Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Revival of Bhikkhuni Ordination

During his lifetime, the Buddha formed the fourfold Sangha, saying:

"I shall not come to my final passing away... until my bhikkhus and bhikkhunis, laymen and laywomen, have come to be true disciples -- wise, well-disciplined, apt and learned, preservers of the Dhamma, living according to the Dhamma, abiding by the appropriate conduct, and having learned the Master's word, are able to expound it, preach it, proclaim it, establish it, reveal it, explain it in detail, and make it clear; until, when adverse opinions arise, they shall be able to refute them thoroughly and well, and to preach this convincing and liberating Dhamma." 

                                                                    - the Buddha, Mahaparinibbana Sutta

In  1996 at Sarnath, late Venerable Dr. Kusuma Theri led a group of devoted  women from Sri Lanka to receive full ordination as Bhikkhunis, taking  concrete steps towards the resurrection of the fourfold Sangha as  envisioned by the Buddha. The Maha Bodhi Society of India was a  principal organizer of the 1996 ordination in the Deer Park at Sarnath,  the site of the Buddha's first teaching.

Leading  up to the November full moon, the Maha Bodhi Society of India shall  commemorate the 25th anniversary of these ordinations (1996-2021) with  an international webinar, discussing the "Theravada Bhikkhuni Sangha - Past, Present, and the Future."

• The  first two days will include a seminar organized by the Anagarika  Dharmapala International Institute of Pali & Buddhist Studies, with  speakers discussing various issues of the Bhikkhuni Sangha. This will be  on November 17th-18th India Standard Time, which in Pacific Standard  Time is the evening of Tuesday November 16th through the early morning  of Thursday November 18th.
• The final  day of the webinar will specially commemorate the 1996 ordinations, and  honor the many people who made this landmark event possible. This will  occur on November 19th India Standard Time, and will begin at 5:30pm on  Thursday November 18th in Pacific Standard Time. (See here to convert to your time zone)

Venerable Tathaloka Mahatheri & Dhammadharini are participating in offering  this event, along with many other Bhikkhunis, Bhikkhus, and Buddhist scholars around the world. Welcome to join us!

As part of this event, there will be the formal launch of the YouTube channel and Facebook page for the new United Theravāda Bhikkhunī Saṅgha International consortium, which will be broadcasting this event live. 

Please register below to receive information on the event as it is finalized.