Our newly-ordained monastics: photos, video and more...from Sep 19th-20th at our hermitage

[Tathālokā Bhikkhunī]

May this news brighten your Monday evening, or any time that it reaches you ~

Dear Venerables, dear Dhamma friends,

It's a joy to write to you from the forest amidst the soft rain...

We had an amazing week this last week, with our first rains ending the long drought on the 18th which was my birthday, and then in the sweetly fragrant and freshly washed forest, under the full moon on the 19th, first with the sāmanerī pabbajjā (going forth into the saffron brown robes and undertaking the ten precepts) for our dear long time friend Thāvirā (formerly Tracy Van Zandt); and the full bhikkhunī ordination of four great beings: Ven. Ajahn/Ayyā Brahmavarā, Ven. Anuviditā of Anenja Vihara Germany and founder of Santi Jānāti Costa Rica, Ven Tisaranee founder of Sirisampanno Kloster Germany, and our very own homegrown Ven. Kaccāyana of Dhammadharini California.

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It has been a real treasure and joy to spend the Vassa together at Aranya Bodhi this year with this harmonious, sincere and dedicated group, and i am so happy for Dhammadharini to serve its purpose in hosting such training and supporting these dedicated beings for ordination and entry into full membership, with full rights and responsibilities, in our global Bhikkhu-Bhikkhuni Mahā Sangha.

It was a special joy to realize that with these bhikkhuni ordinations, both the UK bhikkhuni sangha, and the German Bhikkhuni Sangha, have now come into existence.

lead photo plus these two photos thanks to friend Achala

I would like to take a moment to rejoice in and bless the efforts and dedication of every single person and being who has offered the foundational support, bit by bit, in so many beautiful ways, that has made it possible for us to offer this here in our NorCal forest. And to rejoice with all those who offered support especially for these ordinations this year, whether offering the robes, the flowers, or the ordination day lunch, or the canopies, mats and honey buckets, or offering their muscle power or brain power as volunteers and dedicated supporters.

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Most of all, i rejoice with those who have ordained, in them being able to take this important step to which their hearts have called them in the Buddha's way.

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And i rejoice with our ordaining bhikkhuni sangha from Dhammadharini and Aloka Vihara Forest Monastery, our bhikkhuni messengers from Dhammasara Monastery, and the ordaining bhikkhu sangha from Bodhinyana Monastery. I also deeply appreciate our Bhantes and Ajahns from ABS Temple in Sacramento, Buddhi Vihara in Santa Clara, Abhayagiri Monastery in Redwood Valley, and Wat Buddhanusorn in the East Bay, and Ajahn Brahm live on Zoom, who graced us with their blessings and teachings on this extremely auspicious occasion.

It is a great thing to be able to receive the Buddha's inheritance to us fully, and it is a great thing to be entrusted and able to pass it on to the next generations.

--At the very end of this email, you will find links for videos and photos of the ordination day.-- 

A few hours after the ordinations, which were held on the 2605th Founding Anniversary of our Bhikkhuni Sangha (per classical Theravada counting), i was requested to give an honorary presentation for the Maha Bodhi Society of India's International Bhikkhuni Day webinar on "The Significance and Challenges of Bhikkhuni Sangha: Past, Present and Future." I was asked to present on "The History of Theravada Bhikkhuni Sangha in America." If you're interested, you can watch the International Bhikkhuni Day webinar here on YouTube (@40:27).

Soon after the ordinations, per Bhikkhuni Vinaya, we brought our newly ordained monastics on two days of Covid-safe day-trip pilgrimages to the north to Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in Redwood Valley, and to the south to Wat Buddhanusorn in the San Francisco Bay.

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Now back in the forest again, we quiet and return to our Vassa-time practice exploring Cittānupassa and the exalted states in these little huts and forest trails beneath the tall redwoods.

The work of our hearts is pressing, the work of the Path calls, the suffering of the world is great, the need for the Dhamma profound. May we individually, and all together as one great community, do what needs to be done -- kataṁ karaniyaṁ -- with the greatest of lovingkindness.

Peace in Dhamma to all beings, all things,

with blessings of the Triple Gem,

Ayya Tathālokā

༺☸☸☸༻

The one who's mind, both day and night 

Takes delight in harmlessness,

Who has lovingkindness for all beings—

for them there is enmity with no one.

Yassa sabbamahorattaṃ ahiṃsāya rato mano;

Mettaṃso sabbabhūtesu veraṃ tassa na kenacī ti. 

— the Buddha, Maṇibhadda Sutta 

Connected Discourses of the Buddha SN 10.1.4

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Recordings and images from the ordination day -

Parts 1-4 are YouTube videos recorded by friend Marlai Ouch.

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3LsJYq3BrM&t=867s
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaUwNO8I39k
Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRfkcBiSp6M&t=54s
Part 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEaRvaD7zVQ&t=20s

 

Livestreams from Dhammadharini and Bodhinyana.

Zoom livestream of Sept 19th Bhikkhuni Sangha ordination programs at Aranya Bodhi (by Dhammadharini Monastery YouTube channel): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUI-7EGXPIs&t=552s 

Zoom livestream of Sept 19th (20th) Bhikkhu Sangha part of Bhikkhuni Ordination at Bodhinyana Monastery (by Bodhinyana Talks YouTube channel): https://youtu.be/h5Wb0qORdjg

Links to the Facebook photo albums posted by friends that have been shared in this message: 
1. https://www.facebook.com/varuni.d/posts/10160186858197923
2. https://www.facebook.com/dhammadharini/posts/221442456680491
3. https://www.facebook.com/apple.daoruang/posts/10216975665898535
4. https://www.facebook.com/tathaloka.theri/posts/10219399460404984
5. https://www.facebook.com/tathaloka.theri/posts/10219390670105232