Project: Dhammanikhom - construction of the nunnery

location: Heinersbrück (Brandenburg)
Courtyard
The monastery courtyard is protected and has a large garden. Unfortunately, many parts of the building are old and in need of renovation.
monastery
The House
The Dhammanikhom is located in the middle of the village and the monastic community maintains warm and benevolent relations with its neighbors.
Construction Work
Thanks to many supporters, the association is working intensively to improve the infrastructure.
sketch
The nuns' area is to be built in three construction phases.
Despite the renovation work, operating the meditation center and the daily monastic life is fortunately continued as usual.
Almsrounds in Cottbus.
Ehrw. Bhikkhuni Silavaddhani
Abess of the Dhammanikhom
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The Dhammanikhom Vipassana meditation center, founded in 2017, is located in Brandenburg Germany. It is a place where Buddhist teachings and Vipassana meditation are taught.

The Dhammanikhom Meditation Center also serves as a nunnery in the Theravada tradition where Buddhist nuns can be trained and ordained. Currently one bhikkhuni, the abbess – the Venerable Bhikkhuni Silavaddhani – lives in the Dhammanikhom. Nuns from other German monasteries and abroad are often present and – as is usual in Thailand – there have been temporary Maechee ordinations.

The community of nuns is now growing in Germany and women who feel connected to this meditation tradition should be given the opportunity to follow the monastic path. The Dhammanikhom would like to create a suitable framework for this and is in the process of developing a separate nuns’ area.

Plans for this nuns’ area include 4 nuns’ rooms, 3 bathrooms, an office and a spacious “multi-purpose hallway” in which a visiting nun can also be accommodated if necessary. In addition, there will be a small tea corner for the nuns as well as a storage room for Dhamma materials and religious items as well as robe materials.

The nuns’ area is to be expanded in three construction phases.

Donations have already been collected for this purpose and construction work is underway.
The 2nd construction phase should immediately follow the 1st construction phase. The Dhammanikhom Association is expecting costs of around €102,000. This is an estimate of the construction costs based on the number of m² and as soon as more precise cost offers are available from the companies, this estimate will be updated.

This phase is still in planning.

Sati Stiftung, Stiftung für Achtsamkeit

IBAN: DE68 5204 0021 0311 4477 00

Purpose: Construction Project Dhammanikhom Nunnery

Courtyard
The monastery courtyard is protected and has a large garden. Unfortunately, many parts of the building are old and in need of renovation.
monastery
The House
The Dhammanikhom is located in the middle of the village and the monastic community maintains warm and benevolent relations with its neighbors.
Construction Work
Thanks to many supporters, the association is working intensively to improve the infrastructure.
sketch
The nuns' area is to be built in three construction phases.
Despite the renovation work, operating the meditation center and the daily monastic life is fortunately continued as usual.
Almsrounds in Cottbus.
Ehrw. Bhikkhuni Silavaddhani
Abess of the Dhammanikhom
Previous slide
Next slide

The Dhammanikhom Vipassana meditation center, founded in 2017, is located in Brandenburg Germany. It is a place where Buddhist teachings and Vipassana meditation are taught.

The Dhammanikhom Meditation Center also serves as a nunnery in the Theravada tradition where Buddhist nuns can be trained and ordained. Currently one bhikkhuni, the abbess – the Venerable Bhikkhuni Silavaddhani – lives in the Dhammanikhom. Nuns from other German monasteries and abroad are often present and – as is usual in Thailand – there have been temporary Maechee ordinations.

The community of nuns is now growing in Germany and women who feel connected to this meditation tradition should be given the opportunity to follow the monastic path. The Dhammanikhom would like to create a suitable framework for this and is in the process of developing a separate nuns’ area.

Plans for this nuns’ area include 4 nuns’ rooms, 3 bathrooms, an office and a spacious “multi-purpose hallway” in which a visiting nun can also be accommodated if necessary. In addition, there will be a small tea corner for the nuns as well as a storage room for Dhamma materials and religious items as well as robe materials.

The nuns’ area is to be expanded in three construction phases.

