The Sanghamittārāma Theravada Buddhist Nuns' Vihara situated in retal property at 40 Chesterville Drive, East Bentleigh, presents the first step in the vision of the BSV to establish a Forest Monastery on the outskirts of Melbourne.  It aims to provide guidance and support to women determined to follow in the footsteps of the Great Arahants.

Sanghamittārāma is based on the six aramas or wholesome delights that are:

• the Dhamma
• Bhavana
• Letting Go
• Solitude
• Contentment
• Simplicity

Venerable Sucinta Bhikkhuni, originally from Germany, was the foundation senior bhikkhuni at Sanghamittārāma.  She had taken Bhikkhuni ordination at Bodhgaya in India in 1998 and much of her training was at the Bhavana Society of West Virginia in the USA and in Myanmar where she spent years meditating and studying.  She worked tirelessly for the development of Sanghamittārāma.  She also taught twice weekly at the BSV Buddhaloka Centre in East Malvern and contirbuted to a number of Buddhist forums in Melbourne and elsewhere in Australia.  We are very grateful indeed for her commitment and effort when in residence at Sanghamittarama.  At present she is in Germany.

Venerable Atapi Bhikkhuni, who is of Sri Lankan backgraound, arrived at Sanghamittārāma from the Perth Nuns' Monastery, Dhammasara, in March 2008.  We are very grateful that she is still in residence as she provides valuable continuity of knowledge of the operations and organisation of the Arāma and on-going spiritual support and guidance to the community.  Ayya Atāpi ordained under Venerable Katukurunde Nyanananda Bhikkhu, in Kegalle, in 1998, and practised in branch monasteries in Meetirigala and Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.  She took Bhikkhuni ordination in January 2009 in India.

Venerable Dhammanandā Bhikkhuni, who is of Vietnamese background, is a recent and very welcome arrival at Sanghamittārāma. We are very happy that she accepted our invitation to be in residence as she is also committed to the BSV vision in that her goal is to create a monastery for Buddhist nuns and laywomen in the Theravada tradition and within the contemporary multi-cultural context here in Australia.  Ayya Dhammanandā's first ordination was taken in Vietnam in 1998 and her Bhikkhuni ordination in Sri Lanka in 2003.  While undertaking studies in Myanmar,  Ayya learnt meditation from many teachers including the late Swe Oo Min Sayadaw and his disciple Sayadaw U Tejaniya.  Ayya has completed a PhD in Buddhist Studies.

Residence 
Sanghamittārāma Bhikkhuni Residence is located at 40 Chesterville Drive, East Bentleigh 3165.

Telephone:
61 (3) 9579 0450 (preferably between the hours of 5pm and 7m).

Website
http://www.Sanghamittarama.org.au/

Please check the website for the weekly programme and special events.