Ayya Nirodha

Ayya Nirodha is an Australian Buddhist nun. Her story was featured in the Buddhist Life Stories of Australia Project (2014–2015).

Early life Ayya Nirodha was born Elizabeth Gorski, in Austria in 1945.

Later life Nirodha emigrated to Australia, aged 20 years, with her husband. They divorced a few years later.

In 2001, Nirodha moved to Dhammasara Monastery, Gidgegannup, Western Australia.

The ordination of Nirodha and other bhikkhunis was opposed by leading English and Thai monks of the Wat Pa Pong order, of which Bodhinyana was a branch.

This response has been described as 'swift and draconian', and indicative of sexism which was not part of Buddha's original vision. Buddha founded the bhikkhuni order by ordaining his maternal aunt and also his stepmother, Mahapajapati Gotami.

In 2012, Nirodha became the Abbess of Santi Forest Monastery at Bundanoon, New South Wales, on the departure of Bhante Sujato.