Ayyā Medhānandī
Buddhist Women on a Path of Spiritual Awakening
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Buddhist Women on a Path of Spiritual Awakening
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How do we experience the heart's uplift in the special qualities of joy that we can know and share in different ways during the journey of life? Do we see ourselves as inherently joyful, or do we feel that joy has passed us by? Whatever our opinions are, we all have a potential for profound joy which can and must be tapped in this practice. We do not need to search for joy, but if we practice with patience, humility, and a deep desire to align ourselves with the truth, joy will find us.
Walking the cedar loop trail brings memories of those who have passed and are memorialized on the grounds of the monastery. While reflecting on their passing, inevitably we reflect on our own. This powerful way of practice brings to the forefront of consciousness the special value of contemplating our own death. Not only is it a sign of the transitory nature of these impermanent bodies, but when we remember those who have passed, it is also an opportunity to personally experience impermanence itself. We realize how this law of nature governs all life, and, thereby, we understand the deeper mea
How do we abide in peace? Let us develop awareness. Listen and try to be peaceful with all that arises in consciousness. Meditate, be present, attentive, and aware – here and now. We try to understand more deeply how the mind works. Can we soften our difficult memories or thoughts with the medicine of the Dhamma? Rather than agitating during rough times, we find sure footing moment by moment . What we’re really fighting is change and the feeling that we have no control. One way, one day, everything dies. Yes, we may be choice-less – but we can know change and stay aware in this present moment.
We may think we are mindful, but it's good to look more carefully, with humility, and check. Are we actually present? Otherwise, who is living our life? Can we really sustain present moment awareness and know the purity of what we are? Bearing witness in this way deepens our understanding. For living in awareness is sanctuary. Whether in times of triumph or tears, let us navigate our experiences from the heart so that we choose wisely. This will help us draw strength and perspective through mindfulness, compassion and gratitude. Our Dhamma compass will guide us to beautiful knowing, and our li
Meditation practice takes the courage and patience to pay close attention to your own experience. Look inward and dive into the heart beyond all mental fabrication to see with a still, clear, objective, and purified mind. When the mind is empty of opinions or commentary, we are anchored in the present moment, not running backwards or forwards. We witness what is in the mind here and now – knowing each breath as it really is. Just so, let us transcend the endless rivers of thought to capture that state of being where the dust of lifetimes clears and you can see from the inner eye. Then you can
With the Buddha as our guide, we walk a courageous path. See how the world burns from cruel and chaotic forces? At times we may feel that we are on sorrow mountain. But we persevere, protected and faithful. And with uncompromising nobility, we transform fear and despair into compassionate awareness and the heart’s peace. Freedom from mental suffering is within reach. So walk in the footprints of the Buddha himself. Know the indestructible light of the Dhamma - reflecting on all experience and seeing things just as they are – impermanent, empty, not who we are – and cannot make us happy. It is
Can we trust the current of Dhamma to take us to the ocean? Not the vast ocean of samsara, but the ocean of compassion and wisdom which is far greater! What’s more, we can enter it if we trust waking up to the truth of who we really are. Mindfulness is our worthy ally and guide. So practise mindful awareness with utmost care and diligence. Even if we lose the way in distracted thoughts, just return to present moment awareness here in the heart and we're in the ocean of wisdom. Beyond the dimension of ideas and their suffering, we enter the Deathless. It is timeless, egoless, spaceless, tracele
The Buddha's universal antidote to suffering is activated in the heart. It works through pure undiluted awareness when we begin to taste a boundless peace – far from fear, worry, or depression. Practise this pure presence and directly see your true nature. So where is the 'self' that we forever concoct, grasp, cherish and cling to? Witness consciousness just as it is – empty of thought or opinion – and let go. Know freedom directly. Seeing we are all one, sustain this awareness that leans towards Nibbana – like the full moon at its peak. This is liberation itself. Ottawa Buddhist Society refle
Life is a mystery. We don’t’ really know from where we come or where we are going. But as we reflect on this mystery, we can abide in gratitude - because it is a gift. Seeing it's boundlessness, we no longer limit it with our expectations. If there were no mystery, we would be caught up in the limits of thought, the ego itself. But in the joy and wonder of this moment, we enter the chord of present moment awareness. Then we receive the next moment with wonder. And so the mystery unravels. Not knowing is humbling for we must bow to whatever we receive. The heart opens and we wake up.
