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.