Temporary ordination of Samaneri in April,2017

Aksara

Sorry, I was doing everything else but the report. Ven.Bhikkhuni Dhammananda, my spiritual master, reminded me that I should write at least a brief report about the most recent ordination offered at  SDK (Songdhammakalyani Monastery). May be you are already familiar with our activities, annually we organized temporary ordination for female novices (samaneris) for 9 days.
This is fixed twice a year, in summer between 6-15 April, and in winter between 5-14 December.
Ven.Dhammananda just finished batch 18 on April 15. April is very hot season, so we are happy not to have it too crowded.
This batch 18 there were 24 candidates who received temporary ordination. The classes during the training went very well, all the three teachers, Ven.Mother, Ven.Dhammavanna and Dr.Kanjana Suthikul agreed that they enjoyed teaching this group. The samaneris were eager in their learning.  Statistically when we looked at their background, out of 24, 20 of them have at least B.A. and there were 2 candidates with Ph.D., two candidates with M.A. we agreed that level of education brings about the success of the teaching.
Among 24 of them, three of them proposed to stay longer. One of them was clear from the beginning that she is taking this ordination life long. This candidate has Ph.D. as her back ground thus, Ven.Mother is happy to have one more members to help her in her think-tank in the building of the bhikkhuni arama.
Presently we have 9 bhikkhunis, 3 sikkhamanas and 8 samaneris. A small sangha community which is finding their own space to grow. Each week they have a meeting to adjust  the members to fit the responsibility.
The next ordination is scheduled for Dec.5. If you are interested please look for registration form in our web. Also you can call direct 034 258270. Even if you cannot take it for a long time, temporary ordination is an experience, a rich experience for Buddhist women.
Modana Sadhu for the most recent batch of samaneris.  

International Monastic Training

Songdhammakalyani Bhikkhuni Arama and Buddhasavika Foundation organize an International Monastic Training every year.
2015, the training lasted through the vassa. There were 5 nuns from Vietnam and 4 from India with one laywoman participating in this Monastic training programme.
This year, 2016, we have scheduled the training for 4 weeks in June. This is to allow the participants to return to keep the vassa in their home town.
Who can apply? If you are Buddhist and interested in the training in a monastic setting, then you might be interested to join.
The participants attend classes on Buddhism ,history of Buddhism, history of the bhikkhunis, important points on the Vinaya, and how the vinaya is put into practice.
With the monastic setting, one is expected to attend morning and evening chanting, and meditation.
On full moon and dark moon, those who are bhikkhunis will recite Patimokkha together. Recitation of Patimokkha happens only if bhikkhunis stay together as a sangha. This is a golden opportunity for newly ordained bhikkhunis to be trained with other senior bhikkhunis.
Songdhammakalyani Bhikkhuni Arama is the first temple in Thailand providing a friendly space for international bhikkhunis to be trained together. Twice a week a group of 5 bhikkhunis will go for alms, candidates to the program can follow them. This is one of the highlight for the monastic training. We have been able to preserve this Buddhist tradition in a pristine manner.
There will  be sponsorship available for Indian  bhikkhunis  and women from other part of India. Also the Foundation will provide  travelling assistance to bhikkhunis from other Asian countries who need assistance.
The funding is limited, if you are interested kindly read the details of the program, then you can fill in the registration form on the next page.
If you cannot speak English, plan to come in as a group with at least one of you as an interpreter.

IMT Registration Form

A Journey to be a Theravada Bhikkhuni
Dhammananda Bhikkhuni
November 12, 2016

When my mother shaved her head, I was 11 years old. In Thailand in 1956, if a woman shaved her head, it was to become a mae chee (white robed nun). There was no ordination, just receiving the eight precepts. My mother, Ven. Voramai Kabilingh, never thought of becoming a mae chee—she told her preceptor, Pra Prommuni of Wat Bavornnives, that she would be wearing light yellow—and so it was. She turned her house into a small nunnery where more and more young women joined her... Read More

Ven.Dhammananda presented an overall picture of the activities of bhikkhunis in various countries in Asia. Starting with the formation of Gotami Vihara in Malaysiain 2014 where the Theravada bhikkhunis came up with an idea to form a network on Asian Theravada bhikkhunis. There were members from five countries, i.e.Ven.Santini from Indonesia, Ven.Dr Lieu Phap from Vietnam, Ven.Dhammananda from Thailand, these three bhikkhunis were also the first ones in their respective countries. Then there was a bhkkhuni from Sri Lanka and Ven.Sumangala, then a samaneri from Malaysia.

READ MORE

The Shifts in ABC
Sri Akhara
Dated Oct.23, 2016

Ven. Dhammananda reminded me that we need to record the shifts that occurred under ABC. This is a historical setting. She is concern that things would pass by and in the future, the younger generation would not understand how ABC started and how it has changed or developed.

It was in 2015 that the idea came to organize a conference on ASEAN Bhikkhuni Conference. It was held at Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University in Nakhonpathom province. The conference was organized under Buddhasavika Foundation and Buddhabhat Research Unit, Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University on Oct.6, 2015. We focused on ASEAN because in Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University there have courses offered under ASEAN..... READ MORE

THE MONASTICS

Weekly Meditation

Every Saturday, Sunday at 8.00-9.00 A.M. meet Ven. Dhammananda for an hour of meditation.

For more info. call 034 258 270