Dec 3-6 Talks & Workshops by visiting Bhikkhuni Santussika

Courtesy Little Bang:

Ordained American Buddhist nun Ven. Santussika will give a public talk on using dharma and meditation in relationships with others. This covers conflict resolution for oneself and people in close relation. This is one of the most difficult topics – personal relationships are probably the most important part of anyone’s life (just see how much of TV time is given to exploring them!!). Managing relationships well – including children, parents and spouses – is getting a large part of the way to a happy and peaceful life.

The one-day meditation workshop will focus on a very specific teaching – the 5 khandhas as a meditation object.

The workshop is open and suitable for everyone with an interest, though the topic is quite specific rather than being just general meditation.

The workshop cost is 600 baht per person, which includes a vegetarian healthy lunch.

Santussika Bhikkhuni leads a talk and discussion event based on two kinds of compassion, as found in Buddhist Sutras.

She will be using examples from the book of enlightened nuns, in Theravada Buddhism. Fully ordained women in Buddhism is a new occurrence in modern Buddhism, and offers a fresh approach to meditation and understanding of the original teachings.

Bio

Bhikkhuni Santussika was born in the United States, near Chicago. She moved to California in 1987 after finishing a master’s degree in computer science at Indiana University. She worked as a software designer and engineer for 15 years, during which time her search for deeper meaning and greater happiness brought her to train as a minister.

santussika-4During the four-year interfaith seminary program which led to a Master of Divinity degree, awarded in 2002, she also began visiting Buddhist monasteries in America and Asia, and learning from master teachers, particularly in Thailand. In America, she spent as much time as she could at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, looking to Ajahn Passano has her teacher. In Thailand, she spent time at the monasteries where her son was living as a Bhikkhu: Wat Pah Nanachat, Wat Marp Jan, Wat Boonyawad and Wat Pa Baan Taad.

She ordained as an eight-precept nun in 2005 and trained at Amaravati and Chithurst Buddhist Monasteries in England, and at Aloka Vihara in San Francisco. She ordained as a samaneri (ten-precept nun) in 2010 and received full ordination as a bhikkhuni in 2012 at Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara in Los Angeles. Currently, she lives and teaches at Karuna Buddhist Vihara in Millbrae, California (www.KarunaBV.org). She also lectures, teaches retreats, and offers spiritual counseling outside the monastery upon request. She serves on the Board for Buddhist Global Relief (www.buddhistglobalrelief.org), a charitable organization focused on relieving chronic hunger and malnutrition and their causes. Before becoming a Buddhist nun, Ayya Santussika raised two children, a son and a daughter, mostly as a single mom.

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