Remembering Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri on Her 70th Birthday – Story 17 : Pilgrimage to Sri Lanka 2012

Posted on November 8, 2022 by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

STORY 17 – PILGRIMAGE TO SRI LANKA 2012

by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

We went on a pilgrimage to Sri Lanka in 2012. Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri had already been diagnosed with MSA – Multi System Atrophy. She had difficulty walking. So, we took her around Sri Lanka in a wheelchair.

During the pilgrimage, we were always on time with all our designated group departures and gatherings. Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri never used her disability as an excuse to be late.

She was also very kind and considerate. She asked me to take extra time to rest and she would call me when she was ready and needed my help. Even though I had to get ready for both of us, we always turned up bright and early for our appointments.

Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri also had an excellent memory and a great sense of direction. The group leader put me, Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri and a lay supporter, Merry, into a taxi to take us to visit Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri’s 90-year-old supporter, Chandra, in Kandy.

The taxi driver did not know how to get to Chandra’s address. Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri gave the taxi driver specific instructions and directions. Winding around crowded streets, no signposts. Chandra was delighted to see us when we arrived. Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri’s last visit to Sri Lanka was in 2005. Merry and I were in awe of Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri’s ability to remember the directions to get to Chandra’s place.

We had a memorable time on the pilgrimage to Sri Lanka. We visited most of Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri’s favorite places and I remember all the kind and generous people that we met.

Theruwan Saranai.

Reclining Buddha at Gal Vihara

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Remembering Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri on Her 70th Birthday – Story 16 : One thing at a time

Posted on November 7, 2022 by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

STORY 16 – ONE THING AT A TIME

by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

This was a teaching that I received from my teacher ten years ago in 2012.

There was a time I found a big tear in my robe. In the forest Theravada tradition, the monastics only have one robe. I had to stitch a patch on my robe by hand as we did not have a sewing machine.

I told Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri I was going to do the sewing in my room and listen to a Dhamma talk at the same time. She turned around and looked at me. She reminded me that as a monastic, I should practise staying in the present moment and be aware and mindful of what I was doing in front of me.

This meant ‘doing one thing at a time’. If I would like to listen to a Dhamma talk, I should give my full attention to the talk. If I would like to repair my robe, I should pay full attention to the sewing.

I repaired my robe that afternoon. I did not listen to the Dhamma Talk.

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Remembering Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri on Her 70th Birthday – Story 15 : The name ‘Patacara Bhikkhuni Hermitage’

Posted on November 6, 2022 by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

STORY 15 -THE NAME ‘PATACARA BHIKKHUNI HERMITAGE’

by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri was always simple, precise, straight to the point and elegant with her choices of words. She gave the name ‘Dhammasara’ to the Nuns Monastery, ‘Jhana Grove’ to the Meditation Retreat Centre and ‘Patacara’ to the Bhikkhuni Hermitage.

‘Patacara’ is such an appropriate name for the Bhikkhuni Hermitage. Venerable Patacara Bhikkhuni was an enlightened nun during the Buddha’s time. She was foremost in Vinaya amongst the nuns, and a great teacher.

It was a fitting choice of name for our Hermitage. Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri was an excellent teacher. At that time, I just finished memorizing the Bhikkhuni Patimokha and recited the Patimokha for the first time from memory in September 2010. I was also very interested in the Vinaya. Most importantly, Venerable Patacara Bhikkhuni represented our inspiration and aspiration to practice for enlightenment, Nibbana.

Another very interesting coincidence at that time, October 2010, was that Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri had received her diagnosis of cerebellum dystrophy – a degenerative neurological condition. We had just left Dhammasara Nuns Monastery and were staying at my Grandma’s house for 5 months while Grandma was away on holiday.

Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri and I had no certainty of a roof under our head, had minimum support and an unfavorable medical diagnosis. I felt like everything was crumbling down around us and the ground had been pulled away from us. This was very similar to Venerable Patacara Bhikkhuni’s predicament.

Venerable Patacara Bhikkhuni lost her husband, her young son and a newborn son in a storm in just one day. When she returned to her hometown to take refuge in her family, she found her parents and brother were killed in a house fire just one day before she arrived. She lost her mind with her misfortunes. Venerable Patacara Bhikkhuni met the Buddha and the Buddha opened her eyes to see the Dhamma. She practiced the Dhamma and became fully enlightened.

