Sobhana Bhikkhuni
@sobhana.bsky.social
Buddhist monastic, pali text enthusiast. Dhammānudhammapaṭipadāya buddhaṃ pujemi. tinyurl.com/SobhanaTheri
I accepted the job as abbot of the Empty Cloud Monastery. If you have prayers or merits or good wishes to share, I'm grateful.
October 15, 2025 at 4:10 PM
I accepted the job as abbot of the Empty Cloud Monastery. If you have prayers or merits or good wishes to share, I'm grateful.
Someone said a brief Dhamma thought posted here in bsky can't make a real impact ... but this one is different. Motivation to develop the 4 iddhipadas, (a generally ignored teaching), and a little known powerful teaching voice in "Collection of Renunciation Letters"
Either Death or Freedom from the Four Woeful Realms - The Strongest Resolve (Citta) to Develop on the Journey of Samsara | Renunciation Letter Series - "On the Path of Great-Arahants" https://old.reddit.com/r/Buddhism/comments/1nqeprv/either_death_or_freedom_from_the_four_woeful/
#Buddhism
#Buddhism
September 25, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Someone said a brief Dhamma thought posted here in bsky can't make a real impact ... but this one is different. Motivation to develop the 4 iddhipadas, (a generally ignored teaching), and a little known powerful teaching voice in "Collection of Renunciation Letters"
A wise bhikkhu advisor encouraged me to teach and meditate, meditate and teach.
August 29, 2025 at 7:46 PM
A wise bhikkhu advisor encouraged me to teach and meditate, meditate and teach.
This is my current favorite youtube channel for Dhamma and meditation instruction. If you are not already a fan, check it out!
Sutta Meditation Series
How to study the Buddha's Teachings (Dhamma-Vinaya) and meditate on the Buddha's insight (knowledge) pathways contained in the Theravada suttas.
Particular emphasis is given to lay practice towards ...
www.youtube.com
July 19, 2025 at 6:45 PM
This is my current favorite youtube channel for Dhamma and meditation instruction. If you are not already a fan, check it out!
In a nutshell, consciousness is the presence of experience, while nāmarūpa is the content of experience. Consciousness is the knowing and nāma is the making sense of rūpa, what is known. [Found in old notes about the āhāra. I understood it for a minute.] Translate rūpa here as "appearance"?
July 18, 2025 at 1:06 PM
In a nutshell, consciousness is the presence of experience, while nāmarūpa is the content of experience. Consciousness is the knowing and nāma is the making sense of rūpa, what is known. [Found in old notes about the āhāra. I understood it for a minute.] Translate rūpa here as "appearance"?
A supporter has kindly offered to make a proper simple personal website. To accept this offer there has to be a sponsor for the small monthly subscription. Contact me, Ayya Sobhana and I’ll put you in touch with the website volunteer.
July 17, 2025 at 11:06 AM
A supporter has kindly offered to make a proper simple personal website. To accept this offer there has to be a sponsor for the small monthly subscription. Contact me, Ayya Sobhana and I’ll put you in touch with the website volunteer.
This week at the Empty Cloud Monastery, Venerable Bambalapitiye Gnanaloka Thero is leading a meditation retreat. Such wonderful teachings are like a good soaking rain.
Venerable Bambalapitiye Gnanaloka Thero: A Life of Solitude and Compassion
Early Life Born in Sri Lanka in 1971, Shanaka Dharmakeerti spent his formative years in Lesotho, South Africa. As a teenager, he developed a profound curiosity about the universe, delving into astr…
srisambuddhamission.org
July 16, 2025 at 4:21 PM
This week at the Empty Cloud Monastery, Venerable Bambalapitiye Gnanaloka Thero is leading a meditation retreat. Such wonderful teachings are like a good soaking rain.
It seems like I will be online to give talks on the Empty Cloud channel, this Wednesday evening (tomorrow) and Friday morning. Plus on Friday evening, there is "monk talk" in a q&A format.
