tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725954131117153423.post1900399886565816756..comments2023-08-19T06:06:27.596-07:00Comments on silly nun: after some meditationPhalañānīhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09441577615968134217noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725954131117153423.post-50212687674740167562009-12-15T01:53:47.435-08:002009-12-15T01:53:47.435-08:00Thanks and a blesing to all of you!Thanks and a blesing to all of you!Phalañānīhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09441577615968134217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725954131117153423.post-85961101971931928442009-12-10T02:54:54.252-08:002009-12-10T02:54:54.252-08:00We have traditions and they like all things have s...We have traditions and they like all things have suffering. But mostly we have just now. You find where you should be and who with and just do it. No need for attaching to something that gives more suffering. If a cat can walk by itself so too a nun. Why not?<br />You take care : )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725954131117153423.post-7404725665585997302009-12-09T11:43:29.721-08:002009-12-09T11:43:29.721-08:00Dear Dhamma Sister,
I feel deeply moved to read y...Dear Dhamma Sister,<br /><br />I feel deeply moved to read your journal. Thank you. You are correct in your perceptions. I have kept all the different levels of Theravada precepts: I kept 8 Precepts at home for 6 months; later, I kept 8 Precepts in a monastery for 14 months, and then took 10 Precepts (as a novice); I kept 10 Precepts for nearly 4 years before ordaining as a Theravada bhikkhuni (311 precepts) in Sri Lanka. Now I have seven Vassa as a Theravada bhikkhuni. <br /><br />Each precept, when practised well, may reveal deep spiritual meaning (for example, the precept against killing implies not only not-killing but developing a lifestyle of gentleness towards living beings). Keeping 311 precepts well is not easy... but the 311 are easier than keeping 10 Precepts! Why? Because with 311 precepts one gains more inner and outer support for renunciation. <br /><br />Furthermore, keeping 10 Precepts is easier than only 8 Precepts! Why? Because an 8 Preceptor must be both a lay person and a renunciate. And yet she lacks sufficient resources for a good lay life; and she has so little support for the renunciate life that it is frustrating and nearly impossible. As you already intuited, keeping only 8 Precepts is the most difficult practice. I humbly appreciate all the Thai mae chee who make sincere effort with this most difficult form of practice. They are very strong.<br /><br />As a bhikkhuni, I receive all the necessary support, every day. This morning, like every morning, a lay devotee came to the gate of my Vihara, and offered to me enough food for today. I feel grateful to the Buddha for giving us the bhikkhuni livelihood. <br /><br />Usually I see male bhikkhus only when they invite me to their temples to give Dhamma talks. They treat me with amazing kindness. They say they are very GLAD that bhikkhunis are helping to spread the Dhamma in the USA. Most of the bhikkhus I have met in the USA speak the same way. <br /><br />It is true that as a bhikkhuni in the USA, gender makes NO DIFFERENCE in my daily life. I give Dhamma talks, lead the devotees in chanting, teach meditation, give counseling, teach the children, tie blessing strings on devotees' wrists (etc.), and teach on invitation at local colleges; and also have time for my own meditation, study, research and writing. (I live peacefully in a 100% Christian neighborhood; some of my Christian neighbors offer food when devotees cannot come.) <br /><br />In Thailand, the laypeople are also ready to support bhikkhunis. When I visited Thailand a few years ago, I went on almsround early in the mornings with a group of young bhikkhus and samaneras. The Thai lay devotees gave me more food! Later they thanked the master of the monastery for sending a bhikkhuni on alms rounds.<br /><br />I am sorry that this period of your life is so difficult. Please hold onto your vision of the holy life. It is a noble aspiration. And it is possible. <br /><br />I invite you to contact me: ayyasudhamma [at] yahoo.com<br /><br />May the Triple Gem bless and protect you.<br /><br />Metta,<br />Bhikkhuni Sudhamma<br />Carolina Buddhist ViharaUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07155144557608904995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725954131117153423.post-70174796743097012592009-11-19T06:17:00.309-08:002009-11-19T06:17:00.309-08:00You may be interested in SatiSaraniya Hermitage in...You may be interested in SatiSaraniya Hermitage in the countryside of Ontario - http://satisaraniya.caAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com