Ayya Medhanandi's Dharma Talks
Ayya Medhanandi
Ayyā Medhānandī Bhikkhunī, is the founder and guiding teacher of Sati Sārāņīya Hermitage, a Canadian forest monastery for women in the Theravāda tradition. The daughter of Eastern European refugees who emigrated to Montreal after World War II, she began a spiritual quest in childhood that led her to India, Burma, England, New Zealand, Malaysia, Taiwan, and finally, back to Canada.
In 1988, at the Yangon Mahasi retreat centre in Burma, Ayyā requested ordination as a bhikkhunī from her teacher, the Venerable Sayādaw U Pandita Mahāthera. This was not yet possible for Theravāda Buddhist women. Instead, Sayādaw granted her ordination as a 10 precept nun on condition that she take her vows for life. Thus began her monastic training in the Burmese tradition. When the borders were closed to foreigners by a military coup, in 1990 Sayādaw blessed her to join the Ajahn Chah Thai Forest Saņgha at Amaravati, UK.
After ten years in their siladhāra community, Ayyā felt called to more seclusion and solitude in New Zealand and SE Asia. In 2007, having waited nearly 20 years, she received bhikkhunī ordination at Ling Quan Chan Monastery in Keelung, Taiwan and returned to her native Canada in 2008, on invitation from the Ottawa Buddhist Society and Toronto Theravāda Buddhist Community, to establish Sati Sārāņīya Hermitage.
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Select from Ayya Medhanandi's
238
talks
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2021-12-12
A Compass to Freedom
2020-05-24
A Cry of Surprise
2009-06-17
A Friend to All - Guided Loving-Kindness Meditation
2013-06-03
A Generosity of Presence: Guided Meditation
2019-08-15
A Gift from the Sea – Unbroken Paua Shell and Consummate Trust
2008-05-11
A Good Pair of Boots
2008-05-10
A Little Renunciation
2019-08-12
A Matter of Death, Life, Truth and Recovery
2002-12-10
A Mind Empowered 5 Ways
2019-08-13
A Mystical Ladder - Patience, the Incinerator of Defilements
1996-11-10
A Pilgrimage of Trust
2020-08-20
A Safe Domain: How the Quail Escaped a Hawk
2019-08-12
A Swallowtail Butterfly at the Hummingbird Feeder
2013-05-03
A Terrain Beyond Boundaries
2012-04-08
A Wilderness Traveller
2016-07-16
Across the River of Pain
2011-05-03
An Island Beyond Which We Cannot Go
2017-05-22
As Still As the Earth
2008-10-30
Ascending the Altar
2018-10-20
At The Core of The Coreless
2021-12-12
At the Frontier of Harmlessness – Chop Off the Head of Mara
2008-10-14
Autumn Leaves
2009-11-22
Baptism of Fire
2019-04-19
Baptismal Breath: A Guided Meditation
2009-03-16
Barefoot and Empty-handed
2009-04-04
Batik Buddha
2016-08-15
Be Like Bamboo
2014-08-10
Be the First to Forgive
2008-07-16
Be Your Own Doctor
2019-08-11
Beautiful Qualities - Five of the Ten Perfections
2008-12-03
Beginner's Class - An Island of Safety
2008-09-17
Beginner's Class - Knots to Untangle
2009-12-03
Beginners' Class - The Frontier of Intimacy
2008-09-17
Behind the Veil of Thoughts - Guided Meditation
2011-10-14
Bhikkhuni Pioneers
2017-08-15
Body-Wise Guided Meditation
2013-05-10
Boundless Metta in Difficult Times - A Guided Loving Kindness Meditation
2020-06-05
Bowing On Two Knees: Covid Compassion and Nonviolence
2016-08-16
Break Down
2019-08-13
Breaking the Cycle of Harm – Patience and Friendship With the Lovely
2017-04-10
Buddham Vande, Buddha One Day
2021-06-27
By Love Alone
2016-11-08
Chant, Breathe, Trust - Bless the Rain
