Welcome To Vassa 2026 at the Bhikkhuni Vihara
Dear Dhamma Friends,
This year we celebrate a special milestone: Bhikkhuni Santacari’s Theri Year. Since her Upasampada (full ordination) in 2016, she has now completed ten Vassa as a fully ordained Bhikkhuni. We are delighted to have a Bhikkhuni Theri here with us in South Australia.
Bhikkhuni Santacari has entered into Vassa and is planning to enter into seclusion for intensive practice, but she will not do that until the bathroom upgrade is finished enough.
As we’ve shared previously, there is a pressing need to upgrade the areas at Dhakkhina Dhammathala where our Bhikkhuni sits for both Dana and to receive visitors. She also needs her own bathroom and showering facilities, which we plan to create by upgrading the outside laundry.
This frugal upgrade project requires an additional $7,200 to be fully funded. If you are able to contribute towards these costs, we would deeply appreciate your support for our Bhikkhuni.
Supporting Bhikkhuni Santacari with Dana
Our Dana roster needs filling. Please consider sponsoring one or two days a year and Scott will use that money to cook meals for our Bhikkhuni. Scott is currently doing Dana shopping and preparing meals using the funds that are donated by Dana sponsors.
Costings
Please see the breakdown below to understand the costs involved in the renovation.Our deep thanks to those who have already generously donated.
We wish to thank the following people for assisting Bhikkhuni Santacari by donating their labour to keep the costs down:
Sam for the plumbing work in the laundry-to-be-bathroom
Scott for weatherproofing and repairing the back Kuti that was badly water damaged.
Wendy for her tiling work.
Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu.
Bathroom upgrade and renovation: $2,783.45
Kitchen upgrade with oven and benches: $3, 803
Shared Area upgrade: $5, 335.88 (includes $4,600 cost for cafe blinds to enclose areas around shrine room for weather proofing.)
Total costs $11,922.33
Total donations to date: $4,458.00
Balance Needed $7,200
Thank you to our donors so far:
Udeni $1000 for the bathtub
Ramani Gunaseker $1000
Dhammadharini Monastery USA $538 for the stainless steel benches
Upeksha $200
Kanchana $200
SriPali $250
Dilshani $250
Phap Hoa Temple $300
Wendy $130 for tiles, heated towel rail, kitchen tap and timber
Padma $590 new carpet rug for the shrine room.
Progress Photos To Share
Kuti at the back fence repairs.
The second Kuti was found to be leaking water and there were several gaps in the wall joins that allowed the outside rain, damp and insects to come inside. Scott has been working hard to repair these damages. New timber frames were added around the sliding door, the ceiling was waterproofed and timber skirtings were added to the back wall and corners. If you would like to come and help with tidy ups and repainting the Kutis and Shrine Room timber door and window frames please get in touch, Thank you.
Blessings and Anumodhanna,
The Buddhist Society of South Australia
Padma Chaplin
President
silaloka@gmail.com
0434 729745
