Page 35 - EH76

FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 33

Embodying

Kindness

and Wise

Compassion

By Ven Ayya Niyyānika

Ayya Niyyānika is Benny: Can you share with us what first attracted
a fully ordained you to Buddhism and why you decided to practice as
Theravāda Buddhist a monastic rather than a layperson?
monastic. She began
monastic training Niyyānika: Reading the Four Noble Truths for the
in 2014 and spent first time filled me with brightness and warmth.
eight years training These truths suggested the potential for a life free
in bhikkhunī of depression, fear, and doubt. That was an amazing
possibility. I quickly searched for more on Buddhism
communities at
and the path to freedom.
Dhammadharini
and Aloka Vihara Within a very short time, I spent much of my “spare
in California, USA. This gave them a deeper time” practicing meditation and studying Dhamma
understanding of renunciation and importance at a local meditation center and on my own. Very
of Saṅgha. Ayya then traveled for a year in the soon, I wanted to shift from “spare time” to “all the
West and Asia, giving them a broader view of our time.” The stories I heard about monastic life from
conditioned world and how Buddhists practice monastics visiting Common Ground Meditation Center
around the world. Now, Ayya is a part of Passaddhi in Minnesota, USA, inspired me. I wanted full immersion
Vihara in the Pacific Northwest, USA.For Ayya in the Buddha’s teaching and to have those teachings
Niyyānika, embodiment, based in kindness and wise at the center of my life. The container of monastic life,
compassion, is central to their path development as set up by the Buddha, seemed the most supportive
and is the focus of their monastic practice. Ayya conditions for this “all the time” practice.
was kind enough to allow Benny Liow to interview Kindness and compassion are key teachings of
her on the topic of kindness and compassion, and the Buddha. Are kindness and compassion innate
also the importance of wisdom in one’s practice of qualities within us as humans, or do we need to
the Dhamma. cultivate them for them to arise?

What we know through our lived experience is that
we are capable of kindness and compassion. It is very
unlikely that anyone reading this has never been
kind or felt compassion. Except for the rare seriously