MUDITĀ! - Venerable Bhikkhuni Theri Ajahn Vayama: 35 Years in Monastic Life - 2020

[Dhammadharini Sangha]

Dear Dhamma friends,

Having received this news today, we would like to share the joy (Muditā) with you,
with hearts of mettā and congratulations from our Dhammadharini Sangha.

image courtesy of Patacara Bhikkhuni Hermitage/Ajahn Vayama (more photos and life story here)

Venerable Ajahn Vayama Theri was the first to ordain as a bhikkhunī with our founder Ven. Bhikkhunī Ayyā Tathālokā as preceptor more than ten years ago, in 2009 at Bodhinyana Monastery in Perth, Western Australia. At that time Ajahn Vayama was already well known as a Buddhist abbot, Dhamma and meditation teacher, and Buddhist leader, having then  been a ten-precept nun for more than 25 years. 

Ajahn Vayama (smiling back center behind Ayya T) among four soon-to-be new Bhikkhunīs 

with Ayya Tathaloka and Bhikkhuni Sangha at Dhammasara Monastery before Bhikkhuni Ordination in 2009

Our Dhammadharini senior bhikkhuni teachers Ayya Tathālokā and Ayyā Sobhanā have visited Ayyā Vayama and Ayya Seri at Patacara Bhikkhuni Hermitage when they've gone to Australia during these last ten years, together with revisiting the now-thriving Bhikkhunī Sangha at Dhammasara Monastery and Ajahn Brahm, Ajahn Brahmali and the Bhikkhu Sangha at Bodhinyana Monastery.

Ayya Vayama with Ayya Seri with Sangha on pilgrimage at the Jayasri Maha Bodhi Tree in Sri Lanka 2012 

(photo source)

If you would like to know more about her life and teaching, you can read a chapter on Happiness from Ayya Vayama in our first bhikkhuni anthology Let the Light Shine: Reflections from Theravada Bhikkhunīs (p 74), and there's more about her part in the early revival of Bhikkhuni Ordination in Theravada Buddhism in Ayya Tathaloka's article "Honoring Those Worthy of Honor" (pp 27-30, pp 46-47). For those interested and inspired, you can find a collection of Dhamma talks from Ajahn Vayama here. 

 
We send all our love and blessings to Ayya Vayama, Ayya Seri and all at Patacara Bhikkhuni Hermitage ~

Extending our Muditā,
with hearts of much mettā and much appreciation,
Dhammadharini Bhikkhunī Sangha

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Patacara Bhikkhuni Hermitage
Date: Thu, Jun 18, 2020

New post on Patacara Bhikkhuni Hermitage Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni : 35 Years As A Nun 2020 by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni Written by Chrissie Anderson On the 17th of March this week it was an auspicious occasion for our dear Ajahn Vayama as this was the date she ordained as a Buddhist Nun in Sri Lanka 35 years ago. Previously to ordaining  Ajahn Vayama worked as a Social Worker and set up the first Womens' Refuge in Sydney. The Buddhist Society of W.A. was very grateful when she accepted our invitation to start from scratch the first Theravada Forest Nuns' Monastery on 600 acres of bush in Gidgegannup in the year 1997. The monastery was named Dhammasara. For the first 2 years Ajahn lived in a donated small caravan in a secluded bush setting. Ron Battersby and Bianca Di Bua dug her a pit toilet . Ajahn Vayama received dana firstly in a little tent then a tin shed we supporters built. I recall many days during the first 2 summers when it was 48 'c in her little caravan and the same outside. Not a word of complaint. No showers. No electricity. A kind female supporter soon offered to drive her to her house in the Swan Valley for a hot shower and the use of a washing machine once a week. It was a long, slow, process but the first Nuns' Cottage was built from our own rammed earth gravel. Then began the process of the very strict training of suitable women who showed interest in ordaining. Whilst training the first women who ordained, Ajahn also gave regular teachings at The Buddhist Society of WA.  She also led beautiful retreats. She also coordinated cool burns in 10 acre lots with the local fire brigade in the Spring. It was a time of  continuous serving with little time alone. Sadly Ajahn Vayama's health deteriorated  10 years ago and she was diagnosed with a very serious disease, Multiple System Atrophy, which she knew would require full time nursing care. Her disciple, Ayya Seri, very very generously offered to look after Ajahn Vayama. This has been a 10 year selfless time of devotion for Ayya Seri caring for Ajahn Vayama 24/7. Ajahn Vayama and Ayya Seri are currently living in a kind layperson's quiet home. This Hermitage is a very beautiful peaceful setting in which to practice. Sahdu to Ajahn Vayama and Ayya Seri on  living an impeccable holy life. Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni | June 18, 2020 at 8:35 PM | Categories: News, Reflections, year 2020 | URL: https://wp.me/p23oYk-ui Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Patacara Bhikkhuni Hermitage. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://patacarabhikkhunihermitage.com/2020/06/18/ayya-vayama-bhikkhuni-35-years-as-a-nun-2020/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

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