Thailand's Rich and Ancient History of Women in Buddhism

Thailand has a rich and ancient history of women in Buddhism, from the 3rd century BCE, when Asokan-era arahant missionaries Sona and Uttara Thera came from India to the ancient land of Suvarnabhumi first sharing the Buddha's teaching, ordaining more than 3,000 noble men and 1,500 noble women as bhikkhus and bhikkhunis. This was the foundation of Buddhism in Thailand, where Buddhism is still very much alive and flourishing to this day, with more than 90% of the population being Buddhists of the Theravada School. Thailand also has many Chinese-Thai Mahayana Buddhists, and an old and recently reviving history of Vajrayana Buddhism. The ancient land of Survarnamubhumi or Suvannabhumi in the Pali-Buddhist language -- the Land of Gold -- used to include all of Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and the South of Vietnam and China.

This blog showcases a little of the immense wealth of the rich heritage and history of Thailand's Buddhist women - and of all of the Thai people and culture - from ancient to modern times. We hope you enjoy your Women in Buddhism Tour here and during your stay in Thailand!

(If you enjoy this blog, please be sure to read the "Older Posts" - click link at the bottom of this page. Most more recent posts are focused around Bangkok and Ayutthaya. Older posts are mostly from further afield upcountry in Thailand's Northeast and Northwest.)

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Annual Samaneri Ordination 6 April and 5 December 2011

Reviving an ancient Buddhist tradition, since the past two years, Phra Mae Dhammananda Bhiksuni and Songdhammakalayani Monastery have kindly been offering women in Thailand the equal opportunity to be ordained as a samaneris in Buddhism.

This year, their Annual Samaneri Ordination program will be held on two dates:

April 6th and December 20th.

See www.thaibhikkhunis.org for details.

The application form and informative brochure can be downloaded here.

If you cannot read Thai, ask a Thai friend to help you out, or contact Songdhammakalayani Monastery for the English form.

To learn more about temporary ordination

as a Mae Chee (white robed Thai nun) or Samaneri (woman novice monk)

you can see the bottom of the left sidebar on this blog.

You may also enjoy reading this article.

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Phra Mae Thorani (Thai: พระแม่ธรณี) Thai Mother Earth Goddess

Sponsor A Nun or Bhikkhuni to Participate in the Sakyadhita Conference

Sponsor a nun or bhikkhuni to attend the next Sakyadhita conference in Indonesia.

You can also sponsor nuns, bhikkhunis and laywomen from developing countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, India, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka who would otherwise be unable to attend.

Enlarge the circle of compassion – support a life-changing experience for a future Buddhist woman leader!

Click here to donate sponsorship through Sakyadhita or here through the Alliance for Bhikkhunis. If you will attend, you can also offer sponsorship when you register for the Sakyadhita International Conference. If you use the PayPal form for donation, be sure to write "Sponsor a nun or bhikkhuni for Sakyadhita Conference" under Notes.

Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women สมาคมส่งเสริมสถานภาพสตรี

Under the Royal Patronage

of Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali

- Emergency Home & Women’s Clinic

- The Jimmy-Rosalynn Carter Women's Clinic and Nursery

- We-Train Center & Women's Clinic

- The Children’s Home

- Kanitnaree Center (Rape Crisis Center)

- HIV /AIDS counseling services and home visits of AIDS patients

- Women’s Education and Training Center (WE-TRAIN)

- Youth Center

- Teen House

- Resource Center for Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights

- Gender and Development Research Institute

501/1 Dechatungka Rd. Sikan Donmuang Bangkok 10210 Thailand Tel. 00 662 929-2301-07
www.apsw-thailand.org E-mail : admin@apsw-thailand.org

Mahapajapati Theri Nuns' College

NUNS' COLLEGE : The first Buddhist college for women in Thailand gives nuns and underprivileged women an education and a sense of social mission . To assist, contact Mae Chee Yupin Duangchan or Mae Chee Srisalab Upamai at the Mahapajapati Theri College under the patronage of HH the Supreme Patriarch, 95 Moo 7 Tambon Phu Luang, Pak Thongchai district, Nakhon Ratchasima 30150. Tel / fax : 044-249-398/9. Or call the Bangkok office on 02-566-3967 or 02-929-2222 ext 103 or 118. Bank info : savings account name : Mae Chee Thai Foundation ( Mahapajapati Theri College ) , account number : 167-1-026675 , Krung Thai Bank, Banglampu branch . Donations of books and other materials are also welcome . Alternatively, contact the Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women, located at Sikan, Don Muang, Bangkok at 02-566-3967 , 02-929-2222 ext 103 or 118.

Support Buddhist Education for Girls

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR GIRLS: In Thai Buddhism, only boys geteducational support from the templesas novices. A group of nuns in LamPhun and Ratchaburi provinces want togive the same opportunities to poorrural girls.
The Dhammajarinee Witthaya Nunneriesin Lam Phun and Ratchaburi provincesoffer poor girls free education andboarding. Apart from textbooklearning, the curriculum stressesstrict spiritual training.
The Dhammajarinee Witthaya in Lamphuncan be reached through Khun Mae ArunPetch-Urai at the Nuns' Institute,Wat Bovorn Temple on 282-2711 or callKhun Mae Chan suoy Cherdchairit atWat Muang Mang in Chiang Mai on (053)206-067.
For the Ratchaburi branch, contactschool director Khun Mae PrathinKwan-orn on (032) 281-058.

