February 5, 2025
Welcome to the First Edition of the Dhammadharini Newsletter!
We are delighted to bring you the inaugural edition of the Dhammadharini newsletter, a space dedicated to sharing updates, inspiration, and opportunities to deepen your connection with our vibrant community.
In the year ahead, we aspire to keep you more regularly informed about Dhammadharini’s activities, milestones, and upcoming events. This newsletter will be a way to celebrate our shared path, highlight opportunities to get involved, and keep you connected to the heart of our sangha.
Whether you’re near or far, we hope this newsletter becomes a meaningful way for you to stay engaged with Dhammadharini and the ever-growing circle of those walking the Dhamma path together.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us—let’s make this a year of connection, learning, and shared growth!
A Reflection from Tathālokā Therī
This is part of a larger conditional teaching of one of the Buddha's disciples with great wisdom on "Āghāta Paṭivinaya" on "what leads out of resentment and hatred."
The sutta is not all like the three lines above; that is just one part of it, one situation, amidst "five methods to completely get rid of hatred or resentment when it has arisen toward anyone" called "Pañca Āghāta Paṭivinayā." It is part of a whole chapter on āghāta. "Āghāta" is resentment, displeasure, bitterness, irritation...
I would highly recommend reading this whole sutta at least once in this lifetime, just to consider.
To myself, i would like to recommend considering it many times.
Here are English translations of the whole Dutiyaāghātapaṭivinayasutta AN 5.162:
- by Sujato Bhikkhu, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
And a retreat talk on this sutta (audio) by Brahmali Bhikkhu.
Touched by the kindness, sympathy, compassion, and empathy,
Tathālokā Therī
at Dhammadharini Sonomagiri Bhikkhunī Ārāma
Featured teaching from Ayya Sobhana
Guided meditation:
Monastic Community Updates
Upcoming Winter Retreat at Dhammadharini
As we begin the New Year, the Dhammadharini community is entering its Winter Retreat—a precious time of simplicity, deeper practice, and quietude. From now until early April, the monastery will embrace this period of retreat, allowing the sangha to cultivate the depth of Dhamma practice that sustains and enriches our engagement with the world throughout the year.
This year, our community’s practice theme is Compassion & Emptiness, inspired by the teachings of Bhikkhu Analayo. Ayya Sōhanā and guest teachers will offer insights on this theme, exploring the profound qualities that help us navigate the challenges of samsara skillfully.
While the retreat is a time of focused practice, you are warmly invited to participate in the following ways:
Join our online programs: Sunday mornings, Sunday afternoons, and Tuesday evenings (live or via YouTube).
Explore retreat materials to deepen your own practice from wherever you are.
Visit the monastery in Penngrove to offer a meal, enjoy the garden, or simply spend time in the peaceful surroundings.
We also invite you to mark two special events with us during this retreat:
February 16 & 18: Teachings in honor of the Parinibbāna of Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī Theri and the Founding 500.
March 9 & 11: Commemoration of the Parinibbāna of Yasodharā Theri.
In this season of contemplation, let us step away from the fear and divisiveness of the world and turn our attention toward cultivating the qualities of compassion and wisdom. May this time of retreat offer renewal and inspiration, whether you join us in person, online, or in spirit.
We look forward to connecting with you on this shared path of practice.
New Dana-Offering Area at the Monastery
At the monastery, led by our wonderful visitor Leo and our Director of Facilities Todd, with others in the community pitching in to help, construction is just finishing of a new covered dana-offering area near the dana sala. This will provide a more gracious place to offer the meal, rain or shine.
From a Board Member
Dear Friends of Dhammadharini,
As the bhikkhunis enter their Winter Retreat, this is a sacred time for the community to turn inward, cultivating wisdom and compassion to share with the world. This period of focused practice is only possible with the generous support of our extended Dhammadharini family—you!
Your contributions are vital to sustaining the monastics during this time of deep practice. Every offering, no matter the size, directly supports the sangha and ensures the continuation of their invaluable teachings.
Here’s how your support makes a difference:
$486 covers the operating costs for one day. This includes:
$406 for property and facility needs (buildings, vehicles, utilities, insurance, repairs).
$80 for food, clothing, and medical requisites for the monastics.
$76 for mortgage and property taxes.
$30 for lighting and heating the buildings.
$28 to maintain the online Dhamma teachings infrastructure (internet, website, streaming tools).
Alternatively, you might consider selecting an item from our Useful Things List, providing the bhikkhunis with essentials to support their practice and daily life.
Your generosity uplifts the entire sangha, enabling them to create a sanctuary for deep practice that benefits countless beings.
Thank you for your kindness and support. May your acts of generosity nourish your own practice and may the blessings of the sangha’s retreat ripple far and wide.
With metta and deep gratitude,
Upasika Nuchada Prypiroonrojn
Director of Development, Dhammadharini Support Foundation