Do we have enough awareness to purify the mind? If we practice humility – not being kidnapped by self-obsession or distraction – if we live with restraint and focus, we come to realize and discover who we really are. Our spiritual parent in this waking up is reflective conscious awareness that is infinite and pervasive. We take greatest care of this consciousness through the power to purify defilement. The more we abide in that pure awareness, the greater our joy, the greater our peace, and the greater our awakening.
Contentment protects us from greed and ill will by riding the waves of life without getting too lost in the highs or swallowed up by the lows or wanting things to change. Again and again, we contemplate the nature of mind that naturally inclines towards kindness, generosity and peace in pure awareness here and now. Beyond the moods and emotions that derail our inner contentment, we see the true nature of suffering without taking ownership of it. Free from dependence on the external gratification and approval that feed our perpetual obsession with ego identity, we let go and enter into a state
Can we feel Truth working through us in our human form? We all arise and pass within this tapestry of experience. And its spiritual tests appear as sufferings – yet they bestow incomparable joys and peace. Whatever we endure pierces the darkness to release us into pure awareness. We know a liberation of spirit born of courage and patience beyond ordinary love – one that transforms us through the blessings of compassion. Our resilience changes us forever. Indeed, when we harvest the riches of wisdom, we are truly the heirs to the Buddha's profound awakening.
We share our love of truth through receptivity to kindness. As we learn to trust others, we can trust ourselves to explore beyond the limitations of the thinking mind. When we study the face of fear itself, gradually we break through to seeing its true nature – which is not fearful. And we do this by knowing the still point beyond the incessant flow of thoughts. In that state of peace, true inner communion and companionship with others arise. Trust the practice by developing this wisdom of the higher mind. We may even struggle, but such commitment is a gift to ourselves and to all the world.
Crossing the stream is knowing the way of true happiness and unshakeable peace. We have greater freedom from anxiety and we can walk peacefully in life with deeper understanding of how our mind works. To explore the Dhammas of the mind's inner workings is to discover who we really are. Then, we are streaming the Dhamma and we know that awareness is our true nature. It is infinite love developed in wisdom. It steers us across the vast ocean of life through our losses, fears, triumphs, and rewards. Waking up to what we truly are changes us from the inside. For as long as this heart beats, even a
Goodwill and wisdom are great spiritual powers. As truth seekers and explorers, the silence of the mind is our wellspring for these and for insight, peace, and true refuge from the troubles of worldly life. When others react, we reflect. When there is chaos, we promote reconciliation. In conflict, we patiently steer towards peace, mutual understanding and kindness. We live faithfully attuned to present moment awareness. And we seek enlightenment like the arahants of ancient times – so deeply wise and compassionate. For these exalted blessings, we walk sure-footed on the path of awakening the h
We long to know unconditional love. And yet we keep seeking it all around us instead of stopping to look within. At this very moment, we intimately, intuitively come to know our true humanity in the very silence of the heart. Stopping long enough, we bear witness to our true nature with clear awareness. We let go ‘me’ or ‘mine’. Each moment is seen as it is – impermanent, impersonal, imperfect. All around us, the distractions and despair of the world are circling. When our refuge is pure awareness, the path of love is under our feet.
When we remember to bring forth gratitude and restore peace, we can abide in a heart of forgiveness. There is so much goodness to know. Even if it feels impossible – we give ourselves to awareness in this moment and we know the goodness. We grow in it – to be mother or father to ourselves so we don’t die in our seriousness. Take precepts, know the joy of kindness. And in the goodness of time, the flower will open. Everyone wants to be happy. Realizing this, we love the moment for all we learn from it. And in this we know peace.