2002-12-09
Chariot to Nibbana
2015-11-20
Choice Medicine: Fearlessness, Peace & Moral Integrity
2020-08-18
Chopping and Burning the Tree of Emptiness
2016-03-28
Collection of the Buddha's Suttas
2018-06-18
Come to the Edge
2008-06-10
Commitment & Sacrifice
2021-12-12
Compassion Is Greater Than Fear
2020-10-17
Contemplation and Its Special Friend, Mindfulness - Two Questions
2017-11-26
Courage, Kindness, and Freedom - Ancient Verses of Arahant Rohini Bhikkhuni
2005-10-01
Crossing Boundaries
2019-08-11
Death - Portal of Deliverance
2011-05-05
Death And Awakening
2021-09-26
Dedicate Everyday to Someone
2018-10-13
Delusion is Not the Way Out
2015-08-18
Devotion
2006-04-23
Dhamma Wings
2019-08-15
Don't Be Afraid, Mahanama – Lean Towards Nibbana
2017-05-21
Don't Own the Second Arrow
2019-08-15
Dwell in Intrinsic Emptiness – The Liberating Quality of Loving-kindness
2018-10-14
Empty Mirror: Awake, Forgiving, Free
2009-10-16
Empty of Fear
2020-08-21
Empty the Basket
2009-08-21
Energy Audit
2018-08-16
Entering the Gate: Four Spiritual Powers
2008-11-19
Ethical Connection
2007-03-12
Ethical Footprint
2005-09-14
Even As A Mother
2016-03-26
Evening Chanting
2013-06-08
Evening Dhamma Teaching - This is Not Beyond our Doing
2013-06-04
Evening Dharma Teaching - Day 4 - Satipaññā and Refuge to the Rescue
2013-06-06
Evening Dharma Teaching Day 6 - Friendship with the Lovely
2013-06-01
Evening Talk; Day 1 - Grow in the Master's Way
2016-08-17
Fall Apart, Fall Apart, Rise Anew
2018-06-17
Fearlessness
2012-11-22
Feast of Patience
2015-11-22
Fictitious Noodles
2009-03-18
Fierce Gifts
2018-11-04
First Aid
2020-07-17
Four Astounding Things
2009-06-17
Four Life Practices
2017-05-23
Funeral of the Ego & Chant on Impermanence
2009-07-15
Gardening the Mind
2016-03-26
Gatekeeper Mindfulness
2017-06-18
Give Up What Destroys You
2017-04-07
Going Forth - A Refuge
2016-11-18
Great Equanimity - Change for the Good
2013-05-05
Guardian Of The Mind
2013-05-04
Heart Benefit Guided Meditation and Reflections
2008-08-19
Here We Are - Standing Meditation
2016-08-18
Holding the Lotus to the Rock
2004-12-05
How Do I Know I'm Deluded?
2017-11-12
How Do I Save That Moth?
2019-08-10
How To Cross the Flood - Seven Enlightenment Practices
2002-12-11
I Am of the Nature to Die
2014-08-11
I Give You My Bread
2002-12-13
I Just Wanted Some Toothpaste
2011-11-20
I Sit Here in Blessing
2019-08-10
I Will Not Be Angry – How Ajahn Gunhah Won the Hearts of Outlaws
2009-03-19
Ice Melts
2017-09-15
Imina Punya - Sharing of Blessings Chant in Pali
2009-10-21
In the Boat of Myself - Guided Meditation
2015-11-22
In the Domain of No Fear
2017-08-13
In the Seen There Is Only the Seen: How Bahiya Overcame Pride to Awaken
2020-08-21
In the Stream of the Noble Ones
2020-08-21
In the Stream of the Noble Ones
2020-08-19
Into the Quiet
2022-04-17
Invite the Miraculous
2006-06-12
It Will Never Happen To Me
1996-11-09
Joy is Hidden in Sorrow
2009-05-06
Just As We Are - Guided Meditation
2010-01-01
Let E-go
2012-04-07
Life-Saving Treasure
2020-10-17
Lifeboat - On Our Own
2019-04-20
Lifetime Vow
2016-11-18
Look Within and Wake Up
2020-12-13
Love Everyone Or Die
2016-08-17
Love Wisdom More Than Life
2020-06-20
Mantra of Compassion
2015-11-22
Many Intersections – Reflections & Guided Meditation
2011-11-26
Mapping the Beauty Within
2019-08-11
Masquerade of the Hindrances - A Blameless Life
2008-12-03
Medicine Heart - Guided Meditation
2010-12-17
