History
The Abbey’s founder, Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron, is an American who was ordained in 1977 by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, H.H. the Dalai Lama's senior tutor. She lived and studied in India and Nepal for many years, and her teachers include His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tsenzhap Serkong Rinpoche and Thubten Zopa Rinpoche. Under her guidance, Sravasti Abbey is bringing Western sensibilities to monastic life by having male and female monastics train together as equals, and by bringing social service as a key component of community life. At the same time, the Abbey cultivates the traditional Buddhist values of non-harming, mindfulness, compassion, inter-relatedness, respect for nature and service to all sentient beings.
The Abbey is highly notable because it is home to a growing group of fully ordained bhikshuni (Buddhist nuns) practicing Buddhism in the Tibetan tradition. This is unique because the tradition of full ordination for women was not transmitted from India to Tibet. Elsewhere, ordained women practicing in the Tibetan tradition hold an ordination that is, in effect, a novice ordination. Venerable Thubten Chodron, while faithfully following the teachings of her Tibetan teachers, has arranged for her students to seek full ordination as bhikshunis in Taiwan. At present, there are six bhikshunis and approximately six novice residents. The latter group includes both men and women.
Recently completed construction includes a new monastic residence, called Gotami House. It is named after Mahapajapati Gotami who was the first woman to request and receive ordination from Buddha Shakyamuni. There is also a new constructed residence for guest teachers and plans for a large new structure, Chenrezig Hall.
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