Ajahn Candasiri: Difference between revisions
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'''[[Ajahn]] Candasiri''' is one of the [[Theravada Buddhism|Theravada Buddhist]] monastics who co-founded [[Chithurst Buddhist Monastery]] in [[West Sussex, England]], a branch monastery of the highly respected [[Ajahn Chah]] lineage. She is currently ordained at an unrecognized, junior level (a 10-precept [[Siladhara]]), the highest that is allowed for women in the [[Thai Forest Tradition]]. She is one of the more senior monastics in western [[Theravada Buddhism|Theravada]] and trained alongside women who later became fully ordained [[bhikkhuni]]s and abbesses of monasteries. |
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'''[[Ajahn]] Candasiri''' is a senior nun ([[Siladhara]]) in the [[Thai Forest Tradition]] of Thai [[Theravada Buddhism]]. |
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Born in [[Edinburgh, Scotland]] |
Born in 1947, Ajahn Candasiri was raised as a Christian in [[Edinburgh, Scotland]]. She worked as an [[occupational therapist]] in the [[United Kingdom]] after graduation from university. She encountered [[Gautama Buddha|the Buddha]]'s teachings in 1977, through [[Ajahn Sumedho]] after she had explored several meditation traditions. She became a renunciant in 1979, a white-robed, eight-precept [[anagarika|anagārika]], at [[Chithurst Buddhist Monastery]], [[England]].[http://www.forestsangha.org/canda5.htm] |
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Candasiri was one of four anagārika women who carved out an existence in the early days of [[Chithurst Buddhist Monastery]], along with a group of monks. In 1979, the monastery was little more than an abandoned, dilapidated house. After the group turned it into a functional residence, the nuns moved to a small house nearby and fixed it up. They called it Āloka Cottage and eventually founded the siladhara ordination community there. In 1983, Candasiri took siladhara ordination (brown robes and 10 precepts). It consisted of a unique set of 137 rules and a new version of the patimokkha recitation created by Ajahn Sumedo so that the women monastics could be trained in Ajahn Chah's lineage. Ajahn Candasiri was one of the pioneer siladhara monastics who were trained by [[bhikkhu]]s (fully ordained monks), in parts of the [[Suttavibhanga]] and a version of the [[vinaya]] [[patimokkha]].<ref name=GoingForth>{{cite web|title=‘Going Forth’ and Entering the Flow|url=http://awakeningtruth.org/blog/?p=78|website=awakeningtruth.org|publisher=Thanasanti|accessdate=15 January 2015}}</ref> Some of the siladhara sisters became skilled [[Sangha]] members, capable of keeping the patimokkha, living in harmony and maintaining their community with very few resources. |
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Ajahn Candasiri takes a special interest in Christian-Buddhist understanding. She has taught and led retreats in many places and enjoys teaching young people. Ajahn Candasiri is well known for her work in advancing [[vinaya]] training for women.<ref name="Bio_SuttaReader">{{cite web |
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| url=http://www.suttareadings.net/audio/index-readers.html |
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For years, Ajahn Candasiri and the other siladharas remained with Chithurst Monastery despite the siladharas being subordinated to monastic men and being disrespected.<ref name=5Points>{{cite web|title=The Five Points|url=http://www.bhikkhuni.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/5-Points-for-the-UK-Siladharas.pdf|website=Alliance for Bhikkhunis|publisher=AFB|accessdate=15 January 2015}}</ref>. Though the siladhara community grew over the years, some began leaving to seek full vinaya training.<ref name=WayFwd>{{cite web|title=Finding a Way Forward|url=http://www.sakyadhitacanada.org/docs/Women%20at%20the%20Forefront.pdf|publisher=sakyadhita|accessdate=15 January 2015}}</ref> Ajahn Candasiri had stayed in the siladhara community which shrank to three nuns at one point. She is one of the siladhara who has been allowed to teach and lead retreats. She lived at Chithurst until 1999 when she moved to Amaravati monastery, a 1.5 hour drive. As of 2015, she is one of the most senior monastics, male or female, in the Amarvati community though she is not accorded that station. |
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| title=The Readers, Ahjahn Candasiri Bio |
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| accessdate=2006-09-16 |
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| author=Sutta Readings |
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|date= |
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| work=suttareadings.net| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20060810062400/http://www.suttareadings.net/audio/index-readers.html| archivedate= 10 August 2006 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> She has written and contributed to many articles. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 15:59, 15 January 2015
Ajahn Candasiri | |
|---|---|
| Title | Siladhara |
| Personal | |
| Born | 1947 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Religion | Theravada Buddhism |
| School | Thai Forest Tradition |
Ajahn Candasiri is one of the Theravada Buddhist monastics who co-founded Chithurst Buddhist Monastery in West Sussex, England, a branch monastery of the highly respected Ajahn Chah lineage. She is currently ordained at an unrecognized, junior level (a 10-precept Siladhara), the highest that is allowed for women in the Thai Forest Tradition. She is one of the more senior monastics in western Theravada and trained alongside women who later became fully ordained bhikkhunis and abbesses of monasteries.
Born in 1947, Ajahn Candasiri was raised as a Christian in Edinburgh, Scotland. She worked as an occupational therapist in the United Kingdom after graduation from university. She encountered the Buddha's teachings in 1977, through Ajahn Sumedho after she had explored several meditation traditions. She became a renunciant in 1979, a white-robed, eight-precept anagārika, at Chithurst Buddhist Monastery, England.[1]
Candasiri was one of four anagārika women who carved out an existence in the early days of Chithurst Buddhist Monastery, along with a group of monks. In 1979, the monastery was little more than an abandoned, dilapidated house. After the group turned it into a functional residence, the nuns moved to a small house nearby and fixed it up. They called it Āloka Cottage and eventually founded the siladhara ordination community there. In 1983, Candasiri took siladhara ordination (brown robes and 10 precepts). It consisted of a unique set of 137 rules and a new version of the patimokkha recitation created by Ajahn Sumedo so that the women monastics could be trained in Ajahn Chah's lineage. Ajahn Candasiri was one of the pioneer siladhara monastics who were trained by bhikkhus (fully ordained monks), in parts of the Suttavibhanga and a version of the vinaya patimokkha.[1] Some of the siladhara sisters became skilled Sangha members, capable of keeping the patimokkha, living in harmony and maintaining their community with very few resources.
For years, Ajahn Candasiri and the other siladharas remained with Chithurst Monastery despite the siladharas being subordinated to monastic men and being disrespected.[2]. Though the siladhara community grew over the years, some began leaving to seek full vinaya training.[3] Ajahn Candasiri had stayed in the siladhara community which shrank to three nuns at one point. She is one of the siladhara who has been allowed to teach and lead retreats. She lived at Chithurst until 1999 when she moved to Amaravati monastery, a 1.5 hour drive. As of 2015, she is one of the most senior monastics, male or female, in the Amarvati community though she is not accorded that station.
See also
References
- ^ "'Going Forth' and Entering the Flow". awakeningtruth.org. Thanasanti. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ^ "The Five Points" (PDF). Alliance for Bhikkhunis. AFB. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ^ "Finding a Way Forward" (PDF). sakyadhita. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