Medicine Heart Metta: Guided Forgiveness
2017-08-18
Metta Without Borders
2017-08-15
Metta Without Borders
2020-08-22
Metta, Mantra, Addiction, Recovery: Three Questions
2020-10-17
Mind Like A Satellite - Respect, Extraordinary Mindfulness and Wisdom
2008-11-26
Miracle of the Breath - Beginner’s Guided Meditation
2008-09-24
Mirror Mirror on the Wall
2016-03-29
Morning Instructions
2016-03-27
Morning Reflection
2009-03-17
Niagara Falls
2011-04-30
Noble Friendship, Noble Warming
2015-08-20
Noble Search and Rescue
2009-11-20
Noble Subtrefuge - Four Royal Efforts
2017-05-21
Noble Virtues, Reflections & Chant of the Ten Pāramῑ
2007-09-16
Noble Warming 1
2018-10-14
Nothing Less Than Truth
2019-11-10
Nothing There: Beyond the Prison of 'Self'
2007-04-05
Now in Session
2011-04-09
Nuclear Free
2016-11-19
On A Path We Trust
2020-06-05
On the Altar of This Moment
2020-05-01
On the Cross of Our Illusions: A Guided Dying Meditation and Reflections
2017-05-22
On the Look Out
2006-12-10
On the Street Where You Live
2021-12-12
On the Threshold of Pure Presence
2015-10-11
On The Wings of the Breath
2013-05-09
One Inalienable Right
2013-05-03
Opening Talk
2009-06-19
Opinions
2009-07-15
Peace is Here - Guided Meditation
2008-12-17
Peace Offering
2015-12-20
Peace Without Fear - Seven Lights to Freedom
2017-08-17
Polish the Moon and Sweep the Clouds
2015-11-21
Practice Forgiveness: Guided Metta Meditation
2020-07-18
Practise Like the Barley Reaper
2008-09-03
Pure Listening - Guided Meditation
2016-08-15
Reading: Ajahn Chah – In the Dead of Night
2016-08-14
Reading: Sayadaw U Pandita – Mother Hen
2016-08-13
Reading: Therigatha – Venerable Subha Bhikkhuni’s Poem
2016-11-20
Redemption
2019-08-14
Repair What Feels Broken – The Hardest Walk of All
2007-03-14
Rescue Remedy
2017-05-23
Rising Up Like A Swan
2013-06-30
Sacred Heart: First Inside the Temple
2015-08-16
Sanctity Deep Within Us: Guided Metta Meditation:
2020-07-18
Secure Connection, Free Roaming
2013-05-08
Seven Enlightenment Factors
2008-11-03
Shoot Me First: Right Intention, Effort & Social Responsibility
2008-06-18
Smiling Moon - Guided Meditation
2015-10-04
Softly Close the Gates
2008-12-19
Solstice Heart
2015-11-22
Sowing Grace
2014-07-19
Speaking of Violence
2012-11-19
Spiritual Athlete
2017-05-24
Standing for the Dhamma
2009-03-16
Stay Tuned - Radiant Mind Untainted By Ego
2015-08-17
Take Your Medicine
2019-04-22
Taking Emptiness Home
2021-01-03
The Basis for Our Happiness
2014-06-07
The Bricks and Mortar of Forgiveness
2013-05-11
The Buddha's Positioning System (BPS)
2020-05-01
The Currency of Covid: Protection from Harm Through Spiritual Awakening
2014-08-13
The Dhamma of Snow
2008-10-15
The Gift of Being - Guided Meditation
2017-05-21
The Gift of Walking
2008-09-25
The Good News
2020-08-19
The Inner Stopping
2017-05-24
The Last Meal Blessing
2005-07-24
The Moral Equivalent of War
2019-04-18
The Night of the Poison Arrow
2021-01-03
The Nimitta of Suffering
2016-12-10
The Novice With An Empty Bowl
2002-12-12
The Poison Arrow
2016-03-30
The Power of Metta
2020-05-24
The Quail's Tale: A Path to Harmlessness
2019-11-03
The Ratana Sutta - a forest chant from Sati Saraniya Hermitage
2021-05-15
The Teacher is Present – Vesak Joy and Dhamma Refuge
2007-03-11
The Threads of Your Life: Guided Death Meditation
2008-11-04
The Torah and the Triple Gem
2020-06-05
The Unequivocal Law of Kamma
2021-01-03
The Value of Death
1998-11-15
The Way of the Mystic
2007-09-15
