The Dhammanikhom was established under the guidance and with the blessing of the Most Venerable Phra Prom Mongkol Vi (Venerable Phra Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo).

 

In 2015, the Venerable Bhikkhuni Silavaddhani was commissioned by him to establish a Dhamma center in Brandenburg. At that time, she had already been living for six years in the Thai monastery Wat Buddhapiyawararam in Dreieich-Götzenhain near Frankfurt am Main.

 

In 2016, with the help of several supporters and meditators, the non-profit Dhammanikhom Vipassana Meditation Center e.V. was founded. 

 

The name Dhammanikhom was given by Venerable Phra Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo and describes a community of persons, who come together to live and practice the Dhamma together. It can be translated as a Dhamma community.

 

Dhamma is the Teaching of the Buddha. 

Nikhom (= Thai) or Nigama (= Pali) means community, settlement, also meeting place, market, district or small town or village. 

 

Initial activities took place in Lieberose in 2016, where meditation courses were organized at regular intervals. Supporters rented an apartment for the Venerable Bhikkhuni Silavaddhani (who was still a Samaneri, or novice, at that time). Meditators were accommodated in nearby holiday apartments.

The courses quickly became well attended, and in January 2017, Venerable Bhikkhuni Silavaddhani was able to move into this apartment full-time. A lay supporter moved close to this meditation apartment and was able to provide necessary supply and help. Soon, the association rented a second apartment, and the Dhamma activities and number of meditation guests expanded.

 

It soon became apparent that demand was too high for the temporary solution, initially planned as an interim solution, to be continued in the long term.

There was constant close communication with the Venerable Phra Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo, who in 2017 called for a search for an own location.

 

In June 2017, the property in Heinersbrück was found and it quickly became apparent that this location would be suitable. Venerable Phra Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo once again expressed his approval and numerous preparations had to be made and details researched. With each step, it became clearer that this would be the right location and the official administrative requirements were also clarified and fulfilled.

 

At the same time, donations were diligently collected, everyone helped out, and, as if by magic, a generous donor was found who was willing to contribute the remaining amount.

 

The purchase agreement was signed in September 2017, the keys were handed over on November 30, 2017, and the move-in date was December 1, 2017. After that, wallpapering, painting, and renovating were diligently carried out to get everything ready. Not long after, the first meditation guests were welcomed. 

 

Exactly one year later, on November 30, 2018, the Venerable Phra Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo, then 95 years old, arrived at Dhammanikhom with an entourage of twelve monks, and on December 1, 2018, the blessing and inauguration ceremony took place.

During the ceremony, Venerable Phra Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo encouraged and urged Samaneri Silavaddhani to go to Sri Lanka and be ordained as a Bhikkhuni. The higher ordination (Upasampada) then already took place in January 2019. 

 

Before returning to Dhammanikhom, Venerable Bhikkhuni Silavaddhani and accompanying supporters and meditators traveled to Thailand to pay respects to Venerable Phra Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo. A mudita ceremony (to express joy) was organized, attended by other monks and numerous international meditators. On this occasion, Venerable Phra Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo declared that at Dhammanikhom women can follow the monastic path and be trained as nuns. He authorized Venerable Bhikkhuni Silavaddhani to ordain Maechees (aspirants) and also expressed his approval if anyone wishes to take the next step to become a novice (Samaneri). However, the Samaneri ordination is the responsibility of the nun´s community and is performed by senior Bhikkhunis.

 

The following years saw a lot of construction, renovation, and expansion. Meditation courses and numerous other Dhamma activities were offered regularly, and the number of guests rose steadily. Although nuns repeatedly came to participate in meditation courses or to visit, there was little time for a more monastic orientation during those years.

 

Starting in 2023, the association began to shift its focus and started fundraising for the expansion of a nuns' area, which was partially implemented in 2024 and 2025.

 

In May 2024, the ordaining teacher of Venerable Bhikkhuni Silavaddhani, the Most Venerable Bhikkhuni Saddha Sumana from Sri Lanka, was invited to Dhammanikhom for six weeks, together with another Bhikkhuni from Australia.  

 

During this visit, the Most Venerable Bhikkhuni Saddha Sumana gave instructions to establish a Sīmā at Dhammanikhom. A Sīmā is a consecrated area that is relevant for certain religious activities of the Buddhist monks' and nuns' community. It is an officially designated, demarcated area within which the monastic community can perform important ceremonies, such as ordinations. 

 

This important ceremony was prepared and planned for almost a year. Senior, experienced nuns from Sri Lanka, all of whom are ordained in the same lineage, were invited for this purpose.

 

On June 8, 2025, the Bhikkhuni Sangha performed the Sīmā consecration.

 

This means that what the Venerable Phra Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo had initiated several years earlier is now officially and fully possible. The foundations have been laid at Dhammanikhom, and it will be possible to complete all stages of ordination on site in the future.