After years of preparation, aspirational prayers, and many purifying prostrations, five of the Abbey’s training nuns (shiksamanas) headed to Taiwan in March to begin the intensive program to receive the full (bhikshuni) ordination at Fo En Si (Buddha Gratitude Temple) in Taichung, Taiwan.
On March 24, 2024, all five nuns—Venerables Lamsel, Kunga, Dekyi, Rinchen, and Monlam—received bhikshuni ordination, along with about 200 candidates from many countries.
Here, they share their reflections and gratitude for the opportunity.


Bhikshuni Thubten Lamsel
This reflection must begin with gratitude—for the opportunity as a foreigner to receive the full ordination and all the benefits that come from that. Some ordination platforms are not willing to provide or allow a translator or support English-speaking candidates. So thank you for doing all the necessary preparations to support my entry into the sangha. I know it is more work, more resources, more frustration (when I’m often one step behind the group).
The benefit of a 45-day program with an emphasis on candidates receiving teachings is immense. I want to receive the full precepts and know how to keep them. I can only do that if I am taught this in both in the formal classroom, but also through the embodied example of all senior monastics here guiding us.
The encouragement to learn and practice the precepts exactly as the Buddha taught and to “do as directed” is inspiring. As various instructors have said, we may not have all the causes and conditions to keep the precepts so purely when we go back to our home monastery. But at least we will know what is possible and what we need to purify as we commit transgressions. We also then have a vision of what we can work towards, and this vision can help guide the choices we make in our monastic life.

To complement the inspiring vision and experience of living the pure precepts, it’s heartwarming to feel the lack of judgment for those who don’t or can’t keep the precepts purely. Again and again we have been told to learn the precepts and focus on our own practice, not using our new knowledge as a weapon to judge and criticize others. This is just one of many ways that the importance of harmony in the sangha community has been encouraged repeatedly.
Advice and encouragement given during mealtimes has been helpful and memorable – to the point I wished it could happen more. Advice on how to eat, walk, sit, move a chair, talk to an elder monastic, etc. are all needed and welcomed. And I have never been asked to take care of my health so much in my life – to protect this precious and fleeting vehicle to practice the Buddhadharma.
Key insights from the program overall center on responsibility. The ordination ceremony itself repeatedly emphasized how taking the full precepts is accepting the responsibility to ensure that the Dharma remains in the world for a long time. This is both through actualizing the Dharma in my own mind and serving the sangha over the long-term. This is not some romantic notion, but a willingness to do whatever is needed and asked to support the various day-to-day activities, projects, etc. of the sangha.
The need to become capable and willing to train the next generation is also vivid. As one guide said, because of having to remind us repeatedly about regulations, “We have become your attendants.” This echoes what an elder in my own community has said—it is the seniors who serve the juniors, not the other way around.
Bringing this all together, I’m left with the question, how can I repay this kindness? It’s a privilege to be in this position, and exciting to look forward for ongoing to opportunities to study, grow, serve, and keep coming back to the three resolves we proclaimed and committed to at the heart of the full ordination.
In terms of changes, I think it would be beneficial to have a longer program for more teachings (60 days) and also to encourage candidates to keep noble silence for certain periods of the day, such as before breakfast and after evening practice, to cut down on idle talk and help focus the mind.

Bhikshuni Thubten Kunga
This has been the most rewarding experience in my whole life. I have never seen so much kindness and generosity before. I have been waiting to take full ordination for three years due to Covid-19. This experience at Fo En Si Temple has not disappointed me at all.
I have learned so much and grown in many ways as a monastic. The guides have been the most amazing role models in terms of selfless caring for others, patience, compassion, and hard work. I have felt cared for on all levels in all ways since I arrived. The organizers have thought of everything – from medicines to guidance on how to keep a happy mind to all aspects of monastic comportment. The training has been rigorous but not harsh or scary at all.
The books in English, of course, have been so helpful. I could understand how powerful the ordination ceremony is and what responsibilities I am taking on to care for the sangha, the Buddhadharma, and all sentient beings. The translation has been excellent too, and the people in my group have been so kind in helping to translate.

I now understand that monastic life is about taking care of others to put bodhicitta into practice. Also very important is studying the Vinaya and Dharma texts. The instructor Guangxun has been an amazing teacher on the bhikshuni precepts. I have learned so much from her years of practice and study. I also learned so much from Venerable Master Benyin. His knowledge of the Vinaya and compassion are without equal.
Having Ven. Master Wu Yin as the bhikshuni upadhyaya is significant for me in so many ways. She is one of the most respectable bhikshunis I know and has done so much for the Dharma and bhikshuni sangha in Taiwan. Thank you to the organizers so much for selecting such excellent, high quality preceptors and teachers.
The monastery manager has been so exciting to watch. Her tireless energy and compassion to care for others is beautiful. I will never forget this experience and the kind monastics and lay volunteers at Fo En Si temple. Thank you for teaching me how to become a monastic in the 21st century.