Buddhist Insights @ Empty Cloud
Buddhist Insights is a non-profit organization connecting you with monastics from every Buddhist tradition. We are the founders of Empty Cloud Monastery in West Orange, NJ. Learn more at www.buddhisti...
www.youtube.com
July 8, 2025 at 12:12 PM
It seems like I will be online to give talks on the Empty Cloud channel, this Wednesday evening (tomorrow) and Friday morning. Plus on Friday evening, there is "monk talk" in a q&A format.
With Rebecca Fox at Greenville SC
July 1, 2025 at 3:42 PM
With Rebecca Fox at Greenville SC
With Ayya Sudhamma at Charlotte NC, last week
July 1, 2025 at 3:41 PM
With Ayya Sudhamma at Charlotte NC, last week
1. What do you think? Is Bsky best for keeping up with friends, for conversation about the Dhamma, for promoting one's own content, or for inserting more wisdom into the blogosphere?
June 30, 2025 at 10:03 AM
1. What do you think? Is Bsky best for keeping up with friends, for conversation about the Dhamma, for promoting one's own content, or for inserting more wisdom into the blogosphere?
Meditating for Peace youtu.be/D255FvxrM3M
Meditating for Peace
YouTube video by Ayya Sobhana
youtu.be
June 26, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Meditating for Peace youtu.be/D255FvxrM3M
A few good friends set up a WhatsApp with my permission. They gave it the light hearted name "Friends of Ayya Iowa Sobhana, the Bhikkhuni Monk from De Moines". This entire domain is new to me. Thank you (I think???)
June 24, 2025 at 7:49 AM
A few good friends set up a WhatsApp with my permission. They gave it the light hearted name "Friends of Ayya Iowa Sobhana, the Bhikkhuni Monk from De Moines". This entire domain is new to me. Thank you (I think???)
Aj Sona will have a Q&A on his video, on Wednesday Evening Vancouver time.
June 25th - Wed. Evening Interview | Ajahn Sona Q&A
YouTube video by Clear Mountain Monastery Project
www.youtube.com
June 24, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Aj Sona will have a Q&A on his video, on Wednesday Evening Vancouver time.
This is an important video and should be required watching for anyone interested in the history of Buddhism ... Greek & Persian Influence On Early Buddhism. Congratulations to Aj Sona.
Greek & Persian Influence On Early Buddhism
YouTube video by Ajahn Sona
www.youtube.com
June 24, 2025 at 7:30 AM
This is an important video and should be required watching for anyone interested in the history of Buddhism ... Greek & Persian Influence On Early Buddhism. Congratulations to Aj Sona.
My connection to elder Dhamma sisters Ayya Sudinna and Ayya Sudhamma goes back to our shared times with Bhante G, Bhante Rahula, and Bhante Dhammaratana at the Bhavana Society
June 17, 2025 at 10:48 AM
My connection to elder Dhamma sisters Ayya Sudinna and Ayya Sudhamma goes back to our shared times with Bhante G, Bhante Rahula, and Bhante Dhammaratana at the Bhavana Society
Catch me online during my visit with Ayya Sudhamma at Charlotte, NC June 18-25, Online teachings www.meetup.com/meditate-wit...
Thurs 6/19, 7:00pm EDT
Sat 6/21 2:00pm EDT
Wed 6/25 10:30am EDT
[image, supporting ordination candidate Dhira @ Metta Vihara Germany, 2015]
Thurs 6/19, 7:00pm EDT
Sat 6/21 2:00pm EDT
Wed 6/25 10:30am EDT
[image, supporting ordination candidate Dhira @ Metta Vihara Germany, 2015]
June 15, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Catch me online during my visit with Ayya Sudhamma at Charlotte, NC June 18-25, Online teachings www.meetup.com/meditate-wit...