The Wilderness of Anger
2019-04-17
The Winds of Change - A Guided Meditation
2020-10-16
This Is Where the Mind is Liberated
2009-03-15
Through the Eye of the Needle
2008-09-03
Thunderstorm
2007-04-05
Time To Defragment
2021-07-18
To Die With A Peaceful Heart
2020-05-31
Traditional Request for a Dhamma Talk (in Pāli) chanted at Sati Saraniya Hermit…
2014-08-14
Train for Nibbana
2017-08-04
Truth & Reconciliation
2009-05-06
Truth Counts
2017-08-11
Turning to Dust: Death Contemplations
2017-04-13
Understanding Death
2008-06-06
Unfathomable Love - At the Shrine of the Awakened
2015-08-15
Unsurpassed Treasure
2005-07-23
Until Death Do Us Part: The Power of Determination
2015-12-20
Virtue Goes Full Circle
2013-05-06
Ways of working with hindrances
2019-11-16
We Are Here To Forgive
2016-10-14
We Are Stronger Than We Know: The Truth About Trauma
2008-06-08
We Will Arrive - Beating a Path to Awakening
2020-07-17
We’re Not Separate At All
2019-08-13
What is Killing You - Thorns, Barnacles, and Buoys on the Middle Way
2018-08-15
What Obstructs the Dhamma Eye
2016-11-17
What Will Heal Us
2020-06-20
When Fear Dies
2018-10-12
When the Tree Withers & the Leaves Fall
2017-05-23
When Truth Speaks Out – Limbless Man On the Bridge
2021-06-19
Where the Flame of Truth Burns Bright
2016-08-16
Who’s Sitting Under the Bodhi Tree
2015-11-21
Why Do Beings Live In Hate?
2008-12-19
Solstice Heart
34:24
With the advent of the Winter Solstice - the shortest day of the year - comes the promise that the light will return. We can honour this principle in our practice by turning towards the light that is revealed in our own minds. The goodness and purity of this light can connect us to unconditional peace and love. A talk given at the Ottawa Buddhist Society in 2008.
Ottawa Buddhist Society
2008-11-04
The Torah and the Triple Gem
1:13:35
An autobiographical portrait of Ayya Medhanandi’s life, from her meeting with her first teacher in India in her early twenties to her career as a nutritionist and going forth to become a Theravada Buddhist nun. She notes the striking similarities between the tenets of her ancient Judaic faith and the principles of Theravada Buddhism. The inward journey goes beyond religious belief - crossing fixed boundaries for the sake of realizing our true spiritual heritage. A talk given at H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, Vancouver, Canada in 2008.
H.R. MacMillan Space Center, Vancouver, B.C.
2008-11-03
Shoot Me First: Right Intention, Effort & Social Responsibility
1:17:35
As we follow the steps of the Eightfold Noble Path, our hatred, greed, and delusion abate. We may yet suffer, but we use our suffering to fathom the meaning of it, see its causes, and see the possibility for ending suffering. The four Noble Truths come alive within. Invariably, our suffering manifests in many forms. It may never ‘end’ but it ceases to be a problem as our fear or aversion to it die. Persevering in this work is the way to make peace with our suffering.
University of British Colombia
2008-10-30
Ascending the Altar
34:52
What is renunciation? Patiently we learn how to let go of the thoughts and actions that enslave us to samsara. And we begin to understand what it takes to tame the ego and cultivate greater and greater compassion in its boundless quality. Through this magnificent process, we study the way to ascend the altar and sit with our teacher, the Buddha.
Birken Forest Monastery
