bo-tree from Bodhgaya, and the lineage of full ordination for women from the Indian homeland out into the world. Some say that all of the Bhikkhuni Sanghas in our world today trace their lineage back through their foremother Sanghamitta.
This year, we honor Sanghamitta Day by speaking with some of today’s pioneer Bhikkhunis who are growing the Bhikkhuni Sangha in Europe. Almost a century after monastic Buddhism was established at Das Buddhistische Haus in Berlin and The London Buddhist Vihara, both founded in the 1920s, now, in 2021, there is finally a quorum of Bhikkhunis in Germany to form a Sangha, thus restoring the full Sangha of Bhikkhus, Bhikkhunis, Upasikas and Upasakas.
PROGRAM:
- 8:30 - 10:30 am - Morning panel discussion with the European Bhikkhunīs about bringing the Bhikkhuni Sangha to Europe. The venerable Bhikkhunis who will be joining our panel are listed below.
- 1:00 - 2:30 pm - Afternoon Sutta Study of selections from the Saṁyutta Nikāya, with Ven. Sobhana Therī, Ven. Brahmavara Bhikkhunī, and Ven. Kaccayana Bhikkhunī. This was the collection of teachings, in the Buddha’s own words, that supported stream-entry and stream-winning for and inspired Queen Anulā of Sri Lanka and the first 1000 women of ancient Sri Lanka to seek the full Bhikkhuni Ordination, which brought Sanghamitta Theri and the Bhikkhuni Sangha from India to Sri Lanka back in the 3rd century BCE.
- 7:00 - 9:00 pm - Sanghamitta Day Full Moon Night program with Ven. Bhikkhunī Tathālokā Mahātherī (details forthcoming)
We are delighted that these Bhikkhunis will be joining us for the morning discussion:
Please register on our website to join us!
Triple Gem Blessings to you and all your loved ones
We are also happy to let you know that the construction of the dana sala pavilion is nearly completed at Dhammadharini Monastery! If all goes according to plan (and weather permitting), we will inaugurate the pavilion with a ceremony on Saturday, December 18th.
All Dhammadharini programs are offered as a freely given gift of Dhamma. If you wish to help support the community, information may be found here. Information will soon be shared about projects for the Holiday Giving season.