Ploughing the field with their ploughs,
Sowing seeds upon the ground,
Maintaining their wives and children,
Young men acquire wealth.

Then why, when I am pure in virtue,
Practising the Master’s Teaching,
Have I not attained Nibbana –
For I am not lazy, nor puffed up?

Having washed my feet,
I reflected upon the waters,
when I saw the foot water flow,
from the high ground down the slope,
my mind became concentrated
like an excellent thoroughbred steed.

Having taken a lamp, I entered my cell,
I inspected the bed and sat down on the couch.
Then, having taken a needle,
I pulled down the wick,
The liberation of the mind
was like the quenching of the lamp.

(Thig. 112-16 by Venerable Arahat Bhikkhuni Patacara)

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Remembering Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri on Her 70th Birthday – Story 14 : 7.00pmItis

Posted on November 5, 2022 by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

STORY 14 -7.00pmITIS

by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni Theri

After we left the monastery in 2010, we were facing much uncertainty, challenges, and difficulties. There was Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri’s degenerative neurological condition. We were also staying at my Grandma’s place in Leeming temporarily with no other place to go to.

I went through doubts and asked myself a lot of questions. “What is happening?” “Why is this happening?” I was also experiencing the good old ‘perimenopausal syndrome’ and would get emotional and teary when I was talking to my teacher about my doubts and questions.

Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri laughed at me and said: “Your 7.00pmITIS.”  My emotional outbursts and discussions normally took place at 7.00pm!

I was very grateful to have a wise and compassionate teacher and kalyanamitta like Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri. Her steadiness, loving kindness, and most importantly, her unwavering faith in Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha guided me and supported me through my 7.00pmITIS.

During the rains retreat of 2010, we spent hours practicing meditation together, listening to Dhamma especially on the topics of lovingkindness, compassion and forgiveness. She also helped me with the memorization of the Bhikkhuni Patimokkha. It was my growth spurt in Dhamma. I was very fortunate to have my teacher with me.

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Remembering Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri on Her 70th Birthday – Story 13 : The doorknobs

Posted on November 4, 2022 by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

STORY 13 – THE DOORKNOBS

by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

Most of us rushing through life seldom stop for a moment to notice what is in front of us. When we go from point A to point B, we walk through all the doorways but hardly stop. Here is a teaching from Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri regarding doors and doorknobs.

She was giving a teaching to the nuns, trainees and residents at the monastery after breakfast. She would like all of us to use the door as a reminder to stop and to establish our mindfulness before we put our hand and fingers on the doorknob. She encouraged the community to turn the doorknob gently and walk through the door slowly and quietly. In this way, it was a great opportunity to practice lovingkindness and not to disturb the person who was sitting next to the door. It was also a wonderful way to remind us to stop, to take a breath and to re-establish our mindfulness.

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Remembering Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri on Her 70th Birthday – Story 12 : Pushing the garbage

Posted on November 3, 2022 by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

STORY 12 – PUSHING THE GARBAGE

by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

In the initial stage of my life in the monastery, once a week, we used to pack the car with bags of garbage and then drive them up to the front gate of monastery for the next day’s collection. However, one day, we had no anagarikkaas and we had forgotten to ask the lay supporters for help.

Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri told the nuns that she would load the garbage onto the trailer and then push them to the front gate. Those who would like to help, please gather at 4pm.

I still remember it was a mild summer afternoon. All the nuns got together with Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri and started to load the garbage bags onto the trailer. We then pushed and pulled the trailer all the way to the front gate. The uphill gravel road to the front gate was longer than 1km.

No one stopped and questioned Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri or suggested to drive themselves. At that time the nuns had agreed not to drive on the monastery compound. We did the hauling ourselves. We also pushed the trailer back from the front gate to the nuns’ cottage. We sweat a lot and had sore muscles that afternoon, but we also had lots of fun and laughter.

When I reflected on the incident, it might seem silly to push the garbage all the way to the front gate and then walk back with the trailer. However, Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri showed her leadership in keeping the rules that we all agreed upon, and problem-solving skills.

It was also a great teaching on determination and honoring our agreements and words. Even though it was hard work, we practiced exercising the muscles of our mind and heart.

