January 18th and 19th
A Buddhist nun from the Theravada tradition will be visiting EBS in January. Her name is Ayya (Venerable) Sudhamma. She will be leading sessions of Dhamma talks and meditation on Friday evening and Saturday morning, with a community potluck during the last hour on Saturday. The program is called “Advice From The Heart”. Ayya Sudhamma will be sharing timeless Buddhist teachings and the lessons that she has learned walking the Buddhist path.
Schedule
Friday evening from 7 to 9 - Dhamma talk and meditation
Saturday morning from 8 to 11 - Dhamma talks and meditation sessions
Saturday morning from 11 to 12 - Community potluck
If you would like to participate in the potluck please feel free to bring a vegetarian dish to share with others.
There is no cost to attend any of these events. Donations are gratefully accepted. (https://www.ebslr.org/donations)
Questions? Contact Doug Holmes (doug.holmes.42@gmail.com)
About the Teacher:
Ayya Sudhamma was born and raised in Charlotte, NC. She was an attorney before leaving home to become a nun in 1997. She received novice ordination from Ven. H. Gunaratana (Bhante G) at the Bhavana Society in 1999. She received higher ordination as a bikkhuni in the Theravada tradition in Sri Lanka in February 2003, becoming the first Western woman to gain higher ordination there. She returned to the United States and has been a resident monastic and teacher ever since. She currently resides at the Charlotte Buddhist Vihara in Charlotte, NC.
About Buddhist Monasticism
The Buddha established the sangha of monks and nuns twenty-five hundred years ago. It has existed from that time until now, making it the oldest continuously operating human institution on earth. Many Buddhist monastics, including the Theravada monastic order, still follow the original set of rules and guidelines established by the Buddha. For example, Theravada monastics cannot handle money, eat a meal past mid-day, or eat anything not specifically given to them. These practices, which seems so strict to westerners, exist to allow nuns and monks to devote their lives to the Buddhist path and provide spiritual guidance and leadership to the lay community that supports them.
There is really nothing else like it in the world.