Sravasti Abbey, a Tibetan Buddhist community in Newport, Washington, announced that five of the abbey's nuns-in-training have received full monastic ordination at Fo En Si Temple (Temple of Gratitude of the Buddha) in Taichung, Taiwan, at the end of March.
The revered American Buddhist monk, author, teacher and founder of Sravasti Abbey, Ven. Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron accompanied the five nuns to Fo En Si Temple, where she served as one of the preceptors at the ordination ceremony. Full ordination requires 10 senior male monks and 10 senior female monks as preceptors.
“On March 24, at 16:13 p.m. Taiwan time, the five nuns of the abbey received the bhikshuni ordination, increasing our community of fully ordained nuns to a total of 17! » said Sravasti Abbey in an announcement shared with BDG. “While the entire ordination procedure itself takes approximately four days for more than 200 candidates, there are rehearsals for the rites and extensive teaching and training provided before and after. »
Because full monastic ordination has not been available to renunciates in the Tibetan tradition, monks at Sravasti Abbey receive ordination in the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya lineage, which actively practices in China, South Korea, in Taiwan, Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
Ordination ceremonies for some of this year's candidates were delayed for several years due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
“After years of preparation, ambitious prayers and many purifying prostrations. . . the five nuns – Venerables Lamsel, Kunga, Dekyi, Rinchen and Monlam – received ordination, along with around 200 candidates from many countries,” explained Sravasti Abbey. “Venerable Lamsel and Kunga have been waiting for this opportunity for many years. Venerable Dekyi, Rinchen and Monlam, who also completed the two-year training required for nuns, were delighted to be able to join them. (Sravasti Abbey)
Sravasti Abbey is the first Tibetan monastery for Western monks in the United States. The American bhikshuni Fri. Thubten Chodron founded the abbey in 2003. His Holiness the Dalai Lama named the abbey after the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala, where the historical Buddha Shakyamuni spent most of his life and gave most of his teachings after attaining enlightenment. Monks, both female and male, study and practice together at the abbey, with spiritual support and social engagement being key aspects of monastic life.
Born in California in 1950, Ven. Thubten Chodron was ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun in 1977 and received full ordination in the Gelug tradition in 1986. She studied under His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tsenshab Serkong Rinpoche, Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, and Lama Thubten Yeshe. A revered Dharma teacher, Ven. Chodron is known for her warm, practical and humorous explanations of how to apply Buddhist teachings in daily life. She is also involved in prison outreach and interfaith dialogue.
“While the entire ordination process takes approximately four days for more than 200 candidates, there are rehearsals for the rites and extensive teaching and training provided before and after,” Sravasti Abbey explained. “In accordance with Chinese tradition, the novice precepts and the bodhisattva precepts are also given before and after full ordination, hence what is called a triple platform ordination program. . . .
“In the coming weeks, the new bhikshunis will receive teachings on their monastic precepts and bodhisattva precepts. After the program, they will spend about a week visiting nunneries in Taiwan and thanking our Vinaya teachers for their support. (Sravasti Abbey)
The new five bhikshunis shared their thoughts and impressions on their recent experiences in Taiwan.
“Seeing this kindness (here in Taiwan) really makes me think in a much broader perspective, beyond myself and this life,” reflected Bhikshuni Thubten Dekyi. “To think of the countless causes and conditions that came together to make this six-week program possible is mind-blowing. It really helps me get out of my narrow, self-centered vision and feel like I'm in a great river, carried away by the Buddhas, the Dharma and the Sangha. . . .
“For Buddhism and particularly the monastic sangha to continue to spread throughout the world, I will dedicate my life with joy and gratitude to helping make this happen. The Buddha, Dharma and Sangha are very precious. I want to do everything I can to make this last forever. (Sravasti Abbey)
" Socket bhikshuni the precepts had a great impact on my mind,” observed Bhikshuni Thubten Monlam. “The training here, the teachings, daily life with the Dharma sisters and brothers have helped my mind develop so that I can embody the precepts with joy, enthusiasm, gratitude and determination.
“I entered into this tradition, passed down for 2 years through kindness, courage and trust in the teaching of the Buddha. I will do my best to contribute to the Dharma so that it lasts forever in the world. (Sravasti Abbey)
See more
Reflections of five new Bhikshunis (Sravasti Abbey)
Sravasti Abbey
Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron
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The article Quadruple Sangha: five nuns from Sravasti Abbey in the United States receive full ordination Bhikshuni in Taiwan appeared first on Buddhadoor Global.
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