iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

King Pasenadi said to the Buddha, “When I’m sitting in judgment I see well-to-do aristocrats, brahmins, & householders—rich, affluent, & wealthy, with lots of gold & silver, lots of property & assets, & lots of money and grain. But they tell deliberate lies for the sake of sensual pleasures.

291

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

I accepted the job as abbot of the Empty Cloud Monastery. If you have prayers or merits or good wishes to share, I'm grateful.

2170

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Someone said a brief Dhamma thought posted here in bsky can't make a real impact ... but this one is different. Motivation to develop the 4 iddhipadas, (a generally ignored teaching), and a little known powerful teaching voice in "Collection of Renunciation Letters"

020

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

A wise bhikkhu advisor encouraged me to teach and meditate, meditate and teach.

2160

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

In a nutshell, consciousness is the presence of experience, while nāmarūpa is the content of experience. Consciousness is the knowing and nāma is the making sense of rūpa, what is known. [Found in old notes about the āhāra. I understood it for a minute.] Translate rūpa here as "appearance"?

060

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

A supporter has kindly offered to make a proper simple personal website. To accept this offer there has to be a sponsor for the small monthly subscription. Contact me, Ayya Sobhana and I’ll put you in touch with the website volunteer.

120

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

With Rebecca Fox at Greenville SC

080

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

With Ayya Sudhamma at Charlotte NC, last week

0130

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

1. What do you think? Is Bsky best for keeping up with friends, for conversation about the Dhamma, for promoting one's own content, or for inserting more wisdom into the blogosphere?

330

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

A few good friends set up a WhatsApp with my permission. They gave it the light hearted name "Friends of Ayya Iowa Sobhana, the Bhikkhuni Monk from De Moines". This entire domain is new to me. Thank you (I think???)

040

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

This is an important video and should be required watching for anyone interested in the history of Buddhism ... Greek & Persian Influence On Early Buddhism. Congratulations to Aj Sona.

youtube.com

Greek & Persian Influence On Early Buddhism

YouTube video by Ajahn Sona

040

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

My connection to elder Dhamma sisters Ayya Sudinna and Ayya Sudhamma goes back to our shared times with Bhante G, Bhante Rahula, and Bhante Dhammaratana at the Bhavana Society

2120

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

Catch me online during my visit with Ayya Sudhamma at Charlotte, NC June 18-25, Online teachings www.meetup.com/meditate-wit... Thurs 6/19, 7:00pm EDT Sat 6/21 2:00pm EDT Wed 6/25 10:30am EDT [image, supporting ordination candidate Dhira @ Metta Vihara Germany, 2015]

270

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

A while ago, I was on about the crosswalk between western thought and the Dhamma, via philosophy. Here is nice video. Obviously one would have to go deeper to discover the trace of ideas. www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA0w...

youtube.com

The Ancient Greeks Who Converted to Buddhism

YouTube video by ReligionForBreakfast

040

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Comparing Dhamma with Western thought makes me wonder why existentialism is less popular than stoicism, these days. If you know the answer, please write!

751

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

I will be taking my leave from California this June 17, visiting my dear monastic friends in Charlotte, NC and Greenville SC, landing at the Empty Cloud Monastery on July 1, and remaining there for the Vassa. Here's a really primitive page to be in touch and keep track of my travels.

tinyurl.com

Ayyā Sobhanā Therī

Ayyā Sobhanā Therī Ayya Sobhana is an ordained Bhikkhunī in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. She trained with master Dhamma and meditation teacher Venerable Dr. Henepola Gunaratana Nāyaka Mahāthe...

2162

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Here's a wonderful resource: 84000.co is scholarly for translating the Tibetan Buddhist canon. The "stories" section is well-written and very interesting for any Buddhist.

84000.co

84000 Stories

Explore features such as interviews and more in-depth stories about 84000, our team, donors, and our community.

1121

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

In the cult of Trumpism, followers must go along with ever more weird behavior, just as strict religions demand adherence to eccentric beliefs. Not sure how this works out in a democracy where they need more disengaged voters to win. [photo Jaroslav A. Polák] web.archive.org/web/20110825...

060

Reposted by Sobhana Bhikkhuni

Nick Jones @nicholaos.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

My book argues that Fazang conceptualizes things (dharmas) as dynamic and directed activities. They are activities because they give rise to other things. It is like seeds giving rise to sprouts, or loving-kindness giving rise to friendship. This derives from the Buddhist teaching of impermanence.

Dazu Rock Carving for Buddhist wheel of life (near Chongqing, China), representing impermanence

2144

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Can you see which way I'm going with these quotes?

050

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Not hoarding, having comprehended food, their pasture — emptiness & freedom without sign: their trail, like that of birds through space, can't be traced. Dhp 92 Thanissaro Bhikkhu tr.

061

Reposted by Sobhana Bhikkhuni

Millhouse @miller513.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Thich

181

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Here's a philosophical question, comparing Plotinus thought with Buddha thought. Since the apophatic idea of “the One” is unknowable, is there a sly parallel with avijja (not knowing) in dependent origination.

320

Reposted by Sobhana Bhikkhuni

Adrianna Mamczarz @solarpunkadrianna.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

Seaweed is revolutionizing sustainability! 🌊 From fashion to energy, it’s driving eco-friendly innovation: Keel Labs: Kelp-based yarn Notpla: Replacing plastics Læsø House: Insulation Sea6 Energy: Biofuels Can seaweed shape our future? 🌱

A serene underwater scene with sunlight streaming through the surface, illuminating vibrant green aquatic plants and algae, creating a peaceful and vibrant aquatic ecosystem.

0101

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

@molaminjatta.bsky.social Thank you for the beautiful photos of your home land.

000

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

I tried to start a list of my favorite reliable resources in the Theravada, but Ancient Buddhist Texts, Sutta Central, GRETIL, and BDRC are not here in Bsky yet. Open Buddhist University is here, and they are great. buddhistuniversity.net

buddhistuniversity.net

The Open Buddhist University

A website dedicated to providing free, online courses and bibliographies in Buddhist Studies.

1223

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

A good, accessible post, complementary to the Dhamma. Another way of introspection is watching emotions in terms of the five aggregates of clinging - pañcupādānakkhandhā. When all five are firing together it's an irresistible juggernaut. looking part by part, we find the power to choose wisely.

041

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

We had a good conversation yesterday about this phrase in the suttas "aniccasaññā, anicce dukkhasaññā, dukkhe anattasaññā" awareness of impermanence, awareness of the dukkha in impermanence, awareness of no self in dukkha. What do you think?

321

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Yes. To abandon *all* attachments clears the way for calm & insight. Reading Faithfully is a lovely group of people doing a good service for the world. Anumodhana sādhu!

051

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Reading the news without all the pop-up ads: archive.is I don't want so much to deprive the sponsors of their voice, but all the pop-ups freeze up my computer. A modern ascetical practice is to suffer with slow internet. Patiently waiting for the pages to arive.

archive.is

020

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

This afternoon around 2:30 California time, our sangha will chant the Pamsukula, traditional funeral chant. We'll stream it on Dhammadharini's YT and FB

091

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

One should not neglect wisdom, One should preserve truth, One should cultivate relinquishment, One should practice for peace. MN140 "Exposition on the Elements"

172

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

AI-free searching in google udm14.com

010

Sobhana Bhikkhuni @sobhana.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Tonight I read about Sakka, the leader of gods, when he was a human prince called Magha. Magha saw the village was a dirty mess and cleaned up a space large enough to stand and be comfortable, but a bully pushed him out of it and took over the space.

171