Elizabeth Day

Elizabeth commenced concerted Buddhist practice in her 20s, building on earlier enquiries into experiences of no-self, and intersubjectivity. Her initial teachers were Ven Rakkhita Thera, then abbot of the Sri Lankan forest hermitage (of the Theravada lineage of Ven Nyanatiloka Mahathera), and Ven U Jotiko Sayadaw, of the Burmese Theravadin lineage of Shwe Oo Min Sayadaw. With the guidance of these teachers, she was fortunate to receive support in regular and in-depth sutta and Abhidhamma enquiry. She also received precise training in anapanasati, balanced with insight practice. As the practice bore fruit she was invited to teach.

After travel on pilgrimage through India and Sri Lanka at the turn of the millennium she ordained in the Thai Theravada Forest tradition of Ajahn Chah, with Ahahn Sumedho as preceptor. She spent six years as an ordained monastic in the UK. After attending the congress on bhikkhuni ordination in Hamburg in 2007, she left the robes and the monastic community, recognising that it was not ready to fully support women’s equal participation.

Since that time she has held leadership positions in the Health and Higher Education sectors. She has a Doctorate in intersubjectivity and is a qualified yoga teacher and psychotherapist.

Her practice continues to integrate and represent Theravada trainings, lived within the context of lay life. She is committed to presenting the clarity of the core teachings, and bringing these alive for minds shaped by contemporary democratic understandings.

With her partner, Willa Thaniya Reid, in 2015 she established a centre of practice in Kihikihi, New Zealand. Together they offer a practice space for Dhamma enquiry, including regular meditation daylongs and longer retreats.