A talk given at the 13thWestern Buddhist Monastic Conference By Venerable. Bhikkhu Bodhi  June 2006, Bhavana Society, West Virginia Posted with Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi’s permission.   First I should say, not as an excuse but by way of explanation, that I learned that I was to be a presenter only two days ago. I was a bit [...]

I just turned 50- a milestone year and time of transformation for me. Instead of having a birthday party, I created a birthing ceremony. Surrounded by dear friends, we ceremoniously interacted with elements of conditioning, transformation and emergence. Part of me has been trapped by my own discipline as I had become identified with and [...]

  Letter from my preceptor Ayya Tathaaloka:   Warm greetings, dear friends, from the wild bush of Western Australia in the hot season, It is very nice to be here woken by the soft thump of kangaroo paws passing,  warm breezes wafting over burnt red desert-like earth fragrant with eau de eucalyptus forest.  A new reliquary stupa rises [...]

An Open Letter from Buddhist and Yoga Teachers and Leaders in Support of the Occupy Movement. Reposted with permision from Ethan Nichtern.  http://occupysamsara.org/   As teachers and leaders of communities that promote the development of compassion and mindfulness, we are writing to express our solidarity with the Occupy movement now active in over 1,900 cities [...]

September 2 is the anniversary of being a nun for 20 years. I take this time to pay homage to some of the extraordinary women who have directly and indirectly guided me to the path where I am now.  I write as a prelude to International Bhikkhuni Day on Sept 17. My first memory thinking about [...]

1st Annual International Bhikkhuni Day on  September 17 I am just emerging from retreat and have stories to share. Before I do that, I want to let you know about this upcoming day and invite you join us here in our desert hermitage to honor and celebrate our women and monastic teachers! What is International [...]

The vassa began June 16. This is a time when Theravada Monastics spend three months together chanting, meditating, discussing Dhamma, studying the monastic discipline, and reciting the monastic rules every fortnight. In California there currently are two Theravada monasteries for women where a group of  Bhikkhunis, Samaneris, Anagarikas and monastic aspirants  have gathered for three [...]

  In April I went to Aranya Bodhi Forest Hermitage on the Sonoma coast of Northern California. The sisters there were kind and welcoming. Anagarika Gwyn has settled and seems to be enjoying the routine, the chanting, studying Pali and the presence of other robed Sisters. She has been working very hard, along with the [...]

I returned to Colorado Springs about two weeks ago after important retreat time and teaching to much change. It was clear during my winter retreat that changes were needed; I needed to reorganize priorities for myself as well as find better ways to support the community while I was away teaching or on retreat. Not [...]

December 11, Gwyn Waterfield formally took the traditional 3 refuges and 8-precepts and made a commitment to being an anagarikaa (postulant) in the Theravada Forest Buddhist Tradition for one year. About 50 people came, many from far away, to support Gwyn and participate in this ceremony. You can see photos in the gallery called Precept [...]