Saturday 6th December
Bhikkhuni Santussika
‘Soft Dhamma’
INDUS Rest. 10:00-11:30am
We are happy to host special guest Bhikkhuni Santussika for a dharma talk and meditation at the elegant Indus Restaurant. It’s always good to show our support for the new Bhikkhuni Sangha here in Thailand, and to benefit from the fresh perspective on Dhamma and meditaiton.
The event is free of charge and there is no need to book.
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- 9:45 am gather at the Indus Restaurant
- 10:00 Dharma Talk, Questions
- 11:20 Finish (food offerings to the monastics)
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After the event you are welcome to hang around at the Indus – it is a beautiful venue. They have good coffee, mint lassi, or Brunch menu.
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About the Topic
‘Soft Dharma’
American ordained Buddhist nun Santussika Bhikkhuni leads a talk and discussion event based on two kinds of compassion, as found in Buddhist Sutras.
She will be using examples from the book of enlightened nuns, in Theravada Buddhism. Fully ordained women in Buddhism is a new occurrence in modern Buddhism, and offers a fresh approach to meditation and understanding of the original teachings.
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Bhikkhuni Santussika
Bhikkhuni Santussika was born in the United States, near Chicago. She moved to California in 1987 after finishing a master’s degree in computer science at Indiana University. She worked as a software designer and engineer for 15 years, during which time her search for deeper meaning and greater happiness brought her to train as a minister.
During the four-year interfaith seminary program which led to a Master of Divinity degree, awarded in 2002, she also began visiting Buddhist monasteries in America and Asia, and learning from master teachers, particularly in Thailand. In America, she spent as much time as she could at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, looking to Ajahn Passano has her teacher. In Thailand, she spent time at the monasteries where her son was living as a Bhikkhu: Wat Pah Nanachat, Wat Marp Jan, Wat Boonyawad and Wat Pa Baan Taad.
She ordained as an eight-precept nun in 2005 and trained at Amaravati and Chithurst Buddhist Monasteries in England, and at Aloka Vihara in San Francisco. She ordained as a samaneri (ten-precept nun) in 2010 and received full ordination as a bhikkhuni in 2012 at Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara in Los Angeles. Currently, she lives and teaches at Karuna Buddhist Vihara in Millbrae, California (www.KarunaBV.org). She also lectures, teaches retreats, and offers spiritual counseling outside the monastery upon request. She serves on the Board for Buddhist Global Relief (www.buddhistglobalrelief.org)
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Location:
The Indus Restaurant [website]
#71, Sukhumvit Soi 26
Go to Phrom Phong BTS Station
Walk along Soi 26 for 700 meters (takes 6-8 minutes walking)
จบ
I have known Bhikkuni Santussika for a number of years. Initially for a span of a few years as she lived as a lay person in Northern California and since she adopted the holy life living as a monastic.
Her transition from lay life into monastic and the manner in which she has chosen to further her practice including her involvement in social movements has been inspiring to me.
To be witness to and to appreciate the quality of intention she carries in itself more than enough reason to want to attend this event. I intend to be there.
Edward