BY THREE ORDAINED NUNS

Jotika

On Saturday 12th July 2003 we four married women chose to experience life as Buddhist nuns. We were privileged to be the first group of nuns ordained in Birmingham. The occasion was made all the more auspicious due to the Sangha hosting the Veneration of the U.N. Relics of our Lord Buddha at the Pagoda. It was a very significant milestone on my Dhamma path. I have practised earnestly for eighteen years as a Theravadin devotee, learned to meditate properly, and have enjoyed Vipassana meditation as a way of life. To be ordained as a nun, even just for seven days, was a natural step for me to move up to the next level of my training.

Sanghini

When the four men took temporary ordination in 2002 I admit to feeling envious. I’m glad of this very human emotion, because it was only when expressing my envy to one of the monks that I was told I too could take the robe. Twelve months seemed a long way away, but I always knew I would do it when the time came. I had no doubts until I heard that the Buddha Relics would arrive for the weekend of the ordination and what otherwise would have been a quiet robing ceremony could well become something of interest to unknown numbers of visitors. Shaving my head and exposing a previously unknown new me was not something to be done in the glare of such a potential public. This was what worried me the most.

Supabha

I had lots of conflicting emotions in the weeks leading up to the ordination. What was I doing? Making the robes had been a hassle I could have done without too. In the days before the event I realised just how attached I was to my husband, home, garden, cat and my little routines. My biggest worry was about food. I knew that not eating after midday wouldn’t be a problem but the thought of having to eat what I was given made me realise just how faddy I am and how I would rather not eat than eat something I didn’t like.

Singhini

When the day finally came I somehow found within myself a sense of peace and acceptance and, unmindful of any watchers, practised meditation on the foulness of the body for the whole of my head shaving, oblivious to who was present. As I emerged scalped, Dr Rewata Dhamma grinned at me and told me I looked better bald! I still don’t know if this is a compliment.

Supabha

I found it quite difficult talking to people to start with and tended to try to be by myself and find quiet areas. However I did feel particularly blessed to be able to stay at the Vihara and to participate in the morning and evening chanting in front of the relics. They were the best times of my entire stay.

Jotika

Every afternoon from 2 to 4.30pm the Head of Monastery, Ven. Dr Uttara-nyana, would teach us Abhidhamma. His words were ‘Study with comprehension, rightly understanding, and remember to always practise mindfulness’. Then twice every day, Bhikkhu Nagasena taught us to recite the morning chant in Pali. Now when we chant it we can appreciate the meaning too. Bhikkhu Nagasena’s guidance to us was ‘Practise with compassion, always be mindful not to react to all stimuli, just allow phenomena to rise and pass away’.

Supabha

I surprised myself by very rarely thinking about home and when I did I was able to dismiss the thoughts from my mind with ease. I didn’t have to confront any problems with food. It was well known that I am vegetarian and I always enjoyed what I was given. What was more difficult, however, was to only eat sufficient and not to take pleasure in it. It took me a few days to get into that habit. Wearing the robes was quite enlightening. Beforehand I had been worried about being too hot, too cold and generally uncomfortable. Having made my own Western version, they fitted and I didn’t have to worry about the lunghi coming adrift. The only problem was the outer robe. It didn’t take me too long to master the art and one morning as I wrapped it around me I realised how dignified it made me feel.

Singhini

It was only in the last two days that I finally understood how to fix the outer robe. Prior to that, not a day passed without a monk or a sister advising me that my robe was falling, hanging askew and so on. It was remarkably easy when I finally knew how! Too much of a sense of self was present to leave me easy when a lady stopped and offered me flowers and another made the triple bow. Mind you, it didn’t take long to realize that it was not me they were bowing to but the robe. I was also uncomfortable with dana and this was particularly keen towards the end when a large and beautiful dana ceremony was held by a visiting group of doctors in memory of a friend who had recently died. As I sat at my lonely table surrounded by dish upon dish of delicacies, video and digital cameras seemed to be recording my every mouthful.

Jotika

I was very grateful to my family, especially to my husband and my daughter for their understanding, love and blessings to support me in my devotions and studying the Dhamma for seven days. I would also like to thank our Spiritual Preceptor Dr Rewata Dhamma and all the Venerable bhikkhus in the Sangharama for supporting us nuns in practising the Dhamma.

Singhini

To live in close proximity to our resident monks was for me an affirmation of their devotion to the robe and their inherent goodness. I saw practices I might otherwise never have known about. In addition, their acceptance, friendship, laughter, interest and caring nourished and made the experience one of the most blessed and happy periods of my whole life. But it wasn’t all plain sailing.

Supabha

The routine was very different to what I had expected. The ten precepts weren’t particularly difficult to keep for such a short time as the temptations weren’t evident. However, abstaining from wrong speech (Musavada) was just as difficult as in lay life and we were all aware of being guilty of breaking this one.

Jotika

We were exhausted but we wouldn’t have missed it for the world. My own realization of my Dhamma path is that we are meant to live a meaningful life, and fulfil our purpose as human beings. Our function is to practice unconditional love to all beings, live harmoniously in society, conduct our lives to our highest good and greatest joy as in the teaching of the Four Brahamaviharas. This is the way to live heaven on earth.

Supabha

When it came time to disrobe I had formed an attachment to monastic life and wasn’t sure that I was in a hurry to get home again. When I did get home, everywhere seemed to be very cluttered and I was appalled by all my possessions. I missed the quiet and peaceful atmosphere of the Vihara and didn’t want to get involved in thinking about the routine of daily life such as what to cook for dinner or even what to wear when I got up in the morning.

Singhini

The experience of sisterhood remains alive in my memory. I am fortunate in having a loving and positive relationship with my own sister but robing with Sisters Jotika, Medini, and Supabha has given me three more. Sharing this very unique experience must be like sharing a cell in prison; being at such close quarters, the development of a relationship with both its ups and its downs takes place far more rapidly than the normal worldly friendship. I really love my Sisters in the Dhamma. In my next life, I will take the robe for life.