Bhikkhuni buddhism for dummies. Condense: Theravada Bhikkhunis

as a result of Bhikkuni Dr. Kusuma Devendra

I cheer the organizers designed for the amazing craze en route for build a all-inclusive Bhkkhuni Sangha arrange at the same time as was the craving of the Buddha. May perhaps you be hallow another time afterwards all over again.

I am the at the outset Bhikkhuni all the rage Sri Lanka as soon as a blunder of almost 1000 years. I afterwards nine others arrive advanced ordination appear in 1996 as of the Korean Sangha of the Chogyo Arrangement which is a appendage of the Earth Sangha Association. We were ordained all the rage Sarnath, India below the auspices of the Indian Mahabodhi Association, of which the Leader afterwards was after everything else Ven. Mapalgama Vipulasara Thero. Later we external coach afterwards education appear in Sarnath designed for two years beneath the adept assistance of Ven. Pandit Andawela Devasiri, a Sri Lankan holy man appear in the Pali convention of Bhikkhuni Vinaya.

It is ably acknowledged annals so as to Sri Lanka arrive Bhikkhuni ordination appear in the 3rd century B. C. as of Bhikkhuni Sanghamitta, the offspring of Queen Asoka of India.

All the rage the 6th century A. D. afterwards almost 900 years, the ordination was taken before Sri Lankan nuns headed before Devasara Bhikkuni en route for Best china. This is Chinese annals. (Prof. Hema Gunatilleke did a do research at this.) They traveled appear in maritime ships passage dodgy seas in favour of 3 months alongside the silk direct all the rage a seller boat of a bloke called Nandi. Accordingly the Sri Lankan ordination was conventional all the rage Best china. As of Bone china it went en route for Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam etc. According headed for Sri Lankan belief altogether the Bhikkhunis appear in the earth at present are descendants of Sri Lankan Bhikkhunis after that the extraction be capable of be traced en route for Mahaprajapati all through Sanghamitta, which was the Pali Magadhi convention appear in India.

Our Sri Lankan Bhikkhus who attended the ceremonial appear in India all the rage 1996 gave us the Sri Lankan basin afterwards robes having accepted us at the same time as abundant ordained Bhikkhunis.

Three months already my ordination I was sent en route for Korea, Seoul, en route for Bo Myunsa place of worship headed for analysis Vinaya along with Ven. Batter Joo Suk, the boss abbot of the holy place who controlled the ordination. I considered the Dharmagupta Vinaya ordination course of action. Headed for my abundant agreement the ordination formula was consistent at the same time as the Pali Vinaya course of action.

At hand is analyse designed for this. Bhikkhuni ordination was taken beginning Sri Lanka en route for Bone china afterwards afterwards en route for Korea all the rage the 6th century A. D. The twin ordination course of action is at a halt in existence all the rage Korea afterwards is the consistent because the Pali. The individual change is to it is all the rage Korean dialect after that we had headed for ask for the aid of translators. I translated the course of action addicted to Sinhala as of English although all the rage Korea (3 months), in favour of the advantage of our Sinhala nuns who obtained ordination. Along this line the Sri Lankan nuns were accustomed amid the Pali at the same time as ably at the same time as the Dharmagupta ordaining course of action already they went in favour of ordination.

It is admitted so as to Sri Lanka obtained barely the ordination as of Korea afterwards after that the Pali belief of Vinaya was followed.

At present around are above 500 Bhikkhunis all the rage Sri Lanka having obtained ordination afterwards as of Taiwan because able-bodied as of citizen Bhikkhunis.

I be obliged to area at album so as to I officiated by the side of the 1st ordination held as a result of Taiwan all the rage 1998 individual day anon by Buddha Gaya. As I was a Bhikkhuni before now, I was invited headed for the display place headed for change the English adaptation of the Chinese ordination course of action headed for Sinhala designed for our citizen nuns. Anon these nuns gave ordination en route for former Sri Lankan nuns along with the alliance of boss monks of Sri Lanka.

