Ayya Sudhamma Bhikkhuni | |
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 Ayya Sudhamma | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 1963 (age 61–62) |
| Alma mater | New York University |
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Ayya Sudhamma Bhikkhuni (born in 1963 inCharlotte, North Carolina) is abbess ofCharlotte Buddhist Vihara. The first American woman ordained inSri Lanka, Ayya Sudhamma has been recognized at theUnited Nations inBangkok as an "Outstanding Woman in Buddhism."
Born in Charlotte, NC, in 1963, Ayya Sudhamma graduated fromNew York University's School of Law and subsequently practiced law inSan Francisco.[1][2]
In 1999, Ayya Sudhamma became asāmaṇerī or female Buddhist novice at theBhavana Society under the tutelage ofHenepola Gunaratana. In early 2003, she traveled toSouth Asia, where she became the first American-born woman to gainbhikkhuni ordination in theTheravada school in Sri Lanka.[1][2][3]
In July 2003, she returned to the United States at the invitation of the Carolina Buddhist Vihara inGreenville, South Carolina, as a resident and teacher.[2][3]
In 2013, after spending a year at Santi Forest Monastery she returned to her birth town of Charlotte for the founding of the Charlotte Buddhist Vihara, where she resides as abbess and Bhikkhuni.[4]
In 2005 she participated in the founding of theNorth American Bhikkhuni Association.[5]
In 2006, onInternational Women's Day, she was recognized for her achievements as anOutstanding Woman in Buddhism at the United Nations in Bangkok,Thailand.[1]
In 2007 she co-organized and hosted an "historic" meeting of nine bhikkhunis from various locations at her dwelling, the Carolina Buddhist Vihara, to recite thePātimokkha. This marked the first gathering of Theravada bhikkhunis outside of Asia to recite the Patimokkha or to engage in any official act ofSangha (sanghakamma).[6] As one participant stated,
The holding of this ceremony means that a Sangha–a Theravada Bhikkhuni Sangha–now exists in America. We are no longer just scattered individuals, but have come together united and in harmony. This is the main significance of the Patimokkha Recitation Gathering. This is the first place that this has ever been done, in Theravada, outside of Asia. Following Sri Lanka, America has now become the second place where the Theravada Bhikkhuni Sangha has been revived and established."[7]
Two days after the Patimokkha recitation, the group held aKathina ceremony, another first achievement for Theravada bhikkhunis outside of Asia.[8] It also was the largest gathering of Theravada bhikkhunis that had yet occurred in the USA, as they had not before gathered in groups larger than twos or threes.
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