The Mudita Trust

Mudita Trust Thai Charity:

Dedicated to helping abused and underprivileged children in Thailand through the provision of education.

The Objects of the Trust:

*To give education to underprivileged girls who might otherwise be lured or sold into child prostitution through ignorance

*To raise money to support the Dharmajarinee School in the province of Rachaburi, south west of Bangkok. This school is for girls aged from 8 to 16 (more information...)

*To raise funds to support further education/training and assist in finding suitable employment for the girls. (more information...)

Saving Girls from the Sex Trade

SAVING GIRLS FROM THE SEX TRADE: The Daughters' Education Programme(DEP) in Chiang Rai province headedby social activist Sompop Chantraka,has saved more than 400 girls frombeing lured into the sex trade byproviding them with free educationand training.
The centre's address is: PO Box 10,Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai.Telephone (053) 733-186 or fax (053)642-415. Donations for scholarshipsfor the girls and the centre's landpurchasing fund can be sent to theSiam Commercial Bank, Mae Saidistrict Branch, account number636-206434-8.

Saisuree Chutikul | Vital Voices Global Partnership

Over a lifetime of activism, Dr. Saisuree Chutikul has fought to secure justice and freedom for Thai and Burmese children who have been trafficked for sex. Her legendary advocacy has exposed trafficking as a violation of human rights to the entire international community. Saisuree’s keynote speeches have graced every international stage from the UN to the White House. As a Senator, Cabinet Minister, and advisor to the Prime Minister of Thailand, she has mounted several successful campaigns for women’s and children’s rights.

Meditation in Modern Buddhism: Renunciation and Change in Thai Monastic Life

'This is an engaging, inspiring, and thought-provoking ethnography and phenomenology of Buddhist insight meditation in contemporary Thailand. Using her own experience as a 'nun' (mae chee) as well as her relationships with others in a monastic setting, Cook uncovers and analyzes the formation of subjectivity, inter-subjectivity and the embodiment of ethics in Buddhist practice. The book should be required reading for anyone concerned with Buddhism in South and Southeast Asia, and will be of interest to many others: for example, to those concerned with religious ethics, with the practice of self-reflexive anthropology, and to Gender Studies as a discipline.' Steven Collins, University of Chicago. Read a full review at: http://www.globalbuddhism.org/12/shedneck11.html

Loy Krathong and Queen Noppomas of Sukhothai

A national holiday in Thailand, on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month (normally in November) Thai people float (loy) krathong (vessels of light) on the waters to pay homage to the Holy Mother Ganga, Goddess of the Waters, to the ancient Buddhist Sage Upagupta, and to the Buddha himself, remembering his footprint left on the bank of the Narmada River in India.. This festival was founded by Nang Noppomas of Sukhothai. Lights may also be floated up into the air, and may women will become Nang Noppomas beauty queens.

Mae Posop - แม่โพสพ- Thailand's Rice Goddess

Mani Mekhala - Thai Goddess of the Waters

The dance of Mani Mekkhala, the goddess of the waters, and giant demon Raem Eysor is offered each year traditionally by the royalty and court dancers in the hot and dry season in mid-April for the production of rain and the fertility of the crops. Mani Mekhala holds a crystal in her hand with the power to bring rain. According to ancient tales, when thunder and lightning strikes and rain falls it is the dance between the goddess with her lightning and the demon with his thunder. The goddess represents woman's virtue and intelligence in this story. In the Buddhist Mahajanaka Jataka tale, the leading Arahant Theri Uppalavanna was the Goddess Manimekkhala in her past life in which she rescued the bodhisatta - the Buddha to be from drowning in the ocean. The story has been used by His Majesty the Thai King to teach the virtue of perseverance and sustainability.

Temporary Ordination for Women in Thai Buddhism

Temporary ordination for both men and women is a long-standing tradition in Thailand with many Thai people spending a transformative and beneficial period in their life as a monk or nun. Since the 1960s Westerners as well as Asians have been availing themselves of this special opportunity.

Women may temporarily ordain as white-robed Thai nuns or maechees nearly everywhere in Thailand (to learn more see above on this blog).

For intensive meditation retreat whilst a nun, Wat Ram Poeng in the north is famous, and has been awarded as one of the best meditation monasteries in Thailand.

Temporary samaneri ordination for women is also available at Songdhammakalayani Monastery outside of Bangkok (see here) which is a more urban setting and environment, and Nirotharam Meditation Center outside of Chiang Mai (see here) which is a much more rural environ. Read this article to learn more about temporary samaneri ordination.

Under certain circumstances, it may be possible to extend the period of one's ordination as a monk or nun and remain in the monastic life as long as one finds it conducive and beneficial. Some women and men who find the monastic life suitable for their path ordain temporarily and then choose to remain monks or nuns for life.

Women in Buddhism Tour - Thailand

Thailand's Rich and Ancient History of Women in Buddhism

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Annual Samaneri Ordination 6 April and 5 December 2011

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Green Papaya Sangha - Chiang Mai