International Bhikkhuni Day, 2014 (Part 13)

Honouring Eminent Asian Buddhist Women in the Modern Era

C. Buddhism Beyong Borders: Engaged Buddhism - Compassion in Action

5. Malaysia – Ven Hasapanna (1960- ) the first Theravada Malaysian woman to receive full ordination in Perth in 2009. Ven Hasapanna was born in 1960, and is from Ipoh. She was ordained as a trainee nun (Anagarika) for 2 years and a ten precept nun for 4 years following the Theravada tradition. In 2009, she took the full-pledge ordination as a Theravada Bhikkhuni (with Ayya Tathaaloka as Pavattini) for 2 years at Dhammasara Buddhist Nuns Monastery, Western Australia.

Co-Abbess of Nuns Monastery

She is currently the Co-Abbess of Dhammasara Nuns Monastery and also the Assistant Spiritual Director of Buddhist Society of Western Australia. Since then the number of bhikkhunis in Dhammasara has gradually grown, from three to seven and with four samaneris. Dhammasara is planning an expansion of their residential capacity and welcoming requests from women all over the world who would like to walk the path as nuns.

Dhamma Propagation Abroad

Bhikkhuni Hasapanna travels locally and oversea for example, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong to give Dhamma talks and inspire people to walk the path. This year, with the support of some Buddhist societies she will be conducting one of the earliest Theravada temporary samaneri novitiate program in Malaysia to inspire potential candidates.