Though we feel powerless to change the state of the world, we can change our own minds. We can open to peace here within us. Regardless of our vacillating moods or reactions, awareness is ever present. So staying present and aware, learn to trust. Forgiving fears or doubts, let them go. By persevering with kindness, wholesome intentions and thoughts, we come to understand ourselves and each other. We see the empty, impermanent qualities of all things – and their suffering nature. Knowing our true spiritual strength in awareness and the moral fibre of our humanity, the heart opens to profound p
My first teacher taught me: ‘All is One - There is nothing else.’ Seeing things in their true light, we can lose our fear. I learned this while watching giant golden spiders. They were scary – and my early mindfulness was weak. When we’re lost in the waves, we’re far from the ocean. But we are the ocean, so staying centred in the web of mindfulness, we can know true refuge. This is the ocean of love. There’s no web, no spider, no fear – just pure consciousness. We know that we are one with all – in present moment awareness. Breakfast Reflections, Sati Saraniya Hermitage, Aug. 12, 2025
The root of saraniya, reconciliation, is sarana, refuge. The silence in the heart is our most powerful refuge. And sati, mindfulness, is the mother of opening the heart and coming to know who we really are. We must come empty to the Buddha, or awakened ones from whom we seek guidance and help in removing obstacles. Then we learn how to hoist up our sail and direct ourselves to listen, bow, and see the flame of Dhamma burning brightly within us. At the core of our being, joyful respect enables presence and sublime understanding of who we really are. We are not separate but one conscious awarene
Can we 'be bread' for ourselves and those we meet who are hungry in spirit? Through the goodness of our practice, with the understanding gained in the silence of the heart, we open to a freedom without boundaries – letting go the weight of our sorrows, clinging, and suffering. Even a spaceship cannot travel to the frontiers where this wondrous space in the heart can take us. We may not know it fully yet, but when we pierce the delusion of the world, awakening is our rightful inheritance. Then the 'Way' can never be lost to us again. And we can share the blessings of that exalted love – the bre
Bowing in the currents of life, we navigate with a generosity of attention and heart. Whatever happens, the sign of the Dhamma rises in us like a glowing sun. We receive it, know it, open to it, and welcome its wondrous light to guide us. Now is the time to live, sit, walk, rest, work and love – blessing the world with great compassion. Not giving up but waking up – because awareness will transform us step by step. And we do awaken. Breakfast Reflections, Sati Saraniya Hermitage, Sept, 27, 2025
Like a mother, the Buddha walks us in the ways of the Dhamma, teaching us how to turn the mind to peace and true refuge. Our fear of fear can be disabling, but just to witness our fear or grief or any unwholesome thought is empowering. So awareness, loving-kindness and inner harmony help to dispel feelings of anger, fear, pain, or sorrow. Whatever their origin, we see their impermanent, troublesome and empty nature, and we abide in the peace of pure conscious awareness. This very life is our walk for peace. And we never give up on love. Breakfast Dhamma, Sati Saraniya Hermitage, Sept 16, 2024
When the mind comes to quiet, truth rolls in. We plant seeds of wisdom that sprout naturally and the mind stops fabricating or wandering outwards. Staying centred and aware, we begin to feel a timeless healing. This is the supreme way of true freedom and happiness for a human being. But who lives this way? One devoted to care for and purify the mind; one who sustains conscious awareness and peace; one who seeks not to get or acquire but rather to share and to love; one who acts for the good of all. As generosity and compassion blossom, we heal and we sanctify. This is the work of the Blessed O
The Buddha’s medicine is a universal gift for the mind. It helps us see what is apparent here and now, and it is timeless. By investigating the heart, we know the truth of what we are. It's like taking an internal selfie to be able to recognize that. But to really free ourselves from suffering, look deeply into the Four Noble Truths which teach us the causes of suffering, how it ends, and how we come to directly know our true nature. Conscious present moment awareness is key. Even when chaos and wars are raging, may we persevere and sustain the heart's refuge in boundless peace and compassion.
