Thailand'S Young Nuns Challenge Convention

[sabaijai]

Thailand's young nuns challenge convention

By Amy Sawitta Lefevre

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Beam Atchimapon is already three days late for the new school term in her native city, the Thai capital of Bangkok - but for a good cause.

The nine-year-old is part of a small but growing group of Thai girls who choose to spend part of the school holiday as Buddhist nuns, down to having their heads shaven.

The temporary ordination of young men has long been part of Thai culture, with men spending a few days as monks and returning to their normal professions after time at a monastery.

But the ordination of "mae ji" or "nuns" is less common, and the idea that women should not play an active role in monastic life still prevails among more conservative Thais.

Fully ordained Buddhist nuns are not legally recognized, as they are in Myanmar and Sri Lanka - one sign of the inequality women still face in certain fields in Thailand.

"Thailand does not fully recognize the role of Buddhist nuns," said Sansanee Sthuratsuta, a nun and founder of the Sathira Dammasathan center, a learning centre on the outskirts of Bangkok that is something of a green oasis.

Sansanee used to be a celebrated television personality in Thailand but gave up her fame for life as a nun 35 years ago. Her centre allows men and women to come and practice meditation, learn yoga and take part in retreats, part of its mission to make Buddhism an integral part of peoples' lives.

She started the ordination of young nuns 3 years ago to raise awareness of nuns in the nation, where their role as spiritual leaders takes a backseat to their male counterparts.

"Nuns need to be educated. This is more important than a law that elevates the status of nuns in Thailand. If society can rely on nuns then they can be spiritual leaders," she said.

This year, to celebrate 2,600 years since the Buddha gained enlightenment, the center arranged for the ordination of 137 women between the ages of five and 63.

The ordination involved shaving their hair off and living as a Buddhist nun for 20 days, including going on rounds to collect alms from worshippers at dawn, wearing simple white cotton clothes, and daily meditation classes.

The act of shaving their heads teaches the children to not hold on to impermanent things, Sansanee said.

"When we shaved off their hair the girls just said 'Take it off'. They are not embarrassed," said Sansanee. "None of these children were forced to come here. They volunteered."

The "mae ji noi" or "little nuns" are not from troubled families or poor backgrounds. The girls ordained at the center come from middle class Thai families that believe a religious education can enhance their child's formal education.

"My mother told me about it but I wanted to come here," said Beam, who attends a international school. "We are taught about the environment and about the Buddha."

The girls wake before sunrise, and finish their day with evening meditation at 6 p.m. The strict schedule is an impressive undertaking for the children but they take it in their stride, displaying a discipline beyond their years.

"Life is not just about finding money. It's about being useful to society and contributing in a positive way," said Sansanee.

"We believe they learn about life here whether they are walking or showering, they learn about awareness and everything becomes an act of meditation," Sansanee said.

Not all the time is spent in serious pursuits.

During one outdoor lesson the youngest nun Ploy, 5, ties two leaves together with a hair band and plays a shadow puppet game in the sun.

"Look! It's a rabbit!" says Ploy, to the amusement of her teachers.

The girls' parents feel the experience is more than worth it for what their daughters gain.

"My daughter has ordained for the second year. She is a more thoughtful child and she is doing very well at art in school now," said Karun Sribumroong, whose daughter Pim is eight. "Her time here made her even more creative and imaginative."

Source: MSNBC

[khaowong1]

Super. Thailands time is coming. Sooner or later the Theravada Sangha will have to recognise Buddhist nuns. More power to them.

[hookedondhamma]

Super. Thailands time is coming. Sooner or later the Theravada Sangha will have to recognise Buddhist nuns. More power to them.

I never knew they weren't recognized by the Therevada Sangha. Numerous temples I've lived at and visited throughout Isaan, central Thailand and Northern Thailand have had maechis, even some participating in almsrounds.

Many I've spoken to have been quite helpful in helping me tackle certain issues with practice; others as well.

Did you mean female monks?

[camerata]

Sooner or later the Theravada Sangha will have to recognise Buddhist nuns.

Don't hold your breath! The article seems to be talking about a role for 10-precept mae chee that is more rewarding than that of monastic serf, but there is an additional reference to "fully-ordained nuns," which presumably means bikkhuni. The only progress I've heard of regarding bikkhuni is that the Sangha has left them alone.

