Ayukusala Nun Ordinations in the Ayukusala Assama
(český překlad připojen pod text)

In Sri Lanka, the very first ordination (pabbaja) of an Ayukusala nun was performed in November 2003 in the Ayukusala Assama, that time in Kananvila near Horana. 
Na Srí Lance byla poprvé provedena ordinace (pabbaja) mnišky Ayukusala v listopadu 2003 v Ayukusala Assamě, tehdy v Kananvile u města Horany.
VIMOKKHA PABBAJA

The first nun ordination in the new Ayukusala Assama in Hokandara took place in April 2005.
První ordinace mnišky v nové Ayukusala Assamě v Hokandaře se konala v dubnu 2005.
TISSA PABBAJA

Ayukusala Pabbaja is an event of importance for Sri Lanka public. Thereafter the nuns training is conducted in the Sakyadhita Nuns Training Centre in Gorakana under the patronage of Mrs. Ranjani de Silva.
Ayukusala Pabbaja je důležitou událostí pro veřejnost Srí Lanky. Následný trénink mnišek je veden v Sakyadhita Nuns Training Centru v Gorakaně pod patronací paní Ranjani de Silva.
 

MAHA UPASIKA RANJANI DE SILVA of Sakyadhita Centre visiting in Ayukusala Assama Hokandara	Ayukusala Thera visiting in the Sakyadhita Nuns Training Centre
The nuns performing the Pabbaja for Samaneri Tissa (left to right): Samaneri Suvimali and the Bhikkhunis Vajira, Darshika, Vijitha	The capital act of Pabbaja: binding the robes to the new samaneri assisted by Samaneri Vimokkha
Maha Upasika Ranjani greets the new Samaneri Tissa - "This is an invitation to come to Sakyadhita Centre"	Closing the Pabbaja Ritual of Samaneri Tissa in Ayukusala Assama (right standing: Dr. Veronika Nevolova, a Czech Ayukusala Teacher)
Venerable Samaneri Suvimali and Maha Upasika Ranjani de Silva meet Ayukusala Thera at a Buddhist Conference in Colombo (discussing the role of nuns in Post-Tsunami Context)	Dr. Hema Goonatilake, advisor of Sakyadhita Nuns Training Centre, here with Mr. Phallop Thaiarry, the Secretary-General of The World Fellowship of Buddhists at a Buddhist Conference in Colombo
(these last two photographs were taken at the Global Buddhist Conforence in Post Tsunami Context, Clombo, March 2005, organized by Dr. Hema Goonatilake)

Ayukusala Nuns Training in the Sakyadhita Centre

Report by the Venerable
Bhikkhuni Ayukusala Vajira, May 2005

Since over two years, the Sakyadhita Training and Meditation Centre in Gorakana is a place for training the novice nuns of the Ayukusala Central European Sangha. All of these European nuns are well advanced in meditation for which they get instruction from the Most Venerable Ayukusala Nayaka Thera. They are well versed in the Dhamma as well, because they have to attend for several years the Ayukusala seminars in their home country before they are admitted to ordination. Ayukusala nuns come then to Sri Lanka to learn the Buddhist way of life and, in particular, the bhikkhuni-ajiva. Within first month of their samaneri training they have to learn Srilankan culture and become familiar with the social context of the bhikkhuni community in several monasteries.

For this purpose the chief bhikkhuni of Ayukusala Sangha the Venerable Vajira introduces all the samaneris to the Sakyadhita Centre in order to be trained there for a two weeks period. Thereafter the samaneris have to undergo a thorough reviewing paccavekkhana with their teacher the Venerable Ayukusala Thera. This reviewing includes the reflection of study program and evaluation of living conditions in the center.

Most of the Ayukusala nuns hold that their training period in Sakyadhita Centre was an important beginning of their monastic life. They appreciate particularly the European standard facilities of the Centre, which made it easier for them to adapt to Srilankan culture and climate. The atmosphere within the nuns-community who live in Sakyadhita Centre is estimated as friendly and peaceful even though sometimes somewhat busy.

Sakyadhita Centre is providing to the Ayukusala nuns the support not only during the initial training but also during the more advanced stages. An event of great significance for the Ayukusala Central European Sangha took place there last year. This was the upasampada, i.e. the higher ordination of the first Czech bhikkhuni Ayukusala Vajira. The event was organized with great skill and dedication by Madame Ranjani de Silva, the chief manager of Sakyadhita Centre, and Madame Dr. Hema Goonatilake, who is recognized for the international aspects of the work. These two ladies are in the best sense of the word responsible for most what has happened in the initial stages of restoration of the Bhikkhuni Sangha in Sri Lanka and, consequently, for the Srilankan help to build up the European Bhikkhuni Sangha.

It is a sincere wish of the Central European Ayukusala Sangha that the Sakyadhita Training and Meditation Centre in Gorakana thrives in future so as to continue being the beacon light for the bhikkhunis all over the world.

Bhikkhuni Vajira
the Chief Nun of the
AYUKUSALA  ASSAMA
H o k a n d a r a
e-mail: ayya@ayukusala.org  

NAHORU

Áyukusala Central European Sangha – ACES
e–mail: ayukusala@centrum.cz or jan.benda@centrum.cz

Copyright © 2005 ACES, all rights reserved.