2025 has been an extraordinary year as  Dhammadharini matured into its 20th year. 

While we continue to teach the Buddha Dhamma and support the growth of female monasticism at home and around the world, this year has been buzzing with activities, as I will highlight below. 

Our 20th anniversary celebration was anointed with the sacred relics of Arahat Bhikkhuni Sanghamitta  Mahatheri, offered by supporters in Sri Lanka. The relics arrived at night in time to conclude the 20th anniversary celebration with a holy finale.  

This year's vassa hosted 14 monastics, the highest number we have accommodated in many years. Our Kathina returned to the pristine forest of Aranya Bodhi, as wished by our sponsors Buddhinie and Shamal, who devoted months to taking care of monastics during vassa and to preparing for Kathina. The ceremony was inspiring. We would like to express our thankfulness and anumodhana to all generous donors.

This year saw many “firsts”. We launched a 2-day Board of Directors and Monastic Leadership retreat at Aranyabodhi for a dialogue on long-term organization-level priorities. We organized a day-long meditation retreat in Foster City to reach out to the mid and south Bay followers. The first documentary film about Dhammadharini was produced and offered to us by Khun Waan, a reporter and filmmaker at CNN . Led by Lal, Denisha, and Nuchada, we organized a big fundraising event which featured the holy relics of Maha Pajapati and six other prominent bhikkuni arahats, followed by  the screening of the feature film about Maha Pajapati and a benefit dinner.  

The funds raised were used mostly to send our monastics and affiliated monastics to the inaugural pilgrimage, which follows the trail of the first Bhikkhuni ordained by the Buddha, the first female arahat, the Buddha’s mother Maha Pajapati Gotami, from the birthplace of the Buddha to her nibbhana site.  The pilgrimage took place in December.

And perhaps not so obvious. We were able to revive this newsletter, which you are reading right now. Thanks to the effort of our new, energetic, and talented  Director of Development, Nuchada. 

All this buzzing could not have been accomplished without the immense generosity of donors and benefactors such as you, as well as the energy and care of countless committed volunteers.  This year, we saw an increase in followers near and far, inspired to contribute their experience to join work teams, committees, and the Board. This development is encouraging in the utmost as it takes a “big village” to overcome the challenge of maintaining a monastery of our size in the Bay Area and supporting our leadership in the Buddhist Bhikkhuni revival movement—your contributions, whether monetary, material, talent, or time, are all Dana of high merit.  We humbly anumodhana.

This year, we also lost a few leaders. We sorely miss the presence of our dearest iconic vice abbess and Dhamma teacher, Ayya Sobhana, who has moved on to lead Empty Cloud monastery, where she is now abbess.  Sadhu!  We also miss Bob Flax, who has patiently contributed his experience and skill to serve on the Board for 5 years, as he has decided to retire. We are grateful beyond words for their consistent contribution and guidance and wish them success in the path they choose to walk. 

As we turn a page to the new year, the Board wants to express deep gratitude to Ayya Tathaaloka, Ven Kaccayana, Ven Thavira, and all the monastics at Dhammadharini, for your guidance, and to all lay upasok/upasika who have contributed your resources, talent, and time to sustain us as the Bhikkhuni revival Sangha for the well-being of our religion. 

May the Power and Benevolence of the Triple Gems be with you throughout the New Year. 

Supatra  Chowchuvech