Tune in for a conversation with Venerable Dhammananda and Celeste, sponsored by Casual Buddhism. There will also be the opportunity to ask Venerable Dhammananda your own questions about your practice. Please join us for this auspicious opportunity to be with a Bhikkuni in the Theravadin Buddhist tradition.

About Venerable Dhammananda:

Venerable Dhammananda Bhikkhuni (pronounced dhamma-nanda pee-ku-ni) is the abbess and spiritual leader of Songdhammakalyani Temple, an all female monastery in Nakon Pathom, Thailand located about one hour’s drive west of Bangkok.

When Dhammananda chose to be ordained there were approximately 300,000 monks in Thailand and no ordained women. She had to go to Sri Lanka to be ordained because Thailand doesn’t allow the ordination of women.

Her novice ordination on February 6, 2001 as the first and only openly ordained Theravadin nun in Thailand sparked a strong public controversy. She was attacked in the media and received hate mail. When asked if she was brave, Dhammananda simply commented that she did not consider herself brave at all, but simply had full faith in the Buddha.

She has dedicated her life to restore the Bhikkhuni Sangha, the female lineage of Theravadin nuns in Thailand. Her vision is admirable. In her words, “I have traversed the globe so that my grandchildren will be proud of their grandmother who cleared the path for them to walk proudly as women.”

View previous sessions with other teachers and Venerable Dhammananda here

Please register in advance for this session. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the zoom event.