Donations have already been collected for this purpose and construction work is underway.
The 2nd construction phase should immediately follow the 1st construction phase. The Dhammanikhom Association is expecting costs of around €102,000. This is an estimate of the construction costs based on the number of m² and as soon as more precise cost offers are available from the companies, this estimate will be updated.

This phase is still in planning.

So a wise person, envisioning his own benefit, should have delightful dwellings built so that the learned may stay there. He should, with an awareness clear & bright, give them—those who’ve become straightforward— food & drink, clothing & accouterments. They will teach him the Dhamma dispelling all stress so that he—knowing the Dhamma right there— totally unbinds, effluent-free.

Sati Stiftung, Stiftung für Achtsamkeit

IBAN: DE68 5204 0021 0311 4477 00

Purpose: Construction Project Dhammanikhom Nunnery

Update July 2024

With the support received so far, the second stage of the three-part goals has been achieved. The first construction phase should be followed immediately by the second construction phase in order to save costs. The Dhammanikhom Supporting Association is now expecting costs of around €40,000.

Project: ‚The Bhikkhuni Patimokkha‘

Initially, 50 copies are planned, which will be available in the Wassermond Monastery.

“The Bhikkhuni Patimokkha” is an introduction to the rules of the nuns’ order, which is intended as a small introduction help for monastic helpers, anagarikas and nuns at the beginning of their monastic training. After a brief general introduction to the Vinaya, the collection of the rules of the order, each of the 311 rules is presented with an illustration, the text in Pali and English, as well as a brief explanation.

The PDF version of the book has already been used in several Vinaya seminars and has received a lot of positive feedback. Since the nuns’ sangha is growing in Germany, new monasteries are being built and monastery helpers and candidates will be trained every year, this book could be of great help.

Sati Stiftung, Stiftung für Achtsamkeit

IBAN: DE68 5204 0021 0311 4477 00

Purpose: Bhikkhuni Patimokkha

Update April 2024

The books are printed. If you are interested, please contact Ayya Vimalanyani Bhikkhuni. Thank you to the donors!

Project: Pilgrimage "In the Footsteps of the Buddha"

Place: India and Nepal
Travel date: November 10th to November 29th, 2024
Travel funding: The trip can only take place if the nuns’ travel costs are covered. The Dana required for this is approximately 9000 euros.

Sati Stiftung, Stiftung für Achtsamkeit

IBAN: DE68 5204 0021 0311 4477 00

Purpose: Pilgrimage

On this pilgrimage, participants will visit all the important places where the Buddha lived and practised. The journey begins in Sarnath near Varanasi, where the Buddha set the Dhamma wheel in motion and gave his first speech. Then it leads to Bodhgaya, the place of his awakening, and then to Kushinagar, where the Buddha attained Mahāparinibbāna and left his body. Then on to Lumbinī in Nepal, the birthplace of the Buddha, for 3 nights. Also to Rajgir, Vaishalī and Shravasti.
The aim of the trip is to see and experience places of the Buddha. It is a rare, powerful, clarifying and wonderful inspiration and motivation on the Dhamma path to meditate and practice in these places.
The tour is organised and guided by Jörn Materne. He has been offering pilgrimages in the Buddha’s footsteps professionally since 2011 and has already conducted over 25 trips with practitioners. He will manage, plan and provide logistics for the entire trip.
If you are interested in the trip itself, please contact: anenja.vihara@outlook.com

Update November 2024

The time has come. The pilgrimage organized by tour guide Jörn Materne is underway. Bhikkhuni Anuvidita, Saccika, Rakkhita, Jutindhara, Samaneri Sarita and Anagarika Kevali are visiting the Buddha’s sites together with the pilgrimage group. The Sati Foundation would like to thank all donors. In particular the travel agency Moskito Adventures, which did not charge us any costs for their work. Thanks to the generosity of Christian Hertel and Jörn Materne, it is possible for so many nuns to take part in the trip.

Project: Wassermond Monastery

Location: Brandenburg, nearby Guben

The monastery is located secluded in a forest by a lake and offers nuns the opportunity to live and practice as a community. On the monastery grounds there are old buildings in need of renovation, which are gradually being converted and made usable depending on financial resources. In addition, donations are needed for the maintenance of the nuns, especially for medical costs, i.e. health insurance.

