Hello Annica Seeker, first of all, I want to congratulate you. If you keep in mind the idea of becoming a Bhikkuni 🙏🏿, it is very noble and wonderful. I highly encourage you to become one.
- As someone who has experienced the monkhood with temporary ordination, I can assure you that the monk life is the best place to develop the path without distraction. Laylife is not the perfect place to develop the path because of all the obligations and distractions. It is possible to continue on the path without ordination but that depends on your paramis and panna level. At the time of Lord Buddha, many householders became sotāpanna, Sakadāgāmi and Anagami while continuing in the lay life. But that happens because they have powerful paramis and they were doing the works in past lives. That means they have developed Nekkhama (renunciation) paramitta in a past life.
- If you feel that one day you want to become a Bhikkuni go for it and try your best. I tried the monkhood 4 years ago, and I was not ready to keep that at the time(I was not in a good environment and my mind had a low level of Panna and Sila). Thanks to this website, I have increased my level of Panna, and I will ordain one day again (This time live as a bhikkhu until death).
- About your question on the Bhikkuni of Waharaka Temple. I have seen a bhikkuni in one of the funeral videos of Waharaka Thero see at 31:16. I have also heard that the wife of Waharaka Thero and other women of his family became bhikkunis too. So I think there is a possibility of finding some bhikkunis who follow this tradition, but they probably live in other temples. If you want more information is better to contact Venerable Deegoda Dhamadassi of the Waharaka Temple. If you are interested I can give you his contact.
- Another possibility is to become an Anagarika with the Ten Precepts. You live in a monastery with the bhikkus and practice like them. This option is perfectly available in Jethavanarama Monastery. It is a monastery of the Waharaka Tradition that offers this option to women who want to follow the path.
