Avya Saddha is a Theravada nun from Cambodia–the first Khmer Bhikkhuni to ever take official residence at a Khmer Buddhist Temple. When she first did a retreat at the Holy Vajrasana Temple she understood little English, but I still knew she was special. She understood that my Buddha Master, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III had very high Dharma and she wanted more. She understands more English now, but now she hears the Buddha Master speak in Pali. The picture above was of her meditating behind the chalet in 2023 while the one below was of her praying under a magnolia tree that rained amitra (nectar) while she was here on retreat in 2024 with several Dharma sisters. I am convinced that it was in large part her devotion and dedication to the Dharma that caused the nectar to manifest as it did, although there were other devout nuns from North Carolina here as well. Her smile and presence was a blessing for us all.
She and another nun cooked and supported three more senior nuns who completed seven-day Solitary Retreats at the Dharma Protector Chapel, the Chalet, and in the Temple. I would see her going to meditate with the Holy Vajra Poles before daybreak early each morning and watched while she carefully prepared food for the other retreatants. She requested permission to stay outdoors in the tent next to the chapel when the nun who was using the chapel completed her retreat. She preferred living outdoors.
She was also able to attend the Dharma Assemblies in Glendale, California held to celebrate the birthday of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III in in both 2023 and 2024 and participate in Dharma transmission at the Holy Vajrasana Temple as shown below
However, the real story I wanted to share was the following one told by her Dharma sisters at Heartwood Refuge:
Ayya Saddha Removing Barriers
On Sunday, July 7th 2024 we celebrated a very auspicious day as Ayya Saddha was officially installed as the first Khmer Bhikkhuni to ever take official residence at a Khmer Buddhist Temple. The Theravada Temple, Wat Sao Sokh San, in Wellford, SC, welcomed her with great joy. The sanghas from Heartwood and Wat Sao Sokh San gathered together to support and witness this historical event. This has been a long and fulfilling journey for Ayya Saddha. She took temporary ordination in 2011 with Ven. Pannavati, Maha Theri and remains under her tutelage. She is originally from Cambodia and has endured a lifetime of hardship and extraordinary experiences. Ayya Saddha is a disciple of His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III and has a deep affinity with the essence of His teachings. Even though she cannot read well in English, when she listens to His discourses she said she hears it in Pali, not Cambodian. Her tenacity and devotion to the Three Jewels has carved the way for her success and is helping women from her culture grow and expand in the Dhamma. Her cultivation is truly inspirational and her conduct is easily worth commending.
The temple, Wat Sao Sokh San, sits on a little over 7 acres in a rural part of town. The plot is bright and peaceful with a beautiful stupa and a new meditation hall. The ceremony opened with lunch at 11am. The community of Wat Sao Sokh San welcomed our Heartwood sangha as if we were family. They covered every corner inch of the table with food and were full of happiness. Before proceeding to eat, they blessed the meal with chanting and we enjoyed their traditional Cambodian dishes. After the meal we proceeded to the temple hall and paid respects to the Buddha and each other. Both Bhantes and Ayya Saddha offered remarks and the sangha took a tour of her new kuti. Her sister Bhikkhunis from Heartwood offered gifts for her altar and offered special blessings.
Bhante Sambo is the Abbot of Wat Sao Sokh San. Allowing Ayya Saddha to practice alongside the Bhikkhus to serve the needs of women in the sangha is a monumental step. During the ceremony he gave a talk to his Cambodian sangha and then turned to Venerable Pannavati and said, in English, “friends, not enemies.” This was truly a special moment. His tender kindness and gracious acceptance is worthy of praise as his actions to support Ayya Saddha mark a pivotal return to the fourfold sangha established by the Buddha. As has been said, “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened.” We can sincerely encourage the flame lit from this milestone to ignite the way for female spiritual practitioners worldwide. It is with great honor that we get to uphold the Buddha’s initial wishes and carry out our lives in a way that is harmonious, peaceful and advantageous for all.
During the ceremony Venerable Pannavati shared some touching words from a letter that was written to Ayya Saddha from Watt Meangkolvorn Santa Rosa Association., “With the challenges you faced as the Khmer Bhikkhuni in this modern society, and especially in the Cambodian Community is very difficult to explain. These challenges are the doors to the Khmer Bhikkhuni and the International Bhikkhuni to help plant seeds for others to follow. You and the others are the path for these seeds to grow, one by one. Your dedication, determination, perseverance, and along with your compassionate heart led you to where you are today. I am very humbled and honored to congratulate you on your invitation as the first Khmer Bhikkhuni to get invited from the Bhikkhu Khmer Sangha to live on the same ground. This is extraordinary to witness. Therefore, congratulations on your accomplishment to the future of all Bhikkhunis who have endured this path of hardship with much criticism and discrimination. In addition, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Abbot Sambo for his understanding, support, and his acceptance of our Khmer Bhikkhuni. This is a major breakthrough for our community to acknowledge the true meaning of what it means to be humane. Please send my respect and gratitude to the Abbot Sambo for me as well.” -Abbot Noun Chandare
Ayya Saddha had the rare and wonderful privilege of meeting His Holiness with the Heartwood sangha in 2021 in Pasadena, California at the Holy Miracles Temple. She has also attended two of the Dharma Assemblies Respectfully Honoring the Holy Birthday of Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III. Along with Venerable Pannavati, her fellow Bhikkhunis and several lay sangha, Ayya Saddha has made three trips out to Sanger, California to the Holy Vajrasana Temple.Most recently she served as a Tenzo, meditated and practiced for two weeks to deepen her connection with Buddha Master. Receiving transmissions, oral discourses and blessings from Master Zhaxi Zhuoma was a part of her fruitful visitations at Holy Vajrasana. During her stay, Ayya Saddha naturally gravitated towards the Dharma Protector Yurt and took refuge in the sacred space. She stayed four nights in the neighboring tent and devoted a portion of her retreat time to being under the shadow of our Dharma protectors and practicing in the Dharma Protector yurt. As she continues to cultivate and deepen into her practice, she is planting seeds for the proliferation of the Dharma imparted by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III to generations to come by embodying Buddha Master’s teachings while living at Wat Sao Sokh San.
May blessings abound at Wat Soa Sokh San and may all living beings reach full enlightenment in this very lifetime!
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