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Sister Khemanandi
is currently Deer Park Director and resident monastic. An American by birth, at the age of 23, Sister left Brazil and came back to the United States. After 6 years of serving in the US Navy and Army National Guard, Sister went back to college and earned a teaching certificate in Health and Physical Education and a Master’s in Exercise Science. For 12 years Sister taught in the public schools, which included those in juvenile detention, and coached sports. During a 7-month sabbatical driving and camping cross country, Sister visited various monasteries in different traditions and earned a yoga certification during this time. For the next 4 years Sister continued teaching as an adjunct faculty at a community college. The first years as a Buddhist were spent mostly in the Tibetan tradition; but overtime her practice shifted into the Theravada tradition. In 2016, after participating in the Exploring Monastic Life retreat at Sravasti Abbey, in Washington, Sister decided to become a monastic. In 2018, she became an Anagarika (white robes) at Aloka Vihara Monastery in California. In April 2020, Sister ordained as a novice, at Mahapajapati Monastery, having Ayya Gunasari as preceptor. |
