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Friday, November 20, 2009
Sangha split opens door for women
When the monastic elders in Thailand were busy with the Wat Sothorn monks' protest two week ago over who would get to be the abbot of their rich temple, their Western counterparts were simultaneously facing a serious split over the ordination of bhikkhuni (female monks).
Here in Thailand, we just shook our heads wearily at the sight of angry monks trying to retain their grip on temple wealth.
Temple corruption, you see, is old news. So is the failure of the council of elders to ensure transparency regarding temple finances.
But no matter how unhappy we are, we tell ourselves we should follow the saying, Chua chang chee, dee chang song which advises us to stay away from problems involving monks and nuns.
While the local reaction is resignation, that of the Western laity's bhikkhuni ordination is a quest for change.
One is about hopelessness. The other is about hope.
Isn't it telling?
At issue in the Western clergy is the expulsion of Ajahn Brahmavamso from the Wat Pah Pong Forest Sangha under the lineage of Luang Por Chah, for engineering the full ordination of women at his temple in Australia, in violation of the Thai elders' anti-bhikkhuni mandate.
Disillusionment runs high because the Western laity hold the Wat Pah Pong Forest Sangha in high esteem and they think their Ajahns (teachers) could do better than just meekly submit to the patriarchal, feudal Thai clergy whose views on women are shaped by sexist Thai cultural norms.
They might understand that their Ajahns, having had to practice in a totally foreign culture, see submission as a way to let go of old conditionings and the sense of self.
They might realise that, along the way, their Ajahns need to incorporate some Thai cultural values which focus on relationships and group harmony.
But they expect their teachers to choose compassion for women monastics and the principle of gender equality over traditional submission to authority.
Their hurt deepened when Amaravati and Cittaviveka forest monasteries in Great Britain imposed a draconian contract (http://bit.ly/LiMdt) on their Siladhara nuns, forcing them to formally accept the inferior status and the bitter reality that they could never become bhikkhunis there.
Thanks to the internet, an international community of Buddhist laity promptly emerged to protest against the Western Forest Sangha's decision against bhikkhuni ordination and the draconian contract for the Siladhara nuns.
Apart from encouraging more openness to full female ordination, their e-petition at http://bit.ly/2wndUC subtly reminds the Western clergy that they are now operating in societies with strong awareness of democracy, transparency and gender equality.
So they cannot simply dismiss the voices of the laity if they want the monastic Thai forest tradition to thrive in the West.
Given the ever louder calls, we are witnessing the making of the Western forest tradition, one that is more open, more democratic and more respectful of gender equity.
Exciting, isn't it?
The Western Sangha should not feel annoyed. They should be glad.
The petition calling for dialogue shows the laity still have hope in their Ajahns. It shows they still care.
Sadly, that cannot be said about the situation in Thailand.
Despite resistance from traditionalists, there is no stopping bhikkhuni ordination now.
In Thailand, women bypass the Thai clergy to be ordained in Sri Lanka. Overseas, women now have a place to be ordained in the Thai forest tradition if they so wish.
Meanwhile, the Siladhara nuns are reportedly leaving Amaravati to set up their own sanctuaries.
We must admit, with gratefulness, that the Western Sangha have prepared them well. The nuns are now ready to fly, to create a more open and caring atmosphere for women to practice in the West without being held back by Thai traditions, the way their Ajahns must endure with.
The challenge ahead is huge. But with Dharma and spiritual perseverance, they will become a source of inspiration and confidence for many more women who want to follow the same path.
Again, we must thank the recent storm in the Western clergy for making it happen.
Read comment
date : 20/11/2009 time : 10:04Peace...Metta
date : 21/11/2009 time : 03:47Ajahn Cha suggested that whenever we are in doubts about something, we should question ourself:
"WHAT WOULD THE BUDDHA SAY?"
One of the highest principle within Dhamma Vinaya is MAHA SAMAGGI. The emphasis is on living together in concord and harmony - like milk and water...
gratitude, respect to elders and forgiveness are other important aspects.
The decline of Buddhism is inevitable, as predicted by the Blessed One Himself.
Now - at the halftime of this Buddhist era - what is our responsibility as sons and daughters of the Buddha?
To uphold the Buddha Sasana by dragging disputes into the website?
... new age Kosambi? ... grandchildren of Devadatta?
The DOOR TO THE DEATHLESS is open for all - independent of gender, race & age, independent of labels & position.
Those who realized one, two, three or four stages of Ariya - in the past, present and future - realize the Dhamma, the Ultimate Truth. They are free from defilements, free from kilesa mara...
The time is passing relentlessly...
how do we spend our remaining breath?
date : 21/11/2009 time : 05:11has pdf files all the correspondence about this. I have read these and can see that both sides have reasons which i agree with. A very unfortunate turn of events... difficult to say right or wrong but please note the split is about the secretive manner in which this matter was conducted. i think female ordination is the way forward but the way this was handled is surprising - BUT i don't have all the facts.
Anyone wishing to know more should certainly use this link as a starting point
Phra Farang
date : 21/11/2009 time : 07:12
date : 21/11/2009 time : 08:30
date : 21/11/2009 time : 23:35I'm so surprised at the fierce reaction against the change of some traditional rules in every religion. I'm Buddhist myself since my parents are,however,I rarely go to temple now. I don't think I've ever lost my faith in the religion. On the contrary,the way of the world has proven to me that Lord Buddha's words need to be observed and respected . "Nothing's eternal" is the truth he told us. Why did those clergy people forget such a basic point ?
date : 22/11/2009 time : 01:00Jim Messenger
long time resident of Thailand.
presently Montreal, Canada
date : 22/11/2009 time : 04:01...'Mara' here should refer to those who make the sasana decline!
Ajahn Cha suggested that whenever we are in doubts about something, we should question ourself:
"WHAT WOULD THE BUDDHA SAY?"
... said 'sanghamitta'
...I think The Buddha would say" Welcome back my daughters!"
Peace..
date : 22/11/2009 time : 04:32Still, I do believe that we need to look at the information and situation carefully and with understanding. We also need to keep in mind that this issue is not simple, like one lus one equals two. We are now looking at and dealing with an issue involved with genders, eastern-n-western views, traditional and modern schools of thought, laws and whatelse many people may not think of at the moment.
One thing we see is that it can lead to a big change, either constructive or destructive direction for Buddhism, we don't know for sure, as the ramifications may present later and not in the short period of time.
I am a Buddhist, both from my family and also later by my own choice, I must say just let's be considerate with common sense and everything is very clear from his taught. What we-monks, nuns and laymen--need is free yourself from biases and self-interest first, I am sure the Lord never wished to see anyone fight to merely be called they are bhikku or bhikunee.
date : 23/11/2009 time : 05:33
date : 28/11/2009 time : 04:01It seems to me that Thai monks have their own agenda and rules, different than what said in Gautama Buddha's dispensation.
It is sad for the Thai Buddhists as the whole, they can not do anything about it, just watch Buddha sasana going down hill,under money and status, more and more everyday
date : 28/11/2009 time : 05:51One question I always have, and ask the monks also, what are you afraid of, to have Bhikkhunis? And what are the consequences, negative aspects to the sasana and society?
The Buddha did not say that what disappears can't be revived, when there are cause and conditions. At the same time, what appears could be disappeared when there are cause and conditions. This is what the Buddha said.
"Me" and "Mine"= ego, ones try to protect, regardless what the future consequences will be...
date : 18/12/2009 time : 20:21All religious want people to be good but depend how we interpret them.
Hope we al can live in peace and love one another.
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