The Venerable Dr. Pannavati Bhikkuni is the founder of Heartwood Refuge, an intentional spiritual community in North Carolina, and abbess of Embracing Simplicity Hermitage, a 21st century trans-lineage Buddhist Order. A former Christian pastor, the Venerable Pannavati is often thought to be the only fully-ordained African-American woman in the Theravada tradition of Buddhism. She is also ordained in the Mahayana tradition and has Vajrayana empowerments and authorization to teach.
In this episode, we explore the Venerable Pannavati’s journey from Evangelical Christianity to a trans-lineage Buddhism, discussing the methods of transformation of consciousness, simple and complex religious perspectives, the serving of different needs and capacities on the spiritual path, a ‘relational’ and ‘American Buddhism,’ trans-lineage Buddhism, syncretism and a Ri-me approach to ecumenism, sectarianism in Buddhism, the ordination of Theravadan Buddhist nuns, legacy and leaving no footprints, new inter spiritual language, and the ‘Dharma Gospel’ of Dharma Voci.
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Dharma Voci's Album: Invocation
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