Buddhist Vocations; Only Males Or Both Males And Females?

[jimlad]

Do young Thai buddhist females usually spend a vocation where they have to go to the temple and meditate and serve the monks for 2, 3, 4 weeks at a time without contact from the outside world, or is this strictly Buddhist males?

[chownah]

It is not uncommon for Thai women (including young women) to stay in a temple for some lenghth of time (days or weeks usually but it can be months or even years). They often wear white (maybe always but don't know) and sometimes cut their hair. My wife did this years ago before we even had met and she talks about it if the subject comes up. She talks about sitting and meditating ("thinking about nothing") and walking meditation ("walk very very slow and careful") and not eating solid food after noon...etc. She never mentioned serving monks but I do know that some nuns serve monks as part of their daily regimen so its conceivable that Thai women who go to the temple to stay for awhile might do this too but I have no direct information indicating this. My wife says that there are many reasons to do this like you are having a problem in life and need to get away to think about it or you just think that it will help you to be better in life.

[seonai]

Spot on Chow. The temporary nuns often serve the monks but they are not forced into it, sometimes it's for merit for themselves sometimes it's the done thing at a particular temple.

[Austhaied]

Here's a fairly lengthy view on women in Theravada Buddhism.

http://www.enabling.org/ia/vipassana/Archi...BudAndrews.html

[jdinasia]

"serving the monks" is not a duty of the MaeChii ...

They for the most part don't just loaf about though

I only know 2 women in Thailand that have been MaeChii and that would make it a far smaller portion of the population that do it than men who ordain briefly at least one time (if my experiences with Thai people and Buddhism here are a representative sample)

[Jet Gorgon]

I know lots of Thai women who go to the temple for various reasons. They don't always ordain, but they spend time to make merit, helping the spirit of someone, pay old debts, etc. Not a gender issue. I did retreats in Japan and Thailand. Gender was never an issue.

[sutnyod]

There is a big difference between Theravada nuns (usually white robed, although some forest nuns wear brown, hair cut) and monks: while men frequently join monkhood only for some time in their life (well, in some areas this is actually a tradition), women who cut their hair and wear white have no plans to leave (which does not mean they cannot 'sikk'). I have talked to numerous Mae Chiis and whenever I asked them for how long they planned to stay in the pagoda they replied either they don't know (unlimited) or that I should not ask such a question. They said IF they ever want to 'sikk' they will feel it. But at present they feel completely at peace and don't want to leave nunhood. It is not good to decide to become a Mae Chii with a duration in mind.

If a woman wants to make merit or live in the temple for some time (like for Vipassana retreats or so) she remains a Mae Ook. Many wear white, but all keep their hair.

[seonai]

Sutnyod - 'seuk' would maybe be a transliteration of the Thai word for 'disrobe' and jdinasia, unfortuately in some temples it is the 'nuns' who serve the monks

[sabaijai]

Sutnyod - 'seuk' would maybe be a transliteration of the Thai word for 'disrobe' and jdinasia, unfortuately in some temples it is the 'nuns' who serve the monks

Not just nuns, but also laypeople, dek wat, etc, most of whom are male.