Zweck: Kloster Wassermond

Sati Stiftung, Stiftung für Achtsamkeit

IBAN: DE68 5204 0021 0311 4477 00

The Watermoon Chan Monastery opened in 2022 and is led by the Venerable Shifu Simplicity Bhikshuni. The Theravadan nun Ayya Vimalanyani lives in the monastery.

Shifu Simplicity has been a nun for over 25 years and spent many years at Chung Tai Chan Monastery in Taiwan before returning to Germany in 2018 to build a monastery here.

Ayya Vimalanyani Bhikkhuni has been ordained for about 10 years and has lived most of the time as a wandering nun in many different monasteries around the globe before returning to Germany in 2021.

The Watermoon Chan Monastery opened in 2022 and is led by the Venerable Shifu Simplicity Bhikshuni. The Theravadan nun Ayya Vimalanyani lives in the monastery.

Shifu Simplicity has been a nun for over 25 years and spent many years at Chung Tai Chan Monastery in Taiwan before returning to Germany in 2018 to build a monastery here.

Ayya Vimalanyani Bhikkhuni has been ordained for about 10 years and has lived most of the time as a wandering nun in many different monasteries around the globe before returning to Germany in 2021.

The monastery is located secluded in a forest by a lake and offers nuns the opportunity to live and practice as a community. On the monastery grounds there are old buildings in need of renovation, which are gradually being converted and made usable depending on financial resources. In addition, donations are needed for the maintenance of the nuns, especially for medical costs, i.e. health insurance.

Sati Stiftung, Stiftung für Achtsamkeit

IBAN: DE68 5204 0021 0311 4477 00

Purpose:  Wassermond Monastery

Project: venerable Bhikkhuni Silavaddhani

place: brandenburg/Spree-Neiße, germany

Venerable Bhikkhuni Silavaddhani ordained as aspirant (Maechee) with Most Venerable Phra Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo as preceptor at the beginning of 2010.In June 2012 followed the ordination as novice (Samaneri) in Sri Lanka. With the permission and support of her teachers and preceptors she received the Higher Ordination as Bhikkhuni in January 2019. In October 2014 she was appointed as a meditation teacher by Most Venerable Phra Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo.
Currently she lives and directs the Dhammanikhom Vipassana Meditation Center. The Dhammanikhom is a place where Buddhist teachings and Vipassana meditation (insight or mindfulness meditation) are taught. All people who are interested to live and practice the Dhamma are welcome. Furthermore it is a partially a monastic establishment where nuns or postulants can practice Vipassanā meditation and tread the monastic Path according to monastic rules.  
All arising costs are covered solely by voluntary donations. According to the Buddhist tradition the participation in the courses is free of charge.

Project: supporting monastics/Dhammanikhom

Sati Stiftung, Stiftung für Achtsamkeit

IBAN: DE68 5204 0021 0311 4477 00

Project: monastic medical support

Place: nunnery Aneñja Vihara


Ayya Phalañāņī Bhikkhunī and her 5 novices, Sāmanerī Anuviditā, Sāmanerī Vinītā, Sāmanerī Rakkhītā, Sāmanerī Saccikā, Sāmanerī Jutindharā, live in the Buddhist nunnery Aneñja Vihara. Like all of us, they have to have health insurance. At times medical assistance that is not covered by insurance is needed. Medical care is one of four requirements that the Buddha allowed as a necessity for nuns and monks. The cost of medical care and health insurance is an ongoing expense and we welcome your support for the monastic medical fund.

Sati Stiftung, Stiftung für Achtsamkeit

IBAN: DE68 5204 0021 0311 4477 00

purpose: monastic medical support

Project: maintenance Aneñja Vihara

place: Bavaria, germany

purpose: maintenance Aneñja Vihara

The nunnery Aneñja Vihara is entirely dependent on donations for the running costs and for the maintenance of the monastery buildings. The buildings are quite old and major repairs are not the exception. The nuns are very hands on and try to maintain the monastery as best as they can. They don‘t shy away from repair work and fix whatever they can, but major restoration and maintenance work, such as roof repairs, excavations, and construction work, must be done by professionals.

Sati Stiftung, Stiftung für Achtsamkeit

IBAN: DE68 5204 0021 0311 4477 00

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