Dharma Seed - Ayya Medhanandi's Dharma Talks

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Ayya Medhanandi's Dharma Talks

Ayya Medhanandi

Ayya Medhanandi's Website

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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2012-11-19 Spiritual Athlete 27:55	Download Listen
Every Canadian knows Terry Fox, a teenage athlete who lost his leg to cancer, continued to train as a runner, and ran across Canada with one leg before he succumbed to his illness. His mission was to raise money for cancer research so others would not suffer. A legacy for our own journey - spiritual heroism, undaunted effort, magnanimous vision, valiant heart. The training begins now - for as along as it takes.
Ottawa Buddhist Society

2012-04-08 A Wilderness Traveller 37:26	Download Listen
All of us can train our minds. When we are driven by lack of wisdom, ill-will, greed or confusion, we live in a wilderness of the mind. In spiritual community, we hold together to blaze a trail through that wilderness, establishing trust and confidence, and persevering. We are guided by wisdom and mindfulness to purify ourselves; and we are willing to make sacrifices – even to suffer – for the treasures of the Path.
Sati Saraniya Hermitage

2012-04-07 Life-Saving Treasure 38:04	Download Listen
A reflection on the Upaddha Sutta (Half of the Holy Life) about the importance of good friends, companions, and comrades on the Eightfold Noble Path. Good friends encourage and share in developing seclusion of mind, dispassion towards the sense pleasures of the world, and, ultimately, the cessation of suffering that leads to a lasting freedom and peace.
Ottawa Buddhist Society

2011-11-26 Open the Gates to the Deathless 35:14	Download Listen
The Eightfold Noble Path is the Buddha's map to freedom. His directions how to proceed are precise, rigorous and breathtaking - the better for our faith and diligence. Though we may falter or feel unworthy, we discard delusion of a self - the better for purifying our hearts. Wise, surefooted and joyous, we open the gates to the Deathless.
Satipaññā Insight Meditation Toronto

2011-11-20 I Sit Here in Blessing 10:58	Download Listen
How can we care for ourselves and each other, using our formal meditation practice as a template for daily living? As we sit for meditation, mark an intuitive pathway through painful, burdensome mind states, teaching the mind to purify itself with every breath. Gradually, we overcome our sufferings. We glimpse the peace, happiness, clarity and freedom of heart that are within our reach.
Satipaññā Insight Meditation Toronto

2011-10-14 Bhikkhuni Pioneers 35:39	Download Listen
Ayya Medhanandi offers a historical perspective on the bhikkhuni tradition as well as insights on how to live with compassion in the world. She describes how the monastic communal experience provides abundant opportunities for the exploration of personal and collective aspirations to fulfill the goals of the Eightfold Noble Path and end suffering.
Aloka Vihara Forest Monastery

2011-07-19 A Raft to Nibbana 29:08	Download Listen
What else is there to do in this life but know the truth of what we are and deepen in wisdom and compassion. Our spiritual map leads us out of the darkness to a purity and clarity of understanding. Here we are, secure in the raft of the heart, braving the tempestuous currents of the world. Yet we are forever tuned to awareness of our true nature. We carefully examine our attachments and let go, guided to freedom from the poisons and dangers of the world. At last, we shall know the irreversible and liberating joys of the Way.
Ottawa Buddhist Society

2011-05-08 Closing remarks around precepts and spiritual friendships. 1:20:25	Download Listen
with Ajahn Jayanto, Ajahn Sucitto, Ayya Medhanandi
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center : Holistic Awareness: Monastic Retreat

2011-05-06 Questions and Answers 1:59:43	Download Listen
with Ajahn Jayanto, Ajahn Sucitto, Ayya Medhanandi
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center : Holistic Awareness: Monastic Retreat

2011-05-05 Death And Awakening 49:53	Download Listen
Listen deeply to the resonance within where virtue sows fields of goodness, wisdom and compassion, and Death teaches us to let go. At first, we tremble with fear. But out of that fear, we draw strength. Out of anger – a stillness and forgiveness. Out of greed, we draw generosity and gratitude. And from true vulnerability, we awaken to the Deathless.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center : Holistic Awareness: Monastic Retreat

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