What’s New at the Hermitage!
Another New Telephone Number: 828-338-2665
We had the number changed again to one that is local for the Hendersonville calling area.
Rare Multi-yana Buddhist Monastic Ordination Ceremony
On Sunday, April 13, a Dual-Platform Grand Ordination for Buddhist monks, nuns, and dharma teachers was held in the new Dhamma Hall at Embracing-Simplicity Buddhist Hermitage. This ceremony was a rare opportunity for qualified Buddhists seeking ordination. It was particularly significant because the ordination included all traditions, and females as well as males were ordained. A quorum of bhikkhu and bhikkhuni Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana masters and teachers from Burma, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the United States combined their efforts to ordain the qualified male and female candidates. Officiating monks and nuns were:
Ordination Masters Ven. Karuna Dharma (America) and Ven. Rathvita Wimalajothi (Sri Lanka),
Deputy Ordination Masters Ven. Gunasari (Burma) and Ven. Sujatha (Sri Lanka),
Vinaya Masters Ven. Sudarshana (Sri Lanka) and Ven. Kanan Bodhi (Bangladesh), and
Witness Masters Ven. Pannavati (America), Ven. Jinananda (Sri Lanka), Ven. Pannadipa (America) and
Rev. Chitta (America).
Ven. Dr. Karuna Dharma (Thich Tu-An), Abbess of International Buddhist Mediation Center in Los Angeles CA, the first American woman to take full Buddhist monastic vows in the United States (1976), officiated as the ceremony master. Ven. Dharma remarked, “Buddhist monastics of all traditions hold the hope that the Buddhadharma (teachings of Buddha) will flourish in the west and their communities will enlarge to meet the growing need for qualified teachers. Respecting the fact that Americans live in such a diverse society, I share that hope and I have continued the tradition of my teacher who desired to have a multi-yana ordination for monks and nuns.” Ven. Dharma is one of the few ordination masters in the world who has received the continuing respect and support of elders in all three schools.
This Grand Ordination did not decree ordination into a particular school. The candidates received the dharmagupta vows, took on the robes of their tradition and the name their own teacher chose for them. They were admitted into the Order with the understanding they were to remain with their own teachers and traditions for five years. This rare multi-yana ordination ceremony adds to a list of firsts for Embracing-Simplicity Buddhist Hermitage, a contemporary Theravadan and Chan community led by female and male African-American co-abbots, with all Caucasian sangha. Said Ven. Pannavati, Co-Abbot of the hermitage, “Being heavily committed to interfaith work, I thought it strange that those of various Buddhist traditions should not also come together. I was introduced to the extremely qualified Ven. Dr. Karuna Dharma by Karma Lekshe, President of Sakyadhita, Int’l. Being unqualified to convene it myself as a junior bhikkhuni, I sent her a three- page letter explaining why I thought this should happen. She responded with just three words: “How’s April 13th?” A very moving and powerful moment.”
Currently, three monastics reside at the hermitage. Seven of the nine ordinees are now associated with the community and the preceptors have pledged their continuing support to the hermitage to train all who ordained. View photos of the colorful and impressive ceremony.
The Hermitage is growing! Construction of the new dhamma hall is just about finished. The dhamma hall portion of the building was completed in time for the impressive Grand Ordination Ceremony held on April 13. Construction began on February 8th when the foundation was poured and panels for the house were delivered. By April 13 the upper floor was completed, and by May 1 we expect the lower floor residence quarters to be fnished and the monks moved in! The new building includes quarters for the male monks, residents and guests on the lower floor, and the upper floor is the dhamma hall, with a beautiful view of the surrounding grounds. The total budget for this project is $210,000, which has been financed. We urgently need donations and endowments to retire this debt. Please give us your generous assistance. Follow the construction progress photos.
Organic Garden
Last summer we made garden plots available to the community for individuals or families
who wished to experience the joy of organic gardening. Here is the story of last year's garden
and bountiful harvest in pictures.
The first monastic immersion experience for young adults 18-26 will be offered next
summer from June 8 through August 8, 2008. Applicants will combine meditation
practice, Buddhist studies, critical dialogue, work and fellowship in this temporary ordination
program. The cost to participate is $500. The program is open to men and women and will
result in a published book chronicling the experience. Some scholarship assistance is available.
It will serve as a pilot for an emerging Buddhist Studies experiential degree program. Click here
for more information.
The formation and evolution of an American Buddhist monastery and order is an exciting
and challenging mission. Bridging the wisdom and cultures of the East and West is still in its infancy.
This experiment within the Buddhist laboratory of practice is worthy of your support. Visit the
Hermitage, volunteer your talents and brawn in the building projects, help us meet the financial
challenge, tell others about us. We appreciate everyone who is helping to make the Hermitage a reality.