Embracing Simplicity Hermitage

Description

The Venerable Dr. Pannavati Bhikkhuni, Co-Abbot and Spiritual Director of Embracing-Simplicity Buddhist Hermitage in Hendersonville, North Carolina, was selected by a distinguished international committee of Buddhist scholars and practitioners to be the United States recipient of the Outstanding Women in Buddhism 2009 award. The Outstanding Women in Buddhism Awards Ceremony was held in honor of the United Nations’ International Women’s Day in Bangkok, Thailand on March 6, 2009. Ven. Pannavati gave one of the two keynote addresses at the award ceremony. This ceremony and award now enters its eighth year and has honored more than 100 Buddhist women masters for their contributions to society. The objectives of the award are to mobilize public opinion and international action, to promote the role and status of Theravada Bhikkhunis in southeast Asia, thereby directing assistance to disadvantaged groups of women and girls, to uplift the good deeds of Buddhist women so that others may know, to provide good role models for society, to encourage the award recipients, to promote sorority in the overcoming of obstacles, to promote information of the award recipient’s role in developing her own life, that of her community, her nation and the world, for training, research and the collection of sex-segregated data on the role and status of ordained women in Buddhism, to encourage a movement which uplifts the role and status of Buddhist women within the Buddhist faith, to promote telling the history of women in Buddhism., and to promote a network of accomplished Buddhist women, ordained and lay. One of the award presenters was Bhikkuni Dr. Lee, Co-Founder of the Outstanding Women in Buddhism Awards Committee. Dr. Lee has been in Thailand for 9+ years, has a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Colorado, specializing in the cultural geography of Asia, and was the student of America's first Peace Geographer. She is the abbess of two temples.. THE END OF VASSA (RAINS RETREAT) IS MARKED BY JOYOUS CELEBRATION, THE KATHINA ROBE CEREMONY, DURING WHICH THE LAITY GATHERS TO MAKE FORMAL OFFERINGS OF ROBE CLOTH AND OTHER REQUISITES TO THE SANGHA. Embracing Simplicity Hermitage celebrated its first Kathina Robe Ceremony in November 2008. This special ceremony was the second huge milestone in our new dhamma hall (the first was the ordination ceremony held last April. About 40 of our dhamma friends were present to help celebrate this festive occasion. Bhanate U Jotika presented a special dhamma teaching and led the sangha in meditation. Traditionally during this ceremony the Kathina Robe is presented to a designated monk who has given special service to the sangha. In respect and gratitude, Ven. Pannavati and Ven. Pannadipa offered the Kathina Robe to Bhante U Jotika, a Burmese monk (30+ years as a monastic), who came to stay with them during the 3-month period of the Rains Retreat, to teach and interpret Pali suttas so that they could complete their first official "Vassa" (rains retreat) and be qualified to hold the ceremony. After the ceremony everyone gathered for a pot luck meal where all enjoyed good food, good fellowship and good friends. See photos of this special occasion.

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