Bhikshuni Thubten Dekyi
What stands out most in my mind is kindness. From the moment I stepped foot in Taiwan, I have experienced countless acts of genuine kindness. I have never been in a Buddhist country as a monastic and it is deeply humbling to be treated with such respect and kindness. Hearing about how many lay people are volunteering and helping to make this ordination is also very humbling.
Seeing this kindness really makes me think in a much larger perspective beyond myself and just this life. To think of the countless causes and conditions that have come together to make this 6-week program possible is mind-blowing. It really helps me to get out of narrow self-focused view and to feel like I am in a great river, being carried along by the Buddhas, Dharma, and Sangha.
The visualization of receiving the precept-body was also very powerful. Coming from a very deep resolve and commitment to not cause harm, to be of benefit, and to have the huge long-term view of becoming a Buddha to help liberate all sentient beings as the foundation for all actions is the ground that I want to always be guided by. Becoming a light, and then spreading out to all others, dissolving the illusion of a separate self.
The words “integrity and consideration for others” has been on my mind as capturing so much of how I want to practice. Coming from a place of self-respect brings the wish to equally respect others. I am also inspired to always stay in awareness of being linked, guided, and supported by the Buddhas, so that I can be a vessel to then help all sentient beings. Being the link between the two helps to take “me” out of the picture, but to simply, joyfully, and skillfully help connect others to the Dharma.

I have changed in becoming clearer in my wish to practice the Dharma in a sincere and genuine way and not to waste my time in distraction to worldly things. Seeing how incredibly rare and precious this situation is, I want to use my time well.
For Buddhism and especially the monastic sangha to continue to spread throughout the world, I will joyfully and gratefully dedicate my life to helping to make this happen. The Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha are so very precious. I want to do all that I can to make it last forever.
I am deeply grateful to all the guides, preceptors, witnesses, fellow candidates, laypeople, and everyone who made this experience possible. May its merit spread very far and wide.

Bhikshuni Thubten Rinchen
”Make what is familiar unfamiliar, and take what is unfamiliar and make it familiar.”
My experience here is well-captured by the above statement repeated in the teachings. Much of the program was completely unfamiliar to me at the beginning: the robes, the language, the chanting, and even basic etiquette. Quickly it became familiar, primarily due to the kindness of others – my Dharma sisters and teacher who prepared us to come here, my fellow candidates who patiently helped me, and the guides who provided compassionate correction.
When I return to my resident monastery and my robes—what has been familiar—I expect it will feel somewhat unfamiliar. I hope I can maintain the humble mind that observes, learns, and accepts correction from others. It will be unfamiliar to be with the bhikshuni sangha for posadha and karmans. I expect that more will be asked of me.
I had a “familiar” way of viewing challenges and my own capacity in a limited way. In the ordination program I have seen my capacity to engage with joyous effort is larger than I thought. I have the capacity to turn the afflicted, complaining mind into one that sees the benefit in the situation.

I have been particularly struck by the kindness, generosity, and Dharma joy of my fellow candidates, the guides, and our instructors. I am inspired to see how Dharma practice and monastic life can cultivate so many virtuous qualities in so many people. Do I have those qualities yet? No, but I can keep practicing and will develope them over time.
My confidence to do this has increased, and my perspective shifted while trying to manage the three resolves in Mandarin. Repeating it over and over again, knowing it means, “I vow to cut all nonvirtue, there is no nonvirtue I will not cut,” made an impression on me.
There are the negative qualities in myself that I am aware of. But there are also negative qualities that I think are positive qualities or that are part of my personality. Am I willing to let go of those? This is a deeper commitment to practice the path—to put the Three Jewels in charge, rather than my ego. For the sake of sentient beings and my own karma, that is what I need to do.
This sentiment sits in my heart in an unfamiliar way, but I am sure it is a virtuous motivation that I should cultivate until it is very familiar.

Bhikshuni Thubten Monlam
Taking bhikshuni precepts has had a big impact on my mind. The training here, the teachings, daily life with Dharma sisters and brothers have helped my mind expand so I will be able to embody the precepts with joy, enthusiasm, gratitude, and determination.
I have entered this tradition, passed down for 2,500 years through kindness, fortitude, and confidence in the Buddha’s teaching. I will do my absolute best to contribute to the Dharma so that it lasts forever in the world.
It’s been emphasized in teachings that the precepts are the foundation of concentration, wisdom, liberation, and awakening. I see how much room I have to improve my mindfulness of body, speech, and mind so I use them in ways that are beneficial.
At this training I have brought more awareness to simple things like how and when I am walking, eating, caring for the robes. This decreases distraction. I want to extend this to my speech, decreasing idle talk and increasing meaningful Dharma conversations.
I haven’t been online during this program and I see there is room to tighten up my technology use so it doesn’t become a distraction. Not speaking Chinese, I have to put a lot of effort into the chanting. This has shown me the benefit of being present and not just chanting on autopilot while my mind thinks about my to-do list.

Being more mindful of actions of body, speech, and mind in daily life will inspire others to practice Dharma. Upholding precepts will increase my integrity and consideration for others. I will be able to share the Dharma through my actions and presence.
On the alms round, it struck me how different we were from others in the city-—our comportment, our purpose, our aim, how we use our time and resources. It reminded me of the expression, “Bodhisattvas are in the world but are not of the world.” As monastics we offer people a different option of how to use this precious life. The seeds of virtue we can help inspire can continue to grow and mature for countless lifetimes to come.
Another strong impression from this training is the kindness of others. Without the energy, effort, offerings, and various contributions from countless others, this program, this ordination, would not be possible. The preceptors, monastery residents, guides, teachers, volunteers, and others, offered this to us without partiality.
The motivation to share the Dharma, to contribute to the Dharma, is so present in each moment -—each interaction, activity, everything. I am inspired to practice well, to decrease and hopefully eliminate my bad habits, and cultivate my virtues limitlessly so I can repay this kindness by impartially, with love, compassion, and wisdom, lead all beings to liberation and full awakening. Thank you so much!
