Dhammadharini Vihara a women's monastic retreat residence in Fremont, CA

In response to the many voices that have wished for there to be a place for women's monastic retreats in Northern California, we are happy to announce the unfolding of Dhammadharini Buddhist Vihara.

"Dhammadharini" means a "holder" or "upholder" of the Buddhadhamma as a "flowing" or "streaming" reality, teaching and practice ~ in the feminine tense.  Dhammadharini is a charitable religious non-profit organization, dedicated to supporting and providing for the basic requisites of Buddhist women dedicated to the cultivation and realization of the Path, and to sharing the fruits and benefits with our local community, our greater human family and earth, for the long-lasting benefit and happiness of all forms of life in all their myriad dimensions.

To this end, Dhammadharini supports the opportunity for full monastic ordination for Buddhist women in the Theravada who wish to dedicate their lives to cultivation and teaching.  It is also committed to supporting, both morally and materially, opportunities for women's monastic practice, both temporary and long-term, at any level of training in the precepts, according to such women’s own free choice and capability.

In response to those who have wished for there to be a place for women's residential monastic retreat in the Northern California area, and as a stepping stone on the path to finding and establishing such a place, Dhammadharini's first step is the opening of a Bay Area Bhikkhuni Vihara.  A "vihara" is monastic "residence" or "abode;" a center of practice and a refuge providing both the basic requisites of lodging, almsfood, medicine and robes for female monastics, as well as a place of refuge for Buddhist women when called by their heart to give time to deepening their practice in monastic retreat.  The presence of the Vihara also provides ongoing, local opportunities for Bay Area Buddhists to express the spirit of generosity and develop good conditions through sharing with and supporting the Monastic Sangha in America. 

Founding Abbess of the Vihara is Venerable Bhikkhuni Tathaaloka, an American-born member of the Buddhist Women's Monastic Sangha with a background in Zen and Theravadan Buddhism.  Venerable Sister Tathaaloka began monastic life sixteen years ago, and was granted Higher Ordination by an ecumenical gathering of the Bhikkhu & Bhikkhuni Sanghas under the late Bhante Ratanansara in Los Angeles in early 1997.    She and Ayya Sucinta Bhikkhuni entered Dhammadharini Vihara’s first Vassa together on the evening of August 21st, 2005.

Welcome  

The Vihara is located at the foot of the Fremont Hills between the Niles Historic District and Old Canyon, just off the Mission entrance to the Niles Canyon Scenic Highway, at 37959 Essanay Place, Fremont, CA 94536, USA. 

Friends are also welcome to join the monastics and residents for daily chanting, meditation and Dhamma discussion or for the morning almsmeal offering or offerings of other useful requisites.  Meditation instruction or guidance and Buddhist counseling are available regularly by appointment.  Personal monastic retreat opportunities are available for women, with prior arrangement and approval.

For more information please contact  510.791.2331 or by email at: tathaaloka@msn.com. 

For offerings,  please contact Radhika at rkapur99@yahoo.com.