[sabaijai]

Super. Thailands time is coming. Sooner or later the Theravada Sangha will have to recognise Buddhist nuns. More power to them.

I never knew they weren't recognized by the Therevada Sangha. Numerous temples I've lived at and visited throughout Isaan, central Thailand and Northern Thailand have had maechis, even some participating in almsrounds.

Many I've spoken to have been quite helpful in helping me tackle certain issues with practice; others as well.

Did you mean female monks?

Whether you use the term 'nuns' or 'female monks' is a matter of personal taste but most English-language sources choose 'nuns'. As Wikipedia notes, "In modern English [monk] is in use only for men, while nun is used for female monastics."

A couple of examples, in context:

http://www.dhammawik...kkhuni_precepts

http://www.dhammasar...-community.html

From Buddhist Nuns in Burma by Dr. Friedgard Lottermoser:

Bhikkhu refers to a fully ordained monk, bhikkhuni to a fully ordained nun, upasaka to a Buddhist layman, and upasika to a Buddhist laywoman. The precepts of the upasaka and upasika are the same, five in number: to refrain from taking life (killing), to refrain from taking what is not given (stealing), to refrain from sexual misconduct (adultery and so on), to refrain from telling lies (especially about one's spiritual attainments), and to refrain from taking intoxicants. The precepts of the bhikkhu and bhikkhuni include these and more.

Mae chees -- 10-precept novice nuns, in white robes -- are recognised by the Thai Sangha to the extent that the Supreme Patriarch authorised a college dedicated to the education of Buddhist laywomen and mae chees. There is also a national organisation of mae chees. On the other hand, 311-precept fully-ordained nuns in saffron/ochre robes are tolerated in Thailand but given scant attention except from news media.

I predict that within the next 25 years we will see the bhikkhuni order accepted in official quarters in Thailand.

[hookedondhamma]

Super. Thailands time is coming. Sooner or later the Theravada Sangha will have to recognise Buddhist nuns. More power to them.

I never knew they weren't recognized by the Therevada Sangha. Numerous temples I've lived at and visited throughout Isaan, central Thailand and Northern Thailand have had maechis, even some participating in almsrounds.

Many I've spoken to have been quite helpful in helping me tackle certain issues with practice; others as well.

Did you mean female monks?

Whether you use the term 'nuns' or 'female monks' is a matter of personal taste but most English-language sources choose 'nuns'. As Wikipedia notes, "In modern English [monk] is in use only for men, while nun is used for female monastics."

A couple of examples, in context:

http://www.dhammawik...kkhuni_precepts

http://www.dhammasar...-community.html

From Buddhist Nuns in Burma by Dr. Friedgard Lottermoser:

Bhikkhu refers to a fully ordained monk, bhikkhuni to a fully ordained nun, upasaka to a Buddhist layman, and upasika to a Buddhist laywoman. The precepts of the upasaka and upasika are the same, five in number: to refrain from taking life (killing), to refrain from taking what is not given (stealing), to refrain from sexual misconduct (adultery and so on), to refrain from telling lies (especially about one's spiritual attainments), and to refrain from taking intoxicants. The precepts of the bhikkhu and bhikkhuni include these and more.

Mae chees -- 10-precept novice nuns, in white robes -- are recognised by the Thai Sangha to the extent that the Supreme Patriarch authorised a college dedicated to the education of Buddhist laywomen and mae chees. There is also a national organisation of mae chees. On the other hand, 311-precept fully-ordained nuns in saffron/ochre robes are tolerated in Thailand but given scant attention except from news media.

I predict that within the next 25 years we will see the bhikkhuni order accepted in official quarters in Thailand.

Oh no! More word dissection! That terminology was used as the article was more or less describing the maechi practice. It's just the terminology/translation used around here and the past areas I've lived in.

[hookedondhamma]

Dis-regard that last post.

My original post was directed towards the OP, though I appreciate your input, SJ.

[fabianfred]

They are engagingly cute..

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.257241696988.141489.529691988&type=3

[camerata]

I wonder if the kids want to do it or if they even understand what's going on?

[hookedondhamma]

I wonder if the kids want to do it or if they even understand what's going on?

I think it's somewhere in-between. From what I've seen since coming here there isn't too much questioning higher authority. But things change as the years go by, so I don't know the details.