SAKYADHITA AUSTRALIA
Webinars To Inspire
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#Sakyadhita2025 – We explore what made this year’s Sakyadhita International Conference so special. There’s also a discussion about the Pilgrimage #DelhitoDharmashala that preceded the Conference.
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Ven Tenzin Tsapel : Ven Tenzin Tsapel is Director of the recently completed Machig Labdron Nunnery in Bendigo, which is near the Great Stupa and the Atisha Centre. She was Project Manager for the new nunnery, taking responsibility for its design and build. She explained what it was like being in charge of such a big project. Ven Tsapel was the guest speaker at our 2025 Annual General Meeting
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Ven Canda Bhikkhuni : ‘Bhikkhunis - towards a Better Future’. Ven Canda inspires with her passion for the Dhamma and for Bhikkhunis! She has established the first Bhikkhuni Monastery in the UK.
These inspirational Webinars – and many more - are available on our Youtube Channel (link)
Our next Webinar :
🌼 Golden Flowers of Dharma
The Struggles of Non-Himalayan Nuns
Webinar Invitation
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Date & Time: Sunday, November 2nd, 2025, at 5:00 PM AEST
Featuring: Venerable Tenzin Yanki – Filmmaker and Venerable Thubten Chokyi – Vice President and Spiritual Advisor, Sakyadhita Australia.
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“Today, the teaching of Buddha is actively spread beyond Asia, but only a few Buddhist women manage to become nuns. Often, the way to achieve this goal takes years and requires solving problems that are completely unknown to the natives of traditional Buddhist countries. Why is it that most of them give up their monasticism within the first year after taking vows? What are the hidden challenges faced by Buddhist monks and nuns? Are they deprived of the support of the monastic community when they return home? What are their lives like in their home countries and why is it that way?”
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🧘♀️ Topics we will explore
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Life After Ordination – Who provides financial and psychological support?
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Survival and Growth – Teachings, belonging, and overcoming isolation. Possibilities for growing a Nuns Sangha and the importance of the four-fold Sangha.
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Personal Experiences – Hopes and visions for the future.
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The Role of the Alliance of Non-Himalayan Nuns
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🎥 Please watch the film before the webinar so that you can join the discussion
Golden Flowers of Dharma
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_IftsyDwFk
Part 1: Talk by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, Head of the Alliance of Non-Himalayan Nuns
Part 2: Pilgrimage from Dharamshala to Tso Pema (Lake Rewalsar)
Buddhism in Australia Survey
Join the first nationwide survey of Buddhism in Australia.
The survey aims to gather insights into the experiences, beliefs, values, and practices of Buddhists living in Australia, as well as the factors that support or challenge their sense of wellbeing and belonging.
The survey will take about 15 minutes of your time. All responses are anonymous & confidential.
This study is being conducted by Dr Juewei Shi (Nan Tien Institute), A/P Anna Halafoff (Deakin University and former Sakyadhita Australia committee member). Also Prof Andrew Singleton , Dr Kim Lam (Deakin University), Prof Cristina Rocha (Western Sydney University) and A/Prof Sue Smith (Charles Darwin University)
Further information and link to the survey : https://buddhisminaustralia.org/
The 19th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women – Navigating Change : Buddhist Women in Transition Kuching, Malaysia 19-23 June 2025
‘May you be Inspired and Challenged’ - the words of Sakyadhita President Sharon Suh as the Conference began. She went on to speak of Sakyadhita as a ‘Global Sangha -profound and beautiful with the chance to be agents of healing, innovation and peace’.
Keynote speaker Pamela Ayo Yetunde alluded to the difficulties being on this planet right now; she Australian participants : photo credit Olivier Adam
said we face ‘persistent efforts to de-liberate women’. thus the importance of being skilled spiritual friends to one another.
These were just the first of many papers delivered at the Conference – covering a wide range of inspiring but often challenging issues and also profiling many inspiring Buddhist women
The theme of the Conference was ‘Navigating Change’; in this context we learnt of the great progress Tibetan nuns have made – they are now able to receive full Bhikkhuni ordination and can also undertake the same course of rigorous study as monks. But there are also many problems – such as poverty, domestic violence and particularly the issue of sex abuse in Buddhist centres - a problem ‘few wish to expose but causes indelible harm to Buddhist disciple , including especially nuns, young monks girls and women’.
