Our Vision
To care for the aged, to look after the sick & offer regular teachings to the Buddhist communities in Sydney suburbs.
Caring for elderly or sick nuns
If you have visited Santi, you will know that the rugged terrain and location of the huts makes the monastery suitable mostly for the young and fit. As the Santi community grows, Nuns who are elderly and/or sick will need accommodation closer to the city so that they may receive care and medical treatment.
Making an accessible place for all
But many others would also like the opportunity to connect with the Buddha’s inspirational teachings and yet Santi is a long journey from Sydney. Let us create a more accessible place to offer support, guidance and a sense of community. This would create opportunities for:
- many young people who are interested in finding out more about the Buddha’s teachings
- people wanting to offer alms and receive teachings but who might struggle to make the long journey to Santi because they are elderly or have disabilities
- people who have expressed the wish to receive regular Dhamma teachings and meditation classes from Bhikkhunis but lead busy lives and have little time to travel to a monastery far away.
Bringing the Dhamma to the city
A suburban setting would help them all to find the peace of the Dhamma in their lives, whilst also caring for our older Nuns. Furthermore, a suburban setting would be more accessible and the Nuns would be able to regularly go on pindapata (alms round). This would not only create an opportunity for people to give, but also allow them the sight of the samana (monastic). In the Mangala Sutta it says that the sight of a samana – an even and peaceful one – is a blessing.
How you can help
Give for the benefit of longevity and wellbeing of the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha by contributing to the purchase of a suburban nuns’ residence in the Sydney metro area.
“The donation of a dwelling where one can practice samādhi & insight, meditating well sheltered & at ease, has been praised by the Buddha as the highest of all gifts to the monastics. Therefore wise persons, considering their own welfare, build monasteries to accommodate knowledgeable monastics.
With purified, joyful mind they donate food & drinks, robes & lodging to genuine & upright monks, who share with them the Dhamma to overcome all suffering. And having understood the Dhamma, freed from all impurities, right here they realize Nibbāna.”
The Buddha, Cullavagga VI.9.2