International Conference on Buddhist Women Starts Today

The 14th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women starts today in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, running until June 30. Its theme will be “Compassion and Social Justice.”


The organization was founded in 1987 in Bodhgaya, India. Sakyadhita is an alliance of women and men founded at the conclusion of the first International Conference on Buddhist Women, held in Bodh Gaya, where the 14th Dalai Lama was the keynote speaker. The term Sakyadhita means "daughters of the Buddha" and was first used at the conference. The initiative for creating the organization came from Ayya Khema, Karma Lekshe Tsomo, Dr. Chatsumarn Kabilsingh (now Dhammananda Bhikkhuni) and Carola Roloff (now Bhikṣuni Jampa Tsedroen). Currently, Sakyadhita has almost 2000 members in 45 countries around the world. National branches of Sakyadhita have been established in Canada, France, Germany, Korea, Nepal, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. New branches are currently being formed in Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Russia, Spain, and Vietnam.

The conferences are held every two years. This year there will be Scheduled dharma talks by

Ajahn Brahm on “Buddhism with Compassion, Buddhism with Justice” on June the 24

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo on “The Six Paramitas” on June the 26

and Venerable Thubten Chodron on “Open Heart, Clear Mind" on June the 28.