Bangkok Post Interview with Ajahn Brahm: The bhikkhuni question | General News. The bhikkhuni (fully-ordained Buddhist female monk) issue in Thailand can either stir up a lot of controversy or summon nothing more than a shrug. Ajahn Brahm: It is a myth that Theravada bhikkhunis cannot be revived correctly according to Vinaya. To many, it is a non-issue, either because they do not believe the Theravada bhikkhuni sangha can be revived, do not see any need for it, do not think women want it, or do not even know it already exists.
Yet, with Theravada bhikkhunis now found in every region of Thailand, as well as around the world, the issue cannot be ignored for long. Whether one is for, against, or indifferent to bhikkhunis, having accurate and broad-based information is key for understanding the issue more deeply and forming well-grounded opinions. Here, Ajahn Brahm, shared his knowledge and perspectives on the issue. The UK-born and Cambridge-educated monk was ordained in 1974 and trained for nine years under Ajahn Chah in the Thai forest. That is a myth. I agree. Source: Sangha split opens door for women. Friday, November 20, 2009 Sangha split opens door for women Posted by 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. Isn't it telling? Exciting, isn't it? The Western Sangha should not feel annoyed. FS/Wat Pah Pong comments. Opinion | Ajahn Chandako on the Bhikkhuni Ordination in Perth 2009. Home > Opinion by Ajahn Chandako, The Buddhist Channel, Nov 5, 2009 This letter was originally written as an open letter to the members of the Buddhist Society of Western Australia, but it may also be shared with others who are interested. Auckland, New Zealand -- Greetings members of the Buddhist Society of Western Australia. The reason is because of the recent actions and attitude of Venerable Ajahn Brahmavamso.
It’s about how decisions are made in the Sangha and about respect for elders and peers. On October 22nd a bhikkhuni ordination was held at Bodhinyana Monastery without the prior support of the wider monastic Sangha. As a result there have been huge ramifications felt around the world. I know the people involved pretty well. Personally, I fully support women’s aspirations to practice the Dhamma in the form of a bhikkhuni if that is their wish.
And yet I feel this particular ordination was a serious mistake. Secondly is the timing. With metta, Ajahn Chandako. Report from Wat Nanachat regarding Wat Pah Pong decision. Receiving ordination as a bhikkhu in Thailand, entails acceptance of the authority not only of the Vinaya, but also that of the Mahatherasamakom, (the Thai Sangha's governing body) and the laws of the land. The Wat Pa Phong Sangha considers as a matter of course, that all of its members are ethically bound to respect their commitments to the Mahatherasamakom and to the Thai State. Ajahn Brahmavamso deliberately and unilaterally performed a ceremony knowing it to be considered illegal by the Thai state, illegitimate by the Mahatherasamakom and thus unacceptable to the WPP Sangha. There could be little doubt that by doing so he was, in effect, turning his back on continued membership of the Wat Pa Phong Sangha.
Wat Pa Phong and its branch monasteries constitute an informal grouping within the Thai Sangha. Exclusion from the Wat Pa Phong Sangha is primarily intended to maintain the harmony and integrity of the group. Wat Pa Nanachat 4th November 2009. Ajahn Jayasaro on this Topic. Issues | The Gathering of Elders, Dec. 2009. Home > Issues Statement by Wat Nanachat, December 15, 2009 Ubon, Northeast Thailand -- The latest gathering of Western elders of the Ajahn Chah Sangha (referred to informally as WAM) took place from the 7-9th December 2009 at Wat Pah Nanachat, in Ubon, Northeast Thailand. The gathering was attended by some twenty-eight elders, including Ven. Ajahn Sumedho, abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in England, the senior Western disciple of Ajahn Chah. Luang Por Liem, the abbot of Wat Pah Pong, (Ajahn Chah's monastery) kindly gave an opening address.
<< "The Perth Ordination": On Sept 22, 2009, four bhikkunis were ordained at the Bodhinyana monastery, setting off a monastic firestorm which resulted in the expulsion of Ajahn Brahmavamso from the Wat Pah Pong Sangha The events of the last two months have caused an unprecedented storm in our communities, both monastic and lay, and feelings of division have run high throughout the wider Buddhist world. 1. What made us feel that way? 2. 3. 4. Where We Are Now. Open or Save the PDF - recommended The following article concerns our ongoing efforts to balance the needs involved in living Sangha life in the West. As many of you know, sometimes this is easier, and sometimes more difficult. For many of us, both monastic and lay community members, this past year has been challenging.
We hope you will recognize in the following account the sincerity of our attempts to be skilful; and that you can empathize with our aspirations to honour all the individuals involved. 19 November, 2009 Dear friends, Over the past year or so our Sangha, particularly at Amaravati and Cittaviveka monasteries where there are dual communities of monks and nuns (bhikkhus and siladhara) living side by side, has been engaged in an attempt to clarify our understanding of the training forms we have, specifically the siladhara training for the nuns. It may be helpful to provide some context. It is a difficult arrangement to accept for many of us in the West, and it does carry risks. Message from Luang Por Sumedho. Welcome to Dhammasara Nun Monastery. Ven Bhikkhuni Dr Dhammananda at 4GBC Part 1. Response to the Bhikkhuni Ordination at Perth. Issues | Bhikku Bodhi's letters on the nun ordination in Perth.
