Marin Sangha with Guest Teacher, Ayya Tathaaloka Bhikkhuni 3/25/12

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Date: March 25, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Ayya Tathaaloka Bhikkhuni is an American-born Theravadan nun, scholar and Buddhist teacher. She is also the founder of Dhammadharini Vihara (a monastic residence in Fremont, CA), co-founder of Aranya Bodhi Hermitage, recipient of the 2006 Outstanding Women in Buddhism Award, a presenting scholar at the 2007 International Congress on Buddhist Women's Role in the Sangha and appointed Preceptor for the historically significant 2009 Bhikkhuni Ordination held in Perth, Australia.

Born "Heather Buske" in Washington, D.C., 1968, Ayya Tathaaloka Theri's parents encouraged her to develop the skills necessary to look for what is true. She began pursuing monastic life at age 19. And at age 20, she left college after the sudden death of a friend, to take anagarika ordination.

Ayya Tathaaloka received the full bhikkhuni ordination in 1997, at a gathering of Bhikkhu and Bhikkhuni Sanghas in Southern California. As of the 2006 Vassa, her 10th "rain" (a traditional Pali term for the annual three-month retreat during rainy season) after taking higher ordination, she is eligible to be called Ajahn, the Thai veneration for senior monastics who teach. But, she still prefers "Ayya."  She has studied in South Korea, Thailand and other countries, and has taught around the world, including at Bhikkhuni Sangha University in South Korea.

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Marin Sangha is an insight meditation (vipassana) sitting group in Northern California.  The group is led by Phillip Moffitt.