Today the Buddhist nun, our beloved Venerable Mae Chee Sansanee Sthirasuta left her physical form. I have often recounted my first meeting with Khun Mae, as she is known to her followers, but will share it again today as I remember our deep friendship. I first met Khun Mae in 2000 at the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders held at the United Nations in New York, which I helped to organize. She was the only nun in the Thai delegation of about ten Buddhist monks, and they were seated in the General Assembly Hall as we were about to begin the opening ceremonies, with her seated at the central aisle. But there was a problem. A senior religious official needed to enter the hall for us to begin but he would have to pass closely by her, and this was not permitted in his tradition. So she had to move. But she spoke no English and didn’t understand when she was asked to move, and so I was tasked with this job. When I asked why she had to move, I was told impatiently because she was a woman. And so I went to her and indicated that she could sit on the other side of the monks. With a smile she immediately got up and moved away from the aisle, and the ceremonies were able to proceed, but this incident marred the opening for me. When the Thai delegation came to offer gifts to the organizers, I apologized profusely to her, but she just took my hands and smiled, saying it was no problem. Thus began a friendship, and that moment may be said to be the true beginning of the Global Peace Initiative of Women.
Khun Mae became one of founding chairs of GPIW and traveled with us to many places of conflict for peace dialogues over the years. We also brought many people to her magnificent retreat center on the outskirts of Bangkok, which resembled a celestial realm full of lush greenery. I remember well meditating with her in the Tara cave she had created, and nowhere have I felt more deeply the presence of that great Goddess. Khun Mae was devoted to uplifting whomever she could reach, and she traveled the world widely for this purpose. But she devoted herself especially to the women and children of Thailand, and I know that hundreds of thousands have been deeply touched by coming into contact with her.
Khun Mae, my beloved sister, I have no doubt that your release from physical encasement was a joyous one, and that after a stay in one of the Buddha realms, you will return to serve those in need. Your love will draw you back here.
With a deep bow and much gratitude — Dena
