Projects | Schedule | Location |

Sathira Dhamma Community

Sathira Dhamma Community now has its own website!

Sathira Dhamma is a learning community of nuns, laywomen, and laymen living together for the sake of peace boh in our hearts and in society. We are located on the northeast edge of Bangkok amidst the rapidly expanding chaos of urban life. To create a peaceful atmosphere we have planted trees saved from urban destruction, dug lotus ponds, and left many quiet nooks and crannies for people to sit in quiet.

The first thing a visitor meets when entering our gate is the cool shadows of the smaller and larger trees that have been planted creatively. Gnarled Lan Tom trees that have known no less than a century of life in this world before they were saved from the destruction of progress and transplanted here, now provide a sacred power as if keeping the outer confusion from invading this Dhamma Garden. None of the buildings are large or have sharp corners so that the natural atmosphere is preserved.

The community is made up of three sections:

• The nuns ranging in age from 25 to 56.
• "Development Village" made of the lay supporters who found refuge here from the competition of Bangkok and built this center from the ground up.
• "Ban Sai Sampan," a shelter for women giving birth out of wedlock but committed to raising their children in a healthy, loving home.

Sathira Dhamma Community was founded by Maechi Sansanee Sathirasut in 1987 with land purchased by the Sathira Dhamma Fund. The 6 acres of deteriorated rice field has gradually been transformed into an urban oasis. Its purpose is to support the study, practice, and propagation of Dhamma.

In our work of developing the quality of human life, we emphasize children, women, and renunciate women. We try to share a happy, peaceful life with our fellow humans so that they can live their lives without problems in the midst of the modern society. Our motto is "For Buddha-Dhamma to Guide Society." We like to think of our community as a "Dhamma Garden," because it was developed from dried, depleted rice fields without even one tree into a natural Dhamma teaching for all to enjoy.

Projects

The work of our community is to develop life Dhammically, as follows:

• "Life for Dhamma": a Sangha of ordained women training in the Lord Buddha's Dhamma-Vinaya.
• "Creating the World through Children": a nursery school for the children of under-employed laborers in our neighborhood. We combine the Buddha's teaching with creative teaching approaches unkown in the mainstream education system.

"Sai Samphan Home": a home for mothers and their children that allows them to nurture a loving relationship in safety. Women who were abused or mislead through their lack f experience and a society in which violence is increasing, the incidence of rape increasing, a safe place to begin their lives anew in order to cope with what has befallen them.

• "The Art of Living through Anapanasati": weekend retreats for people of all ages and backgrounds to experience the depth, quiet, clarity, and joy of "mindfulness with breathing."

Daily Schedule

On weekends and special occassions we adapt our time in service of those
who seek the peace & light of Dhamma with us.

Location

Sathira Dhamma Community
24/ 5 Moo 2, Soi Watcharapol
Ram-indra Road
Ladprao, Bangkok 10230
Fax: (66-2) 519-4633

http://www.savika.org

This page has been authored Maechis Nida, Kalong, Nittaya, Amornrat, Sawang, Apasaree, Deuanpen, and Jintana (with help from Santikaro Bhikkhu).

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