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Youth equality and women's empowerment 

in Theravāda Buddhism

Karuna Sevena Association (Prostejov, Czech Republic) under the leadership of Venerable Bhikkhunī Visuddhi organize an international exchange program for Buddhist youth.

Programme highlights​

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  • Protection against discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnic origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, belief or world view

  • Cultivation of moral and ethical conduct according to the teachings of the Buddha

  • Gender equity and the status of women in Theravāda Buddhism

  • Developing concentration and mindfulness

Date of the Event: 2.7. - 30.11.2023

Organiser: Karuna Sevena Association (Slezska 2059/3, Prostejov, Czech Republic) 

Under the guidance of venerable Bhikkhunī Visuddhi and the Karuna Sevena Association.

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Contacts: ​

 

Ārāma Karuṇā Sevena where the event will be held, was established in 2011 in the Czech Republic as a monastic dwelling and retreat centre for the Venerable Bhikkhunī Visuddhi Therī. It is the first female Theravāda Buddhist monastery established in Eastern Europe. 

 

The work of Venerable Visuddhi, is aimed at increasing the accessibility of the Dhamma in Central and Eastern Europe to people of all religious backgrounds, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, nationality, age, race, or opinion. Her other goal is to strengthen bridges between Sri Lanka, a place with a long Buddhist tradition, and European countries where the Buddha's teachings are relatively new.

Vision of the Program:
 

The programme of the international meeting is mainly focused on the challenges faced by Buddhist youth in traditional Buddhist societies in Sri Lanka and Europe, and we particularly want to focus on the empowerment of women in Theravāda Buddhism.

 

Based on the cultivation of moral and ethical conduct according to the teachings of the Buddha, we want to address gender politics in this framework, the project is not only aimed at protection from discrimination based on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, belief or worldview.

 

An important point of the programme is the development of concentration and mindfulness.

 

Number of invited participants: 17

 

Programme flyer: Czech, English, German, Sinhala

Event Coordinator: Mgr. et Bc. Eva Smesna - psychologist, psychotherapist, lecturer and supervisor.


Volunteer: Ashini Kavishka Wanninayaka is the volunteer team leader at Srī Gothamī ārāmaya (Olaboduwa, Sri Lanka, where she lives). Srī Gothamī ārāmaya is a sister monastery of the Karuna Sevena Association. 

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Participants: Venerable Bhikkhunī Visuddhi, Mgr. et Bc. Eva Smesna,  BcA. Barbora Glombova Ondrova, Michaela Spohrova, Libor Sulak, Ashini Kavishka Wanninayaka, Matyas Filler, Karolina Smesna, Roza Glombová, Jachym Malek, Liza Glombova, Kristyna Smesna, Jiri Palatka, Adela Palatkova, Maja Glombova, Amelie Aurora Mendlova, Benjamin Sulak.

 

Srī Gothamī Āshrāmaya was established in 1998 and is located in the small village of Olaboduwa in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Two of the oldest bhikkhunīs in Sri Lanka, Venerable Dhamma-Darshikā and Venerable Matale Vijitā, live here.  Both bhikkhunīs played a key role in the re-establishment of the Theravāda bhikkhunī-saṅgha. These nuns have worked closely with Venerable Visuddhi for over 20 years, teaching children and youth and working hard to empower women in Theravāda Buddhism.

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