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Remembering Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri on Her 70th Birthday – Story 11 : Did you ask for permission ?

Posted on November 2, 2022 by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

STORY 11 – DID YOU ASK FOR PERMISSION?

by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

In the early days of the monastery, Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni used to lead us in building embankments and re-enforcing the slopes with rocks to minimize erosion from the rains. We collected rocks from the bush on the property and then bought them to the area we were working on.

One time, when I was working next to Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri, I found a piece of very suitable size rock and excitedly put it into my bucket.

Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri stopped me: “Did you ask for permission from the beings on the rock to be moved?” She demonstrated to me how to check the rocks and only pick those with a minimum number of insects on it. She also instructed me to put the rock back if it belonged to the dwelling place of other beings such as centipedes, lizards, and ants.

I learned about the connection between me and all the beings in the bush. I started to get in touch with not just ‘Me’ but also embracing all the beings around.

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Remembering Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri on Her 70th Birthday – Story 10 : Did I turn the switch to the left or right ?

Posted on November 1, 2022 by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

STORY 10 – DID I TURN THE SWITCH TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT?

by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

This was a teaching from Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri during my first Rains retreat at the monastery in 2002.

We were sitting in the kitchen area and having 5.30pm afternoon tea. Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri was telling us some jokes. I loved the afternoon teatime with my teacher because it was relaxing. She occasionally took the opportunity to share some Dhamma.

In the middle of our teatime, the hot water in the urn started to boil. I quickly got up from my seat, rushed over to switch off the urn and returned to my seat so that I would not miss out on the jokes and the stories. Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri turned to me and asked whether I knew I turned the switch knob to the left or to the right and how many steps did I take to walk to the hot water urn. I just looked at her blankly and shook my head.

It was a great teaching for me as a trainee who just started to embrace mindfulness and present moment awareness. I rushed through my life from a child to a teenager and then to an adult. This was the time I learned to stop and to pay attention to this moment called ‘NOW’.

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Remembering Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri on Her 70th Birthday – Story 9 : The tree log across the brook

Posted on October 31, 2022 by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

STORY 9 – THE TREE LOG ACROSS THE BROOK

by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

When I first arrived at the monastery as an anagarikaa, Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri took the new anagarikaas for walks in the bush. The aim was to familiarise us with the monastery environment and how to get back to the nuns’ cottage if we were lost in the bush. We were shown the direction of the nuns’ cottage in relation to the sun. It was all very useful information. We felt welcomed to the monastery as the teacher was very supportive and cared for our well-being.

One day when we were on our bush walk, we had to go across to the other side of the brook. Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri walked across the tree log with water flowing underneath. She looked at us and waited at the other side. I could swim well and used to be a lifesaver in high school. But I was afraid of the tree log. I was frightened that I would be off balance and fall into the water!

Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri used to be a good swimmer and a lifesaver too! I looked at the tree log, the water underneath, and my teacher at the other side of the brook. I hesitated for a while. Then I gathered enough courage and just went for it. I never looked back. Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri stretched out her arm and helped me across.

This was the first time I realised I had confidence and trust in my teacher.

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Remembering Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri on Her 70th Birthday – Story 8 : The crocked clock

Posted on October 30, 2022 by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

STORY 8 – THE CROOKED CLOCK

by Ayya Seri Bhikkhuni

During my first Rains retreat at the monastery in 2002, I was rostered on shrine duty. I was quite slow in completing my tasks and I had to quickly put up the clock on the wall in the shrine.

Ayya Vayama Bhikkhuni Theri saw the crooked clock that I had put up in a hurry. She did not say anything, but later gave a talk on mindfulness and how we use mindfulness in our daily activities, including mindfully putting up the clock straight up on the wall. She also talked about doing the work with full attention, as a way we pay respect to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.

I apologised for my crooked job.

After dana, I walked to the bush towards Bonny’s bridge. I cried. I was overwhelmed. I felt I could not do the practice and I would not be able to be mindful 24 hours a day. It was too much hard work. I saw my friends, “Mother” kangaroo and “Baby” kangaroo, around the bridge. I poured all my tears out the whole afternoon and telling them I could not do it anymore.

I had an interview with my teacher later that week to talk about my practice. I stayed on.

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