Ayya Gunasari's Passing
This issue of the KBV newsletter is dedicated to Ayya Gunasari, who passed away on April 30th at the age of 93.
One of the first women to receive upasampada (higher ordination) as a Bhikkuni in modern times, Ayya Gunasari went on to become the first abbess of Mahapajapati Monastery in 2008. In 2010, she helped arrange Ayya Santussika's Samaneri ordination and her Bikkhuni ordination in 2012. Ayya Gunasari also supported many other women in their ordinations. Aside from her own deep practice and sharing of the Dhamma, her legacy includes all the good that has resulted from those ordinations. Would KBV even exist without her?
Bless you, Ayya, and thank you for all you gave us.
One of the first women to receive upasampada (higher ordination) as a Bhikkuni in modern times, Ayya Gunasari went on to become the first abbess of Mahapajapati Monastery in 2008. In 2010, she helped arrange Ayya Santussika's Samaneri ordination and her Bikkhuni ordination in 2012. Ayya Gunasari also supported many other women in their ordinations. Aside from her own deep practice and sharing of the Dhamma, her legacy includes all the good that has resulted from those ordinations. Would KBV even exist without her?
Bless you, Ayya, and thank you for all you gave us.
Emerging from Winter Retreat
| After three months of highly supported downtime at KBV's Hermitage, the Ayyas are feeling an incredible amount of gratitude for the wonderful retreat crew! Anumodana to Brian, Alex J, Olivia and Philip for all the hard work and care. |  |
Viriya Kuti progress
Thanks to many generous helpers over the winter, we've made great progress on the Viriya Kuti construction since the last update:
- Loft built
- Battery room constructed
- Wiring installed
- Deck completed
- Exterior painted
- Insulation started
- Roof ventilation added
- Roof finished
Community Work Day - July 25
| If you'd like to come work on the Viriya Kuti and/or on keeping the Hermitage from burning down by performing fire clearance tasks, your next opportunity is coming up! On Saturday, July 25th, we'll start at 9am with our "How Do I Apply the Dhamma to This?!?!" hybrid program from the hermitage (NOT at the meditation center!), an early potluck meal at 11am, and work afterwards until about 4:30pm. |  |
New long-term steward Amber
 | The KBV bhikkhunis are very excited to welcome Amber as part of the resident community, with all of her skills and great enthusiasm for the Dhamma. Many of you probably recognize Amber from online programs (as part of the Dhamma Sharing recording team), one of our Thailand pilgrimages, Kathina, & community work day at the hermitage. She'll be stewarding for at least one month (and hopefully indefinitely!), taking over things like kitchen duties, guest coordination, and admin tasks at the hermitage and meditation center. |
Samaneri Sujata's Ordination
In April, Ayya Santussika had the opportunity to act as preceptor for Samaneri Sujata's novice ordination. Samaneri Sujata (formerly Anagarika Sarana, AKA Andy/Andrea), is thriving at Saraṇa Vihāra, a beautiful little monastery located in a 13th century village called Valderrobres (a few hours outside of Barcelona).
The Ayyas traveled to Spain for the occasion, thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to spend time with Samaneri Sujata, get to know Ayya Arindama (Saraṇa Vihāra's founding teacher and abbess), and meet Bhante Rahula's sister, Anagarika Gotami. It's wonderful to see the Spanish-speaking Dhamma world flourishing with such dedicated female monastics leading the way.
The Ayyas traveled to Spain for the occasion, thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to spend time with Samaneri Sujata, get to know Ayya Arindama (Saraṇa Vihāra's founding teacher and abbess), and meet Bhante Rahula's sister, Anagarika Gotami. It's wonderful to see the Spanish-speaking Dhamma world flourishing with such dedicated female monastics leading the way.
Save the Date! Kathina 2026
This year's Kathina at KBV is tentatively set for November 15th at the meditation center in Sunnyvale. However, we don't have a lay sponsor for the event yet, so this may change.
This robe offering ceremony is an excellent chance to gain merit, spend time with Dhamma friends, and celebrate the interdependence of the Sangha and lay community.
If you would like to be this year's Kathina sponsor, please reach out to [email protected] for more information.
Thailand Pilgrimage 2026
We've begun the planning process for Thailand! Here's what you need to know:
Please read this letter from a former pilgrim before applying.
