A landmark event for the female monastic community in the Pacific Northwest took place at Parayana Vihara on the new moon day of October 21, 2025. For the first time, a full sangha of four bhikkhunis gathered together at Parayana Vihara to recite their monastic precepts and perform the confession and purification ceremony.
Ayya Suvijjana and Ayya Niyyanika traveled from their monastery, Pasaddhi Vihara, in Olympia to join Ayya Anandabodhi and Venerable Satima at Paryana Vihara to recite the 311 precepts that comprise the bhikkhuni monastic code (patimokkha).
Known as uposatha, this fortnightly ritual is one of four essential practices prescribed by the Buddha for monastics, and observing them is the mark of a fully functioning sangha community.
The other essential monastic practices include the annual three-month rains retreat (vassa), an invitation to receive feedback at the end of the retreat (pavarana), and receiving robe cloth from lay supporters to celebrate the conclusion of the retreat (kathina).
All are invited to celebrate with the Bhikkhuni Sangha at the 2nd annual Almsgiving Ceremony on December 7 at the Port Townsend Community Center (and online). The Ceremony will be centered around offering robe cloth, with other requisites and donations also welcomed for the flourishing of the Sangha. The Almsgiving Ceremony is a wonderful way you can support the monastics, and it is said to be highly meritorious for those offering.
