Why are Western women shaving their heads and donning the robes of the Dalai Lama? What is it like to commit to a monastic life? How do women end up making this choice? What can lay people learn from them as they reflect on their own spiritual choices?
These and other questions will be explored on Nov. 2 from 1-5 p.m. when the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane and the Alliance for Bhikkhunis host Buddhist nuns from Sravasti Abbey at the church, 4340 W. Fort Wright Dr.
In facilitated discussion, the nuns will share their stories and invite sharing from the audience. The program will also include meditation, small group discussion, and a talk by Venerable Thubten Chodron, founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey, the Buddhist monastery near Newport.
The Spokane area supports one of the few communities of fully ordained Buddhist nuns in America. Sravasti Abbey is a Buddhist monastery in the Tibetan tradition established for Western students who wish to pursue a monastic lifestyle. The community has seven fully ordained nuns and three novices, according to a press release.
People of all traditions are invited to take part in the day’s activities. There is no admission charge, and donations towards the work of Sravasti Abbey or the Alliance of Bhikkhunis will be accepted.
