(From early 2022) The Canmore Theravada Buddhist Community is overjoyed to report that after eight years of groundwork, we have a resident nun arriving the beginning of December this year. She is Ayya Ahimsa, a Canadian nun originally from Vancouver. She began her Buddhist journey with lay groups in the Vancouver area, attended Birken, became a steward at Sati Saraniya and eventually an anagarika and samaneri. She then moved to Aloka Vihara and became a Bhikkhuni with Ayya Gunaseri as her preceptor. And now she wishes to move to Canmore to support our community with teachings and to further her own practice with significant time for meditation.
Currently we have Ayya Brahmavara in residence. She has decided to extend her two month stay here to a three month stay, leaving mid July. She will return mid October 2023 for a couple of months. She plans to spend time with senior Bhikkhunis for the next few years and then settle somewhere. We hope she chooses Canmore. So far she is feeling this is a conducive place for practice…..so fingers crossed. Ayya’s teachings have been very well received and her sunny personality is wonderful to be around. Her schedule is here and her teachings are on you tube. Ayya Brahmavara will be offering a three day retreat in June…..details to be announced shortly in an upcoming newsletter. Since covid numbers are dropping steadily we will invite 15 people to attend live and the rest on zoom.
A Cambodian-Canadian samaneri will be joining us on May 22nd for 40 days. She is training with Ayya Tatāloka for her Bhikkhuni ordination this fall….but due to visa regulations has to be back in Canada for 40 days.
And we may have Ayya Niyyanika with us for part or all of the winter retreat, Jan - Mar 2023. She will not be teaching. This will be time for her personal practice. Her stay here has not yet been confirmed.