It was terrific to see a large group of Australians at the Conference; they were active in moderating, giving papers and workshops. Papers were delivered by Ayya Yeshe about her work in the Indian slums and by Dr Catherine Scheutze, a vet who helped with India’s stray dog problem. Workshops given by Australians included ‘Eco Dhamma’, ‘Posture for Meditation’, “Mindful Writing’ and the importance of National Sakyadhita groups.
There was also entertainment – we saw some wonderful performances by local dancers and musicians. We were treated to stunning singing and dancing by a Korean nun and a very moving vocal performance from our own Ayya Yeshe.
The conference, with over 400 participants, took place in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Kuching is a beautiful city, set on a river, with much of its Chinese and Colonial heritage intact. After the conference we enjoyed tours to some of the sights of this beautiful region, including a visit to the Orang-utan rehabilitation reserve, the Kuching Buddhist village. a Sarawak traditional Long House (complete with skulls), Buddhist caves and a sunset river cruise.
You can read all the papers presented at the Conference here
Or you can read a summary here
Or watch the official video :
Newsletter
In the recent Summer 2025 newsletter -
Articles include:
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The June 2025 Sakyadhita International Conference in Borneo
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An exciting travel opportunity to Ladakh and Dharamsala.
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A new home for the Atisha Nuns.
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Dharma Book Reviews
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A Peace and Human Rights symposium
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What’s happening in your state – from poetry in Kings Park to the Big Love festival celebrating 50 years at Chenrezig and a new Retreat Centre opening at Newbury in Victoria.
Catch up on the latest Sakyadhita International Newsletter, you can read about -
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Celebrating Buddhist Women’s Voices in the Tibetan Tradition
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The historic nuns ordination in Bhutan
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The extraordinary 20th-century scholar-practitioner Freda Bedi
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And much more ..
2025 Sakyadhita Pilgrimage – North India – Delhi to Dharamshala
Prior to the conference a small group travelled on this Pilgrimage. Originally the plan was to visit Ladakh, but because of the escalating India/Pakistan war this was changed.
It was a great bonus to have Sakyadhita Australia spiritual advisor and Vice President Ven Thubten Chokyi on the tour. She not only provided many blessings, she also explained many of the finer points of Tibetan Buddhism. We visited many significant Nunneries, where it was wonderful to see Nuns practising with such deep commitment.
We paid a visit to the DGL Nunnery with its view of the Himalayas, the beautiful home base for Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo. At the Doma Ling nunnery we saw hundreds of nuns chanting through the night for Saga Dawa (Tibetan Vesak or Buddha’s birthday) and we met some of the international nuns studying at Thomsaling. A special treat was to visit the Jamyang nunnery and catch up with Australian nun Ven Lekzom who is studying there. We went to the magical Tushita Retreat Centre high up in the hills and heard some of the chanting of the monks at the Gyoto Monastery.
Our hotel was part of the Norbulingka Tibetan cultural centre – a place dedicated to preserving Tibertan arts and culture which gave the opportunity to learn more about these inspiring practices. (https://norbulingka.org)
Another highlight was a visit to the Tibetan Children’s Village where we were impressed by the care and love these children receive. We also visited a government school - not rich by any means but with the most stunning view of the Himalayas The organisation and commitment shown here also commendable.
We visited many more places of interest – from Shimla to Tso Pema to Amritsar, leaving us with wonderful memories. This Pilgrimage proved such a special occasion. Thanks to our guide Vikas Kumar and to Sharon Thrupp and Ekno Travels for their organisation. (eknotravels.com)
ABOUT US
Sakyadhita International was formed in 1987 in Bodhgaya India under the patronage of HH the Dalai Lama. It seeks to build community to benefit Buddhist women and nuns, to reduce gender injustice and awaken women to their potential.
Every two years Sakyadhita International organises a conference where Buddhists- Sangha and laypeople - come together to share issues affecting Buddhist women and the wider society. Because pf Covid 19 the 2020 Conference was delayed and will now be held digitally Dec 26-28th 2021.
The Australian branch was formed after the Indonesian Conference in 2015. It has national representation and is affiliated with Sakyadhita International.
