A little happiness in your heart
A country girl from Ayutthaya and former top catwalk model, Mae Chee
Sansanee has broken through traditional boundaries to become one of the
most respected and well known spiritual leaders in today's world. A remarkable
story it is indeed, of how a beautiful woman, once Thailand's' former
top model is reaching out to millions of ordinary people and turning hope
into realization. Just being in Mae Chee Sansanee's presence fills one
with humbleness as she radiates an aura of beauty, peace and light from
her heart. Mae Chee Sansanee believes that the true answer to peace starts
within.
"If we want to work for peace we need to preserve our heart' she
says. 'Whenever we can soar over these sensations and learn to live without
spiritual suffering we will be free, so that we will enter into a dimension
of inner peace. Outer peace can never be reached unless we have a store
of inner peace."
After moving from her home town of Ayutthaya (where she has strong spiritual
roots) to study in Bangkok, the teenage Sansanee was offered a chance
to enter a competition of models. She won and was soon famous as the country's
leading catwalk figure. In 1980, despite her glamorous success and fame,
Mae Chee Sansanee Sthirasuta became a Buddhist nun at the age of 27, leaving
her material world behind.
Mae Chee Sansanee, is the founder and director of Sathira-Dhammasathan,
know around the globe as a meditation centre and learning community- an
oasis of trees, lotus pounds, winding paths and meditative nooks; a drop
of water radiating peace and serenity amidst the hectic mega city of Bangkok.
Her remarkable teachings and humanitarian efforts are helping to break
the cycle of violence in communities, by reaching out to the hearts of
people. Visitors flock to her centre to listen to her teachings, her calm
and gently voice reassuring us that we can work together in a simple way
to make life good for all.
Mae Chee Sansanee started Sathira-Dhammasathan as a home for all people,
followed by prison visitation programs to work with the spiritual well-being
of male prisoners who have committed crimes against women and children.
The program also supported pregnant women in prison, teaching them to
give their children a loving start in life for a positive future.
"I began to realize that I was just dealing with the end results
of deep rooted problems. To tackle the root cause, we must help establish
a family based on love, attentive care and better understanding"
she explained.
She expanded on this to develop workshops that encourage couples to
give their unborn children an early spiritual start and coaching to bring
families together. Activities at the centre include yoga, walking meditation,
dhamma talks, massage and art sessions designed to give participants inner
calm. Mae Chee Sansanee also established a local community school for
children and working extensively to bring education and spiritual training
to young people. With her understanding, charisma and sense of humor,
she is able to reach teenagers through her media liaison efforts and works
to steer them away form drugs and alcohol. Encouraging youth to have mindfulness
through arts and music while working together as volunteers in their community.
Everywhere this gently woman goes, she captivates people with her smile
and gently touch. Committed to inner faith dialogue as a means of creating
world peace, Mae Chee Sansanee travels the globe extensively to join debates
and forums. She serves as Co chair (?) for the Global Peace initiative
of Women, an organization dedicated to engaging in peace negotiations
in "hot-spots" around the world.
Following the directive of the Global Peace initiative of Women and
the United Nations Development Program, the Seeds of Spirituality International
Youth Leadership summit was held at Mae Chee Sansanee centre in Bangkok
(June 2006) with young delegates from over 20 countries and VIP guests
in attendance. This coincided with the 60th Anniversary celebrations of
HM King Bhumibol's accession to the throne so that his inspiration could
be shown as a guide to prepare delegates - including potential young leaders
of communities from every region of Thailand - for the Global Leadership
summit in New York, October 2006.
The aim is to awaken the "Seeds of Spirituality" in the young
delegates' hearts, to work together towards the Millennium Development
Goals and World Peace.
Mae Chee Sansanee hold true to her belief that the present - the moment
of the here and now- is the most important of all and that suffering is
only a visitor to us, we do not need to hold this inside.
"When we breathe in, may we be filled with loving kindness, love
and understanding of true life; when we breathe out, may we let our compassion
and love flow to whoever is in front of us"
Mae Chee Sansanee.
This interview was conducted and written by Anne Powel. For more information
on Mae Chee Sansanee, please contact Anne on powell.anne@gmail.com or
visit www.sansanee.org
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