Where do I go for a reality check? What can I rely on?

Do I even need a reality check? Or, is whatever I reckon fair enough?

In the series of Nan Tien 2030 Campaign workshops we will explore these questions.

On 2 October 2021 our panel will be Dr Nadine Levy and Bhante Sujato giving us clarity on this topic.

Dr Nadine Levy holds a PhD in sociology and Honours degrees in both law and gender studies. Her research investigates women’s lived experience across a range of social sites, including health, therapeutic landscapes and spiritual movements. Her PhD examined the themes of belonging, emotions and social connection in the context of Intentional Communities in late modern society.

Nadine’s approach to teaching is student-centred, reflective and grounded in critical theory. For the past decade she has taught in law, gender studies, sociology and, most recently, criminology. Prior to this she worked in the community sector as a lawyer and advocate.

Nadine is a committed Buddhist practitioner and is currently completing teacher training in the Insight meditation tradition. As such, she has a particular interest in Buddhist sociology/a sociology of Buddhism and the ways these two paradigms can enliven each another.

In the classroom, Nadine focuses on the insights and wisdom of her students and honours alternative forms of academic knowledge through the use of bodily, intuitive and relational teaching methods.

Bhante Sujato is an Australian Theravanda Buddhist monk ordained in a monastery in Chieng Mai in Thailand during the 1990s. He played in a successful rock band called Martha’s Vineyard for many years before he joined an intensive Buddhist retreat in Thailand which introduced him to the Buddha’s teachings.
Besides spending 3 years in the Bodhinyana monastery with Ajahn Brahm, he also spent several years in remote hermitages and caves in Thailand in Malaysia.
Bhante Sujato has taught the Dhamma and meditation to a varied audience in Australia and internationally such as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, The USA, Germany, Norway, India, Hongkong, Taiwan, Sri Lanka and many others, and has spoken at several major international Buddhist conferences and events. He also helped to establish the Santi Forest Monastery in Bundanoon, where he was the abbot for many years.
Bhante Sujato has become well known for his articulate support for the fully ordained Bhikkhuni lineage. A special field of interest is the role of women in Buddhism and particularly the revival of the Bhikkhuni order within the Theravada tradition. As well as being a meditator and teacher, Bhante Sujato is a scholar of early Buddhism, with several books and essays of original and often groundbreaking research. He contributes to Buddhism in Australia through a wide variety of forums and organisations, including the Australian Sangha Association, Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils, Australia Partnership of Religious Organisations, Australian Association of Buddhist Councillors and Psychotherapists, Australian Association of Buddhist Studies, and Australian Religious Response to Climate Change.
Bhante Sujato is also the founder of SuttaCentral.net.