Third generation of Bodhisattvas at Songdhammakalyani Monastery

When Ven.Voramai Kabilsingh, the founder of the monastery took an important commitment to lead a monastic lifestyle in 1956,she was still looking for the future ordination to become bhikkhuni. It was not until 15 years later, in 1971 When she went to Taiwan and received full ordination to become bhikkhuni from Ven.Master Tao An of Sung San Temple in Taipei. According to the ordination as practice in Chinese tradition, the ordination is given in three steps, the first one is novice, then full ordination as bhikkhu ( monk) or bhikkhuni (female monk), and the highest step is the Bodhisattva’s commitment. In 1971 Ven.Voramai Kabilsingh also received the bodhisattva precepts of monastics consisting of 58 rules.

Dr.Chatsumarn Kabilsingh went to Taiwan in 2000 and received bodhisattva’s precept from Most Ven.Hsing Yun, founder of Fo Guang Shan in Kao Hsiung, Taiwan. As she was still a lay person, so the precepts she received was Bodhisattva’s precepts for lay people, consisting of 34 rules. Dr Chatsumarn Kabilsingh received full ordination to become bhikkhuni in Theravada tradition from Sri Lanka in 2003, her ordained name is Dhammananda. Ven.Dhammananda still keeps her Bodhisattva’s precepts. She is the second generation of Bodhisattva’s lineage of Songdhammakalyani Monastery.

On Sept.22, 2023  she presided over a ceremony to give lay Bodhisattva’s precept to Ekachat Kabilsingh, her eldest son. He has proved his commitment to practice meditation, attending the chanting regularly. He is committed particularly to the Medicine Buddha. Having taken the lay Bodhisattva’s precept, he also paid respect to the bhikkhuni sangha started  from his grandmother’s time, by committing to celibacy. Ekachat is 50 years old when he took the lay bodhisattva’s precept, and he is the third generation of bodhisattva (also through biological lineage.)

 May the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas bless them.