- Pilgrimage dates: November 20-December 5
- KBV community members may apply through this form.
- EVERYONE who wishes to come MUST apply (we have room for 15 pilgrims)
- Application deadline: July 1, 2026
Please read this letter from a former pilgrim before applying.
Reflection on the Winter Retreat
| It was wonderful to be able to have such a fully supported 3-month period in the forest at the KBV Hermitage with the amazing redwood trees, the creeks running strong, and the flexibility and openness of time for practice taking whatever shape was needed. We have deep gratitude for our awesome stewards and all they did to care for us and the hermitage space. It was a time of being able to pull in whatever supports were helpful. Of course, that included formal sitting meditation whether it was done on schedule or individually, intuitively. It was possible to be present with the mind and body in such a sweet, gentle, friendly way, and observe with mindfulness all of the strange and varied things that come through the mind. |  |
There was ample time for walking meditation. I fully enjoyed the luxury of the walking meditation deck at my kuti and also the flexibility to use walking through nature as meditation.
As you probably know, the Thai Forest Tradition has been the main influence in our practice and training. We deeply appreciate the words and encouragement of Ajahn Ganha, and even though we’ve never met him, the amazing leadership, guidance, and example of Ajahn Chah. Part of that influence encourages mindfulness, samādhi, and wisdom while working. In that spirit during this retreat, there were periods when my meditation was painting the kuti that's in process of being built, to protect the siding against the weather, but also to just quietly work. I find it interesting and supportive to be able to shift between sitting, walking, and working, while internally being present with the vicissitudes of the mind in those different contexts.
There were also precious times of being present with our stewards and one another, engaging in Dhamma discussion or reflection on whatever was happening, and then being able to go back to solitude, with deep gratitude for having a kuti to go to in the stillness of the forest.
The theme running through these 3 months was how we can mindfully face disease and death. We discussed suttas referenced in Bhante Anālayo’s book with that title for our regular Saturday morning programs over zoom. (You can find the recordings on the KBV Youtube channel and Dharmaseed.) This theme provided a serene and sobering backdrop for practice, bringing us face-to-face with the reality and significance of human life and death.
There was also a fair bit of Ajahn Sumedho’s wisdom mixed in throughout the retreat, with his tireless encouragement to witness experience with wisdom, continually coming back to silence, to ultimate reality, to Dhamma.
The resultant alchemy from all these factors is solidified confidence in the constant availability of the timeless peace and silence of the uncreated and the ability to take refuge there regardless of anything. This is true for all of us, without exception. Now is the time to realize it and make use of it.
With blessings,
Ayya Santussika
As you probably know, the Thai Forest Tradition has been the main influence in our practice and training. We deeply appreciate the words and encouragement of Ajahn Ganha, and even though we’ve never met him, the amazing leadership, guidance, and example of Ajahn Chah. Part of that influence encourages mindfulness, samādhi, and wisdom while working. In that spirit during this retreat, there were periods when my meditation was painting the kuti that's in process of being built, to protect the siding against the weather, but also to just quietly work. I find it interesting and supportive to be able to shift between sitting, walking, and working, while internally being present with the vicissitudes of the mind in those different contexts.
There were also precious times of being present with our stewards and one another, engaging in Dhamma discussion or reflection on whatever was happening, and then being able to go back to solitude, with deep gratitude for having a kuti to go to in the stillness of the forest.
The theme running through these 3 months was how we can mindfully face disease and death. We discussed suttas referenced in Bhante Anālayo’s book with that title for our regular Saturday morning programs over zoom. (You can find the recordings on the KBV Youtube channel and Dharmaseed.) This theme provided a serene and sobering backdrop for practice, bringing us face-to-face with the reality and significance of human life and death.
There was also a fair bit of Ajahn Sumedho’s wisdom mixed in throughout the retreat, with his tireless encouragement to witness experience with wisdom, continually coming back to silence, to ultimate reality, to Dhamma.
The resultant alchemy from all these factors is solidified confidence in the constant availability of the timeless peace and silence of the uncreated and the ability to take refuge there regardless of anything. This is true for all of us, without exception. Now is the time to realize it and make use of it.
With blessings,
Ayya Santussika
