Dhammapada Verses 262-263

Verses 262-263

Those who are envious, stingy and manipulative,
       remain unappealing despite good looks
                     and eloquent speech.
         But those who have freed themselves
                      from their faults
                  and arrived at wisdom
                   are attractive indeed.

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.     

AN 7.35: Mitta Sutta: A Friend

"Monks, a friend endowed with seven qualities is worth associating with. Which seven? He gives what is hard to give. He does what is hard to do. He endures what is hard to endure. He reveals his secrets to you. He keeps your secrets. When misfortunes strike, he doesn't abandon you. When you're down & out, he doesn't look down on you. A friend endowed with these seven qualities is worth associating with."

International Bhikkhuni Day, 2014 (Part 12)

Honouring Eminent Asian Buddhist Women in the Modern Era

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

4.  Malaysia – Ven Sing Kan (1957 - )

At the age of 25, Ven became a nun in Sin Fook Tong temple, Kuala Lumpur under the guidance of her great grand master Sin Pooi and teacher Ven Ku Chung. She took her higher ordination as a bhiksuni in Penang in 1987 under the preceptorship of Master Tai Sheng from Taiwan.

My simple religion

International Bhikkhuni Day, 2014 (Part 11)

Honouring Eminent Asian Buddhist Women in the Modern Era

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

3.  Malaysia – Ven Chang Heng

Orphaned at a young age, Ven Chang Heng came in contact with Buddhism at Sau Seng Lum (SSL) Petaling Jaya. Ordained at the age of 18 she went to Taiwan to further her studies in Buddhism. In 1978 she became the 3^rd abbess of SSL. Under her able leadership motto “May human beings be free from suffering and may the world be peaceful.”

Global faith leaders working to #EndSlavery @Vatican City, Rome Italy.

International Bhikkhuni Day, 2014 (Part 10)

Honouring Eminent Asian Buddhist Women in the Modern Era

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

1.    2. Japan – Ven Ikuko Hibino (1949 - )

Yes, A Woman Can Be A Priest in Japanese Buddhism!

“Can a woman be a priest in Buddhism?” and “What is Buddhism?” were some of the questions directed at Rev. Ikuko Hibino when she was studying language in France. Reflection on these questions planted the seeds for her eventual path to be one.

Her father was the head priest of the Kayadera Temple in Kuramae, Tokyo. She was expected to marry a priest who would succeed her father, as cultural succession of temples was only passed along male lines. Rev. Ikuko Hibino’s aspiration to be a priest was and still is an uncommon one.

She majored in English literature and became involved with a theatre group. It was her dream to become a theatre producer.

When her father suddenly passed away, it prompted her to think and find a meaningful life for herself. Her uncle then succeeded her father until she married a priest. She travelled and examined herself and her culture from outside of Japan in different contexts. She also attended a language school.

AN 2.119 ~ Dullabha Sutta: Hard to Find

"Monks, these two people are hard to find in the world. Which two? The one who is first to do a kindness, and the one who is grateful for a kindness done and feels obligated to repay it. These two people are hard to find in the world."

What's the challenge today?

International Bhikkhuni Day, 2014 (Part 9)

Honouring Eminent Asian Buddhist Women in the Modern Era

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

1. Taiwan - Ven Master Cheng Yan (1937 - )

    Contact with Buddhism

Master Cheng Yen was born in Taiwan and was raised by her aunt and uncle. She experienced the devastating effects of war, which taught her the truth about impermanence and suffering. At the age of 8, she also looked after her sick brother in a hospital for eight months. When she was 23, Master first came into contact with Buddhism when her father passed away. She was in search for a burial place for him and the encounter inspired her to be a nun.

She ran away from home three times, due to objections by her mother for her to be a nun. She subsequently followed a nun and after experiencing difficulty in getting a master to ordain her, she shaved her own head. Subsequently, Ven Master Yin-shun accepted her request and she vowed to commit herself to the Lotus Sutra, the Sutra of Immeasurable Righteousness, which dealt with human psychological, spiritual problems and ecological issues, and to take the “Bodhisattva Path.”

It was also after a discussion in 1966 with three Catholic nuns who pointed out that Buddhists had not helped society unlike the Church in building schools and hospitals, Master Cheng Yen realised that Buddhism had to do more than just encouraging private cultivation. After all, the Buddha did send out His disciples to spread the Dhamma, which is the greatest gift to humanity.

Dana Sutta: Giving

On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. And on that occasion the lay woman Velukandaki, Nanda's mother, had established a donation endowed with six factors for the community of monks headed by Sariputta & Moggallana. The Blessed One saw with his divine eye, surpassing the human, that the laywoman Velukandaki, Nanda's mother, had established a donation endowed with six factors for the community of monks headed by Sariputta & Moggallana. On seeing this, he addressed the monks: "Monks, the lay woman Velukandaki, Nanda's mother, has established a donation endowed with six factors for the community of monks headed by Sariputta & Moggallana.

International Bhikkhuni Day, 2014 (Part 8)

Honouring Eminent Asian BuddhistWomen in the Modern Era 

B. Pioneers in Dhamma Propagation - Scholars and Teachers

5. Bangladesh - Dipa Ma (Mother of Light) (1911-1989), is a lay Theravada Buddhist from Chittagong who studied meditation in Myanmar under the Mahasi Sayadaw tradition. She practiced meditation diligently and reached very high spiritual attainment.

How An Impoverished Nation Became The Most Generous Country In The World

By ESTHER HTUSAN Posted: 11/24/2014 11:46 am 

HLAING THARYAR, Myanmar (AP) — "The food cart is coming!" the hungry little boy shouts, his face lighting up.More than 100 people sitting in the grass and beneath the dark midday shadows of giant trees turn to look at the nearby Buddhist monastery. As a monk moves through the gates with a huge pot of rice and curry, orphans, homeless children and jobless men and women line up with crumpled plastic bags.