CHAIRPERSON’S SPEECH – Patacarra Bhukkhuni  Hermitage

(presented at the AGM on 9^th February 2025)

This is an opportunity for us to recall, reflect and re-examine with gratitude and appreciation the Path of Patacara Bhukkhuni Hermitage, and its progress to serve the Buddhist community.

Patacara Bhikkhuni Hermitage started due to an individual health need of a great nun, Ajahn Vayama. 

This great Bhikkhuni initiated the Bhikkhuni Sangha community in WA.  She spent two full years in solitude in a forest with absolute minimum facilities – a pit toilet, no running water, no electricity, and for bathing she travelled to a lay person’s house.  Each day she had to walk over a kilometre to a location where phone signal was available to inform the lay community that she was alive.  She was supported by the Buddhist community.

Today this nunnery that Ajahn Vayama founded, progressed to be one of the best Forest Bhikkhuni Sangha nunneries in the world.

When Ajahn Vayama’s illness was diagnosed, some fifteen years ago, our Ayya Seri courageously and single handedly came forward to attend to Ajahn Vayama’s needs.  Initially the care for Ajahn Vayama was undertaken in a private house of one of Ayya Seri’s relatives.

I came to know of this  information which I am listing, as I have heard it.  Please forgive me should there be any inaccuracies in this presentation.

There had been a small group of devotees at that time, supporting the two nuns, as I have heard, and many of them are here even today.

Within a year, Jacky Lambert very generously offered her own home to give stability and a base for Ajahn Vayama’s care. And Jacky subsequently made changes to her home to better suit the needs of a care environment.

It  was around this period that the legal entity of Patacara Bhukkhuni Hermitage Incorporated was formally established.

Ajahn Vayama’s health declined progressively which increased her care needs, until her care  reached 24/7. Ayya Seri became a health professional who was on 24 hr duty.  She managed individual high care needs of Ajahn Vayama, plus the management of 24/7 carers roster; preparation of standard operation procedures for each shift; management of specific Dana needs; and co-ordination of the Dana roster. 

Ayya Seri consistently and devotedly, dedicated up to 15 years of her life in nursing her teacher and our great nun, Ajahn Vayama.

Ayya Seri followed what our Lord Buddha preached –  “WHEN YOU NURSE THE SICK AND LOOK AFTER A PATIENT, IT’S AS GOOD AS YOU NURSING AND LOOKING AFTER BUDDHA”.

Needless to say, the Merits are very high that  Ayya Seri accrued with her tireless effort and commitment over years to her teacher Ajahn Vayama.

Since the passing away of Ajahn Vayama in 2021, Ayya Seri recuperated with a year retreat and then her subsequent leadership gave birth to the Patacara Bhikkhuni Hermitage as we all know it today.

It has been a very arduous journey for her to achieve what we now have, and  she couldn’t have achieved this without the support of the Buddhist community. 

Ayya Seri and this community can be very proud of these achievements.  Apart from the buildings we have built, she has now become a renowned teacher herself, who lives and spreads the word of the Buddha. 

Thank you and we wish you all blessings of The Noble Triple Gem.

Ravi De Silva