Samaneri Jayasāra has studied and practised Buddhism and meditation in various capacities for over 35 years. She has a PhD and Master’s Degree in education, focusing on comparative spiritual traditions, Buddhism and psychotherapy. She has taught at secondary, undergraduate and post-graduate levels in psychology and counselling, and also worked as a trainer in mental health and crisis intervention in the welfare sector.
Jayasāra initially ordained as an anagarikā (8-precept nun) in the Theravada Forest Tradition in 2002, living at both Dhammasara monastery in Western Australia and at Amāravati and Cittaviveka monasteries in the UK for 2 years. She re-entered the monastic life as a samaneri (10-precept nun) in 2018 at Santi Forest Monastery, where she helped to maintain and further develop Santi as a monastery for female monastics.
In 2021, Jayasāra moved to Viveka Hermitage in southern NSW, to allow more focus on her growing online project – “The Wisdom of the Masters” channel – as well as to cultivate a more hermetic style of life. Her interest in the non-dual teachings of different spiritual traditions has inspired both her own Dhamma practice, and the spiritual resources she makes available to others. The study and practice of Dzogchen, in particular, is close to her heart, having had the good fortunate to sit with and learn from various masters of this tradition.