Discover the poems of the Therigatha by watching our international guests discussing the inspiring lives and profound verses of the enlightened nuns. Make sure you subscribe to the festival YouTube channel and enable notifications to see future videos.
In the 14 episodes of Finding Sanctuary, Ayya Vimalanyani and her monastic guests explore beautiful and inspiring poems of the Therigatha.
Therigatha Festival Grand Finale: Panel with all guests of Finding Sanctuary
Ayya Kusuma discusses the inspiration she gained from reading the verses of the enlightened nuns and how they helped transform her life and the lives of many other women.
Join senior monastics Bhante Sujato and Ayya Tathālokā for a wide-ranging scholarly discussion inspired by the life and verses of Bhadda Kundalakesa Theri. This lively conversation covers the cultural context of the time of the Buddha and later Buddhist history, including archaeological evidence and textual research that suggests that Bhadda Kundalakesa might have been the very first bhikkhuni.
Ayya Santini discusses Punnika Theri, a former slave who was courageous and kind. In her verse she talks with a Brahmin and shows how wisdom can grow in everybody regardless of gender and status in society.
Part 1: Mother’s Grief and Spiritual Triumph. In this international panel, monks read their favourite verses from the enlightened nuns and discuss what we can learn from the lives and wisdom of the Theris. Speakers:: Bhante Saranapala, Bhante Damita, Bhante Sunyo, Bhante Akaliko and Bhante Sumano.
Ayya Tathaloka and Bhante Sujato discuss bhikkhuni ordination and the leadership roles of female monastics as seen in early Buddhist texts. They address the evidence from the Therigatha and vinaya and compare it to later practices and cultural attitudes that negatively affected the status of female monastics in the past and discuss why these later narratives need to be challenged today.
Part 2: Ageing Bodies and Spiritual Urgency. In this international panel, monks read their favourite verses from the enlightened nuns and discuss what we can learn from the lives and wisdom of the Theris. Speakers Bhante Damita, Bhante Sunyo, Bhante Akaliko,Bhante Sumano.
Ayya Sudhamma is interviewed by Ayya Vimalanyani about her decades of studying and teaching the Therigatha. She speaks about the transformative power of the poems, her inspiration, and the internal struggles she went through during the recent literary scandal. Ayya Sudhamma’s Therigatha website: https://therigatha.org/
Bhante Sujato is interviewed by his student Bhante Akaliko about the task of translating the Therigatha and what we can learn from the lives of the early bhikkhunis.
Join Rainbodhi LGBTQIA+ Buddhist Community for poetry and wisdom as we celebrate the earliest collection of women’s literature, the Therigatha.
Ayya Sudhamma reads and analyses in details the poem by Kisagotami Theri. Ayya’s wide ranging discussion covers a wide range of themes, including the position of women in ancient India and Buddhism, as well as Buddhist history, culture and doctrine. The talk also features a project about recycling robes and a questions and answers session with her community.
Anoja Devi Theri is a great bhikkhuni in the Pali commentaries and is among the 50 great bhikkhunīs found in a unique list of foremost disciples belonging to the Khmer tradition. She may even be the link of Khmer Bhikkhunis to the time of the Buddha. Dr. Marlai Ouch talks about reasons why she is not mentioned in the Pali Canon, and explores the question why the Khmer Bhikkhuni Sangha is being denied.
Ayya Soma from Empty Cloud Monastery in New Jersey talks about Therigatha verse 15.1 by Isidasi Theri, followed by Q&A.
Ayya Suvijjana talks about Therigatha verse 5.11 by Patacara Theri’s 30 Students, followed by Q&A.
Bhante Suddhaso from Empty Cloud Monastery in New Jersey talks about Therigatha verse 3.8 by Soma Theri, followed by Q&A.
Therigatha Festival 