Clear Mountain Monastery Project Meditating Without Footnotes: Bridging the Scholastic & Practice Divide | Ven. Dhammadinnā Q&A
May 8, 2025
Ven. Dhammadinnā, a research associate professor specializing in early Buddhist traditions and Pāli language, shares her enlightening journey from academia to monastic life. She discusses how language can shape spiritual practice and the challenges of merging scholarly work with heartfelt compassion. Reflecting on her experiences as a female monastic, she highlights gender dynamics and the ongoing quest for inclusivity in Buddhism. The conversation also touches on how cultural experiences influence their understanding of openness and community in American society.
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Gradual Path to Ordination
- Bhikkhuni Dhammadinnā's path to ordination was gradual and multi-causal, not triggered by a single event.
- She needed to find solid ground and conditions supportive of women in Theravāda before taking robes.
Integrating Scholarship and Practice
- Initially, Ven. Dhammadinnā felt split between her scholarly and monastic identities.
- Over time, these aspects integrated, leading her to feel authentic and whole in her practice and scholarship.
Brahma Vihāra: Boundlessness and Connection
- In early Buddhism, Brahma Vihāra practices focus on boundless intention without fixating on self or others.
- Mindfulness combined with Brahma Vihāra practice reveals a deeper connectedness with all beings beyond conceptual othering.