In Thailand, the first recorded attempt of Bhikkhunī ordination was made in 1928.5 However, there was aggressive opposition from most Thai Buddhists. Importantly, the Sangharaja Shinavorasiriwatna, the supreme patriarch of Mahatherasamakhom at that time invalidated the ordinations and asked Bhikkhunīs to disrobe. He enacted a rule in 1928 which forbade Bhikkhus to ordain women. Later, in 2003, Chatsumarn Kabilsing, similarly to her monastic mother, ordained and claimed to be a Theravāda Bhikkhunī.8 Three months after Miss Kabilsing's novice ordination, the Sangharaja stressed the law of 1928 which prohibits all Bhikkhus to ordain women as Bhikkhunīs. Still, today in Thailand there are approximately 20 existing Bhikkhunīs, not sanctioned by the Mahatherasamakhom as Theravāda.
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| Bhikkhuni Dhammananda, or Dr.Chatsumarn Kabilsing |
The usual argument against Bhikkhunī ordination is that everyone can attain Nirvana regardless of their status. Conservatives also claim, from the Vinaya Cullavagga 10, that the Buddha refused Mahāpajāpatī three times before he agreed to ordain her as the first Bhikkhunī, on condition that she accepted eight Garudhamma – the heavy rules which are criticised by feminists, as they place women in a subordinate position to men. It is also believed that the Buddha predicted that a Bhikkhunī order would shorten the life span of Buddhism. These narratives are used to argue that the Buddha was reluctant to have the Bhikkhunī order.
Opponents of Bhikkhunī ordination are not only Thai Bhikkhus, but also some Mae Chees and lay women. A multitude of Thai women comment about Bhikkhunī ordination; that this can destroy Buddhism. There are increasing numbers of people who ideologically support Theravāda Bhikkhunī ordination, but this support is limited mostly to highly educated scholars.
Legally, the 6th rule in the Eight Garudhamma states that one condition for Bhikkhunī ordination that both members of the Bhikkhunī Sangha and of the Bhikkhus Sangha together – Dual Sangha – enact the ordination. The Mahatherasamakhom, which prides itself on maintaining the authenticity of the Vinaya, believes that such a Bhikkhunī lineage is absent rendering dual ordination impossible. P.A. Payutto, a well-known Thai Bhikkhu scholar, claims that people improperly referred to the constitution and “human rights” to ordain Theravāda Bhikkhunīs : “women always have rights but there are no Theravāda Bhikkhunīs”.
(^_^"!
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