It be required to be critical absent so as to designed for the twin ordination ceremonial barely ten monks after that ten nuns are compulsory. And so at hand was negative call for en route for become the accord of completely the monks appear in Sri Lanka.

As the Bhikkhuni belief was absorbed 1000 years before appear in Sri Lanka, the accepted Theravada ladder could not acknowledge the additional ordination. Although things are changing afterwards 10 years at once afterwards the Goveniment has appear en route for appreciate the basic in favour of Bhikkhunis. The Leader of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa invited the monks of the chain of command designed for a argument afterwards Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda of Malaysia, a Sri Lankan Bhikkhu, accepted because the member of the clergy of Malaysian Buddhism alleged to “a table request four legs, Buddhism devoid of Bhikkhunis is changeable as the fourfold circle is not accomplish” after that the Head came headed for admit this arrange.

It is able headed for arrange the Aid of the Authority after that association designed for Bhikkhunis all the same it is not a Vinaya constraint.

Objections raised as a result of opponents / denunciation / Authorized class

A good number of the objections came as of monks who claimed so as to body a Theravada countryside we arrange arrive a Mahayana ordination. It was argued so as to around was denial Mahayana before Theravada all through the age of the Buddha afterwards the Buddha gave ordination headed for women before twin ordination which is come again? is body practiced altogether complete the earth. Sri Lanka external twin ordination at the outset beginning nuns after that after that beginning monks.

Already twin ordination was proclairned the Buddha invited the monks and no-one else en route for allocate ordination (Cullavagga Pali). Anon as Bhikkhunis were adept headed for act the formal procedure and no-one else, they were allowed en route for accomplish as a result afterwards at the same time as a civility they arrange en route for attempt ahead of the monks in favour of a agree with age all the rage a alike approach.

I submitted a PhD delve into at the area of interest available addicted to allocate. The copy is along with Ven. Jampa Tsederon.

As Bhikkhuni Vinaya was aimed headed for be old-fashioned monks did not analysis Bhikkhuni Vinaya after that they were not attract en route for analysis any. The objections came beginning such persons.

I translated my theses addicted to Sinhala after that published it, thanks en route for the Tibetan Association, Hamburg beneath the benevolent backing of Gabriele Kustermann. Because after that around arrange been denial strong feelings align with the business of Bhikkhuni Sangha all the rage Sri Lanka.

All the rage actuality around is a craze at once en route for assist the ten guideline cleric who is recognised before the Governrnent. Although the nuns arrange denial coach centres where monks arrange Governrnent sponsored Pirivenas. The monks allow opportunities in favour of advanced culture afterwards education. They are supported as a result of amateur associate after that the Administration. The nuns are additional or else a reduced amount of arrange their acknowledge, annoying en route for eke available an existente.

A few nuns who arrange taken built-up contemplation Courses which are at no cost, are adept headed for accomplish a bit advance bar the finance after that the battle all the rage the North in favour of 25 years is building it arduous en route for drawn be existent. Negative above-board category designed for Nuns!

I was completely influenced before Ayya Khema as of Gerrnany who customary the Buddha Haus after that a lot of consideration centres. All the rage detail I allow started my accept axis named ” Ayya Khema Contemplation Axis ” which bidding be equipped en route for accommodate housing consideration in favour of all over 15 headed for 20 persons – area after that designed for foreigners. At hand is a propos 1 1/2 acres of alight exist to be capable of befall a budding Bhikkhuni Base because able-bodied, appear in the coming. Another time I be obliged to accept the benevolent aid afterwards able goal of Ven. Nyanabodhi after that Gerhard Link of Buddha Haus, Germany in favour of buying ths acquire designed for me.

My finest wishes headed for the H. H. Dalai Lama after that the Tibetan Bhikkhunis after that the German Buddhists in favour of bringing awake this Association. It choice absolutely be an discernment icebreaker headed for the globe.

The conference is controlled before the Studienstiftung coat
Buddhismus (Basis designed for Buddhist Studies) after that
takes arrange appear in assistance along with the
Asia-Africa-Institute of the Academe of Hamburg.
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