After having taken the full ordination, the ‘upasampada’, it really has
given me a sense of at last my good wishes are being fulfilled. Being a
monastic I always have a very strong sense of duty and responsibility
to fulfil the vinaya precepts. Some people have said it doesn’t matter
whether you are a bhikkhuni or not as long as you keep it in your
heart. In the past I had the same mentality too, until some time ago. I
realised that it doesn’t actually work. As many supporters of
Dhammasara Nuns’ Monastery know, the nuns from Dhammasara have been
upholding many more precepts than just the ten precepts. Some time ago
when I went back to Malaysia to visit my family I met a senior monk
trying to tell me that as a Ten Precept Nun or Samaneri I do not need
to keep those rules. I felt that trying to keep 311 Patimokkha rules as
a Ten Precept Nun that people would think you are crazy or making a big
fuss. Recently I have been reflecting on one of the discourses from
Majjhima Nikaya 6. It really gives me lots of joy and happiness. Akankheyya Sutta — If a Bhikkhu Should Wish (Extract) “Bhikkhus, dwell possessed of virtue, possessed of the Patimokkha, restrained with the restraint of the Patimokkha, perfect in conduct and resort and seeing fear in the slightest fault, train by undertaking the training precepts. If a bhikkhu should wish: ‘May I be dear and agreeable to my companions in the holy life, respected and esteemed by them’, let him fulfil the precepts, be devoted to internal serenity of mind, not neglect meditation, be possessed of insight, and dwell in empty huts. If a bhikkhu should wish: ‘May I be one to obtain robes, almsfood, resting place and medicinal requisites’ let him fulfil the precepts……” Gidgegannup, Australia - 30 Nov 2009 |