Home > Issues The Buddhist Channel, Nov 11, 2009 With respect to suggestions received from our readers, we hereby re-publish the 2 letters send by Bhikkhu Bodhi to Ajahn Sujato with regards to the Ordination of Nuns in Perth, Australia on September 2009. As a guide, the first letter dated Nov 3 was a letter of support, but three days later on Nov 6, Bhikkhu Bodhi issued a retraction.
The two letters were first published on: New Jersey, USA - 3 Nov 2009Dear Ven. Thank you for informing me of this event, a report of which I had already stumbled upon quite by accident on the internet last week, just before I left the monastery to visit my father. Perhaps Ajahn Brahm will henceforth be treated as something of a pariah by the monks of the Wat Poh Pong community.
Though I am not in a position to confer ordinations, if I were I would have no hesitation to give the bhikkhuni ordination to properly qualified women. With metta and all Dhamma blessings,Ven. P.S. Ajahn Brahm. Ajahn Brahmavamso Mahathera (known to most as Ajahn Brahm), born Peter Betts[1] in London, United Kingdom[1] on 7 August 1951, is a Theravada Buddhist monk. Currently Brahm is the Abbot of Bodhinyana Monastery, in Serpentine, Western Australia, the Spiritual Director of the Buddhist Society of Western Australia, Spiritual Adviser to the Buddhist Society of Victoria, Spiritual Adviser to the Buddhist Society of South Australia, Spiritual Patron of the Buddhist Fellowship in Singapore, Patron of the Brahm centre in Singapore, and Spiritual Patron of the Bodhikusuma Centre in Sydney. Early life[edit] Peter Betts came from a working-class background and went to Latymer Upper School. Bodhinyana Monastery[edit] In 1994, Jagaro took a sabbatical leave from Western Australia and disrobed a year later.
Bhikkhuni ordination[edit] I thought too when I was a young monk in Thailand that the problem was a legal problem, that the bhikkhuni order couldn’t be revived. Achievements[edit] Publications[edit] Issues | Open Letter To All From Ajahn Brahm On His Exclusion by Wat Pah Pong. Home > Issues The Buddhist Channel, November 8, 2009 Perth, Australia -- A Theravada Bhikkhuni Ordination was held in Perth on Thursday 22nd October. The decision to proceed with the Bhikkhuni Ordination was finalised only on 20th September 2009, when the Committee of The Buddhist Society of Western Australia unanimously gave their support.
We did realise this was a sensitive matter and resolved to keep it in-house for the next month as we finalised the preparations. On Wednesday 13th October, 24 days after the decision was finalised, I informed Ajahn Sumedho in Amaravati, as a matter of courtesy, during my brief visit to the UK to see my mother (who has severe dementia). The matter of Bhikkhuni Ordination had been discussed in Wat Pah Pong about two years ago and, as I recall, they resolved to follow the lead of the Mahatherasamakom (the supreme Monks’ Council of Thailand). As a result, Bodhinyana Buddhist Monastery was removed as a branch monastery of Wat Pah Pong. Ajahn Brahm on why he was excommunicated « Sujato’s Blog.
Official WPP statement on Ajahn Brahm’s expulsion « Sujato’s Blog. Okay, we’ve got an actual official public announcement by Wat Pah Pong, posted on the Forest Sangha website! This is a first: never before has WPP made such an address to ‘Buddhist Societies Throughout the World’. If nothing else, we’ve already changed the rules of the game. You can read the article on the forest Sangha website, but I’ll upload a copy here, too, just in case the URL changes later. Please have a read, I’ll assume you’ve done so when I continue below. LettertoBuddhistSocieties_38_English I have already been contacted by Ajahn Brahm about this, and he states that he disagrees with the statements on ‘secrecy’ and ‘thorough planning’, so I won’t go into these, you can follow up on the BSWA website.
In a subsequent email to the Ajahns, Ajahn Brahm states that the actual reason the WPP Sangha finally agreed to expell him was that he refused to say that the newly ordained bhikkhuni were mae chis. I will comment on several mistakes in the WPP letter. Like this: Like Loading... Search Results perth ordination « Sujato’s Blog. The bhikkhuni ordination in Perth last Thursday 1 March went beautifully. I’m afraid i don’t have time to write much about it, but here are some photos. Some wonderful news: there’s going to be a bhikkhuni ordination in Perth this Thursday! Myself and Ayya Sudhamma will be going from Santi to participate. This will be the first bhikkhuni ordination at Dhammasara – the previous bhikkhuni ordination was held at Bodhinyana.
On March 28th there was a siladhara ordination at Amaravati, the first since the Perth bhikkhuni ordination of October 2009. Here’s the Buddhist Society of WA’s official response to the allegations made by Wat Pah Pong stemming from the press conference on 28 December, 2009. 22nd October 2009: remember that date. Here’s a very important new article on bhikkhuni ordination, called The Time Has Come. The following text comes from a letter written by a samaneri in Thailand to Ajahn Brahm and the Bodhinyana community.
Introducing Ajahn Brahm. The Excommunication Tape. Bhikkhuni Ordination Fallout. Bhikkhuni Ordination (Aj Sujato Statement) Ajahn Brahm at 2006 Global Buddhist Conference.