Announcing Upasampadā of Dhammadharinī's Thāvirā Bhikkhunī: Inviting Well Wishers to Online and/or In-person Gatherings June 22nd & 29th
❧ Dhammadharini Monastery
Warm greetings dear Venerables & Dhamma friends -
On June 2nd 2024 in a very small, simple and quiet gathering in the redwood forest of the Sonoma Coast, the Dual Sangha of Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunīs gathered in the Creek Stones Sīmās (pair of baddha sīmās) on Dharma Creek at Aranya Bodhi Awakening Forest Hermitage to grant Bhikkhunī Upasampadā higher ordination to long-time Dhammadharini resident and trainee Ven. Thāvirā with the blessings of the dual Sangha and her bhikkhunī preceptor Ven. Tathālokā Mahātherī.
With the Bhikkhunī Sangha
Bhikkhunī Thāvirā's higher ordination was completed at 2:22pm amidst hearty "sādhu!"s by the gathered fourfold community of the Buddha. Ven. Thāvirā had been a student of Ayyā Tathālokā's training with Dhammadharini for the past five years, and completed unbroken training in the ten Sāmanerī precepts for two years and seven months prior.
Together with the Bhikkhu and Bhikkhunī Sangha, after completion of Upasampada
Following Ven. Thāvirā’s bhikkhunī ordination, senior bhikkhu and bhikkhunī teachers shared the traditional "Anusāsanā" exhortation, together with chants and words of blessings and Dhamma encouragement in both the ancient Pāli and English languages. Deep appreciation all around to all who supported these auspicious moments of great importance in the life in Dhamma.
Well wishers are warmly welcome to meet, greet and share blessings with new-Bhikkhuni Thavira online or in person:
Please note the change in date for the in-person reception, as compared to what was previously planned.
--Online--
Saturday June 22nd, 5pm California time.
--In person--
at Dhammadharini Monastery
Saturday June 29th, for the meal and immediately after.
--Gift giving--
Available for sponsorship in honor of the special event:
Ordination sponsorship opportunities
Support a Teacher's Studio/Office at Aranya Bodhi Hermitage
Verse of Special Meaning shared by Ven. Thāvirā Bhikkhunī:
Mattāsukhapariccāgā,
passe ce vipulaṁ sukhaṁ;
Caje mattāsukhaṁ dhīro,
sampassaṁ vipulaṁ sukhaṁ.
"If by renouncing a lesser happiness
one may realize a greater happiness,
let the wise renounce the lesser,
having regard for the greater."
- the Buddha, Dhammapāda verse 290
--Gratitude--
Our Dhammadharini bhikkhunīs would especially like to thank all of the members of the Venerable Bhikkhu and Bhikkhunī Sangha who gathered in support of Ven. Thāvirā Bhikkhunī's higher ordination, including our Bhikkhunī Ovādācariya Venerable Nivitigale Sumitta Mahā Thero and fellow Kammavācācariya Venerable Kusalagñāṇa Thero and members of the ordaining bhikkhu sangha including Venerable Noun Chandara Nyāṇadīpako, Venerable Kovilo Thero, Venerable Nisabho Thero and Venerable Jayasāro Bhikkhu.
With the Bhikkhu Sangha
Our great appreciation to the Bhikkhunī Sangha led by bhikkhunī preceptor Ven. Tathālokā Mahātherī, with Ācarinīs Ven. Sobhanā Therī and Ven. Santacittā Therī, together with the ordaining bhikkhunī sangha including Ven. Mārajinā Therī, Ven. Kaccāyana Bhikkhunī, Ven. Dhammānusārī Bhikkhunī, Ven. Dhammavarā Bhikkhunī, Ven. Vandanā Bhikkhunī and Ven Dhammavihārī Bhikkhunī.
Our deep thanks and blessings to Dhamma friends and founding hermitage committee members Lal and Udana and their families and friends who offered Amisa (Lunch) Dana for the gathered Bhikkhu Bhikkhunī Sangha, to friends who offered hosting and rides to Sangha members who joined us from afar, and to the friends who offered Dana of their professional photography skills.
We are sharing a few photos of the event here, offered here by dedicated friend Buddhinie's husband Shamal Perera, and you may see many more in the Google photo album of the event.
Our deep appreciation to all the supporters and leaders of both the Dhammadharini Support Foundation and the Alliance for Bhikkhunīs whose dedicated efforts make it possible for our Bhikkhunī Sangha to exist, training with the traditional ancient precepts and teachings of the Buddha, the Blessed One, in contemporary 21st century America.
After completion of ordination and blessings
We would especially like to thank and bless our Dhammadharini visitors coordinator and Aranya Bodhi Hermitage manager, Ven. Kaccāyana Bhikkhunī, and every member of their small and highly-dedicated team, for their extraordinary efforts to prepare the Dhammasota-silā Yamaka-sīmā “Creek Stones Sīmās” space for this small and simple ordination beneath the shaded boughs of the redwood forest in the space long known as "Bhikkhunī Beach" on Dharma Creek.
With mettā to all,
and warm welcome invitation to all to join for the receptions on June 22 (online) and June 29th (in person)
Dhammadharini Sangha
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