☸ Returning to Heart Beginnings with the December 28th Bhikkhuni Ordination in Thailand

[Tathaaloka Bhikkhuni]

Dear Venerables, dear Sangha friends,

Metta-ful greetings. I hope this New Year finds you well, in good spirits, inspired and encouraged by the Dhamma and making real progress in what is of real meaning and value to you.

Many of you have written or spoken to me, asking for or sharing followup to my Jan 6, 2015 "It Begins Here in Our Hearts ~ Bhikkhuni Ordination in Thailand" post in the months since last year's first public Theravada bhikkhuni ordination.

Some of have expressed the thought, now that a public ordination has happened, it's pretty much a done deal; everything is now OK, the hurdle has been surmounted; the work over. Not quite so fast.  Others, especially those who read the Bangkok Post, or who can read Thai and follow the Thai news, have thought the opposite, when reading articles or phrases like "clergy reaffirms ban on bhikkhuni ordination." 

In actuality, the reality is far less black and white, and far more nuanced, like a spectrum - as is so often true with so many things.

The fledgling Theravada Bhikkhuni Sangha in Thailand continues to slowly grow and establish (or reestablish) itself, with numbers of bhikkhunis and samaneris now doubling those in North America. Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist culture, so once people are able to get over the gender hurdle with the help of early Buddhist teachings, the culture and local, grass roots systems of support in Buddhist monastic life are actually much better in place than they are in North America, where so much needs to be slowly and painstakingly caretaken from the ground up.

Although there has not been a second public bhikkhuni ordination in Thailand in 2015, just a little over a year later, the dynamic and courageous sangha of female monastics that ordained as bhikkhunis last year continues to slowly and steadily grow. As do other bhikkhuni communities. This is just one example. 

With the example of this community, thirteen months later, on Dec 28th--the verge of New Years--another small group of women, having completed two years of preliminary training in the precepts in Thailand, travelled to Sri Lanka with their bhikkhuni mentors Ven Dhammadipa and Ven Dhammakamala. There they met their teachers' outstanding bhikkhuni preceptor, Ven Sumitta Theri, on her home soil.  I share photos with you (below) from their bhikkhuni ordination, in traditional Sri Lankan Theravada style. They are now all returned to Thailand, the monastic community of fully ordained women at Thippayasathadhamma Bhikkhuni Arama in Songkhla three good women stronger.

I rejoice with our new bhikkhuni sisters, three precious jewels and lights in our world: Dhammanimmita Bhikkhuni, Dhammajotiya Bhikkhuni and Dhammaratanayani Bhikkhuni.

And, i deeply appreciate the kindness of the Sri Lankan Sangha in so sharing, and blessing and supporting, caretaking the early Buddhist teachings and the ordination and passing them down to us, together with the support of  Sakyadhita, the friends of Dhammadharini, the Alliance for Bhikkhunis, Saranaloka, and so many more. 

I wish that with the full ordination and supported by it, may also come full penetration into the Path, and the opening of the mind and hearts' way to full awakening - for all of us.

As i enter into secluded retreat time,

may all have an excellent and fruitful month 

in this good and noble Path of Practice,

Tathālokā Bhikkhunī

☸

​​

​​

On the 28th of December 2015 CE/2558 BE

Ven Dhammanimmita

Ven Dhammajotiya

& Ven Dhammaratanayani

from Thailand

were fully ordained as bhikkhunis

by a Dual Sangha

at the Sakyadhita Training & Meditation Center in Sri Lanka.

The Most Venerable Bhikkhuni Padukke Sumitra Theri

of Susilavasa Bhikkhuni Aramaya of Horana

served as the Bhikkhuni Pavattini-Upajjhaya (Preceptor).

The Most Venerable Walathara Sobhita Anunayaka Thera

of the Amarapura Siri Sadhammavamsa Dhirananda Sangha Sabha

Parama Vijithra Mahavihara of Galwadugoda in Galle

served as the Bhikkhu Upajjhaya (Preceptor)

 ❧ ❧ ❧ 

all three candidates for the ordination, 

​in white beforehand, with the Bhikkhuni Acarini

who will administer the exam and recite the Sangha Act for ordination

​requesting the Pabbajja from the bhikkhuni teachers and bhikkhuni sangha

led by bhikkhuni preceptor Ven Sumitra Theri​

​receiving robes and being blessed with preliminary meditation instruction 

by the bhikkhuni teachers

as Sakyadhita founder Madam Ranjini deSilva (in white) watches caringly with folded palms​

​greeting and requesting the bhikkhu teachers

with images of Sanghamitta Theri holding Bo tree and Buddha behind them​

perihera ​parade with traditional Sri Lankan dancers 

escorting the bhikkhu sangha​ to the ordination site

​parade escorting the bhikkhuni preceptor and teachers to the ordination​ site

​escorting the bhikkhuni sangha and candidates to the ordination site​

​the candidates being escorted to the ordination site​

​paying respects to and requesting the bhikkhuni preceptor​

​with the bhikkhuni teachers while being blessed by the bhikkhuni preceptor​

​

​afterwards ~ 

three new bhikkhunis with their ordaining Dual Sangha 

in front of the water sima​ after ordination

​three new bhikkhunis with their Thai and Sri Lankan bhikkhuni teachers​

three new bhikkhunis holding their ordination certificates​

​Thai bhikkhuni sangha all together in Thailand 

at Thippayasatthandhamma Bhikkhuni Arama 

on Koh Yoh Island, Songkhla Provence​

​All photos courtesy of Thippayasathandhamma​