A brief history ...
In one week a group of Sinhala Buddhist families from Jacksonville, Florida gifted the world with a Dhammasālā. It was an auspicious gift in a rural north Florida area where there were no existing Buddhist or meditation centers. They turned an empty unused barn that had previously been used to rescue and rehabilitate horses into a beautiful Dhamma and meditation hall in seven days on their school / work break during the Christmas and New Year holiday week 2024- 25.
Watch the slideshow: https://youtu.be/8xuPeyMi8uQ?si=wBZc_Nq5fujUVdCq
Dhammadharini Monastery, home of my venerable preceptor Ayyā Tathālokā Mahā Therī, received word of a gift from Dhamma friend Kendra, of a Gandharan -style Buddha Rūpa. The Dhammadharini bhikkhunī sangha and bhikkhunīs and monasteries in that area of the western United States, gave their consent and blessings for the statue to be sent to Bhava Nirodha Nilaya.
Then... a couple of months later
Then.... a dear Dhamma friend gifted the very precious
Sacred Relics of the Buddha, along with the sacred relics of the first Bhikkhunī Arahant and founder of the Bhikkhunī Sangha Mahāpajāpatī Gotami, Therī (and the Buddha's maternal aunt and foster mother), Bhaddā Kaccānā, Therī foremost bhikkhunī in supernormal knowledge (and the Bodhisatta's former spouse), and aggasāvakā (chief) disciples Sariputta Thero, foremost bhikkhu in wisdom and MahāMoggallāna Thero, foremost bhikkhu in supernormal power. In the photo toward the left, the straight line of mini stupas each contain sacred earth from the Stupa sites of Mahāpajāpatī Gotami, Therī, Uppalavanna Therī, foremost bhikkhunī disciple in psychic powers, Sanghamitta Theri, Anula Tissa and Lay disciple Visakha, foremost in generosity. These were gifted to Ayyā Tathālokā Mahā Therī, on her request to gift these to the Bhikkhunī Sangha.
☸️ Anumodana, Sabbe satta bhavantu sukhitatta 🪷