Thurs 6/19, 7:00pm EDT
Sat 6/21 2:00pm EDT
Wed 6/25 10:30am EDT
[image, supporting ordination candidate Dhira @ Metta Vihara Germany, 2015]
Thurs 6/19, 7:00pm EDT
Sat 6/21 2:00pm EDT
Wed 6/25 10:30am EDT
[image, supporting ordination candidate Dhira @ Metta Vihara Germany, 2015]
A while ago, I was on about the crosswalk between western thought and the Dhamma, via philosophy. Here is nice video. Obviously one would have to go deeper to discover the trace of ideas. www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA0w...
The Ancient Greeks Who Converted to Buddhism
YouTube video by ReligionForBreakfast
www.youtube.com
June 9, 2025 at 1:46 PM
A while ago, I was on about the crosswalk between western thought and the Dhamma, via philosophy. Here is nice video. Obviously one would have to go deeper to discover the trace of ideas. www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA0w...
Wow!
Ven. Chao-hwei Leads Historic Ordination in Taiwan, Sparking Debate on Monastic Gender Equality - Buddhistdoor Global
The respected Taiwanese Buddhist monastic Ven. Shih Chao-hwei led a historic ordination in Taiwan when bhikshunis ordained male lay practitioner Deng Rong.
www.buddhistdoor.net
May 28, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Wow!
Comparing Dhamma with Western thought makes me wonder why existentialism is less popular than stoicism, these days. If you know the answer, please write!
May 22, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Comparing Dhamma with Western thought makes me wonder why existentialism is less popular than stoicism, these days. If you know the answer, please write!
I will be taking my leave from California this June 17, visiting my dear monastic friends in Charlotte, NC and Greenville SC, landing at the Empty Cloud Monastery on July 1, and remaining there for the Vassa. Here's a really primitive page to be in touch and keep track of my travels.
Ayyā Sobhanā Therī
Ayyā Sobhanā Therī Ayya Sobhana is an ordained Bhikkhunī in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. She trained with master Dhamma and meditation teacher Venerable Dr. Henepola Gunaratana Nāyaka Mahāthe...
tinyurl.com
May 22, 2025 at 12:27 AM
I will be taking my leave from California this June 17, visiting my dear monastic friends in Charlotte, NC and Greenville SC, landing at the Empty Cloud Monastery on July 1, and remaining there for the Vassa. Here's a really primitive page to be in touch and keep track of my travels.
Here's a wonderful resource: 84000.co is scholarly for translating the Tibetan Buddhist canon. The "stories" section is well-written and very interesting for any Buddhist.
84000 Stories
Explore features such as interviews and more in-depth stories about 84000, our team, donors, and our community.
84000.co
April 19, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Here's a wonderful resource: 84000.co is scholarly for translating the Tibetan Buddhist canon. The "stories" section is well-written and very interesting for any Buddhist.
graphic for the signless?
March 23, 2025 at 12:04 PM
graphic for the signless?
In the cult of Trumpism, followers must go along with ever more weird behavior, just as strict religions demand adherence to eccentric beliefs. Not sure how this works out in a democracy where they need more disengaged voters to win. [photo Jaroslav A. Polák] web.archive.org/web/20110825...
March 18, 2025 at 4:07 PM
In the cult of Trumpism, followers must go along with ever more weird behavior, just as strict religions demand adherence to eccentric beliefs. Not sure how this works out in a democracy where they need more disengaged voters to win. [photo Jaroslav A. Polák] web.archive.org/web/20110825...
Reposted by Sobhana Bhikkhuni
My book argues that Fazang conceptualizes things (dharmas) as dynamic and directed activities. They are activities because they give rise to other things. It is like seeds giving rise to sprouts, or loving-kindness giving rise to friendship. This derives from the Buddhist teaching of impermanence.
November 30, 2024 at 8:40 PM
My book argues that Fazang conceptualizes things (dharmas) as dynamic and directed activities. They are activities because they give rise to other things. It is like seeds giving rise to sprouts, or loving-kindness giving rise to friendship. This derives from the Buddhist teaching of impermanence.