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Dharma

Insights for

Lay People

By Venerable Ayya Soma

Ayyā Somā is an Italian Buddhist monk and co-abbot Benny: How did you become interested in
of Empty Cloud Monastery in New Jersey. A former Buddhism? And why did you decide to become a nun
fashion and lifestyle editor, her first encounter in 2018?
with Buddhist monasticism was at Santacittārāma
Monastery in Italy, in the tradition of Ajahn Chah. Somā: Becoming a daughter of the Buddha was a
She started practicing as a renunciant in 2016, natural evolution for me, rather than a sudden decision.
and received monastic ordination in 2018. As Prior to ordination, I had already been practicing as
the co-founder of Buddhist Insights, a non-profit a lay renunciant for two years. Together with Bhante
organization connecting people with monastics, she Suddhaso, a young American monk, I started a non-profit
has learned the Dharma through the perspective organization in NYC, Buddhist Insights, with the mission
of connecting people with monastics. In order to do this,
of monks of all different traditions like Bhante I quit my job and started living full time in a monastic
Suddhāso, Bhikkhu Bodhi, Ajahn Pasanno, Ven. setting, supporting the Sangha while working to make the
Robina Courtin, Khenmo Drolma, Ajahn Brahm, Thich teachings more accessible to people in the West. Taking
Phap Hai, Ven. Paññavati, and Bhante Gunaratana. the ochre robes was a natural result of the happiness and
Ayyā was kind enough to respond to several questions bliss that came from practicing in an intensive way, and
that Benny Liow had asked about her journey into from that experience of renunciation and of letting go.
Buddhism, her role in setting up a gender inclusive Naturally, when one understands that letting go brings
monastery, how she shares the Dhamma with lay happiness, and experiences that happiness, one wants to
people, and what she thinks about Western Buddhism let go even further.
vs Asian Buddhism.