Buddhistinsights.org; Dhr. Seven, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Wisdom Quarterly
In memory of Ayya Kusuma, the first modern Sri Lankan nun (with Ayya Vimalanyani)
Ven. Kusuma was a fully-ordained Theravada Buddhist nun or bhikkhuni from Sri Lanka, who pioneered the re-establishment of the Theravada female Buddhist Monastic Order in Sri Lanka 1,000 years after the Bhikkhuni Sangha died out.
She took upon herself the task of carrying on the efforts of her mentor, the reputedly highly attained German Buddhist nun Ayya Khema. They established the Ayya Khema International Buddhist Mandir in Sri Lanka.
She lived at Prajapati Meditation Centre, Batawala, Padukka, Sri Lanka.
A few months ago, Ayya Kusuma enthusiastically supported the Therigatha Festival, a celebration of ancient verses, poems, and inspired testimonies of Buddhist nuns, organized by Ayya Vimalanyani and Bhante Akaliko.
On that occasion, she gave a beautiful talk about how the Therigatha verses gave her inspiration to re-establish the Theravada Bhikkhuni Sangha. She faced a lot of hardship and resistance, a true pioneer and an inspiration for other females in the Sangha.
Now there are thousands of women in Sri Lanka and around the world who have followed her footsteps and taken full nun's ordination.
This may well be her last public talk in English.
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