| As some of you may know, besides the work I do teaching Buddhism to mothers I am also working to support female Buddhist monastics. The link between these two concerns is that both efforts support women’s full flowering on their spiritual path. Recently there have been some events related to bhikkhunis that are of pertinence to women, regardless of their religious orientation. First a little background. A bhikkhuni is a female monk in the Theravadin Buddhist tradition. In Korea and Taiwan, countries that practice Mahayanin Buddhism, the nuns are called bhikksunis, but both bhikkhunis and bhikksunis follow the same structure, or monastic rules laid out in the Vinaya. The Buddha’s teachings are placed in three sets of writings, called the Three Baskets. They are the Suttas, or stories of the Buddha’s teachings, the Abhidhamma, which lay out Buddhist psychology in great detail, and the Vinaya, which are the rules of conduct for the monks and nuns. These are the rules that support both male and female monastic communities. In the Buddha’s time there were both female and male monastics. In fact, the Buddha, towards the end of his life, said that Buddhism would not take hold in a country until there were female monastics, male monastics, laywomen and laymen who are all well versed in their understanding and practice of the dhamma. This four-fold sangha was established by the Buddha and took root in the countries where Buddhism migrated in the early days. The story begins to get complex and disputed at this point. Due to war and internal affairs the bhikkhuni orders died out in Sri Lanka and other countries. There is dispute about whether or not there ever were bhikkhunis in Thailand but if there have never been bhikkhunis there than, according to the Buddha, Buddhism never really took hold as envisioned by the Buddha. There is much discussion about the verity of the facts here. Honestly, it starts sounding to the non-scholar like “How many angels can dance at the tip of a pen?” Fast forward to the 21st century. In Korea and Taiwan the bikksuni order is thriving. Yet the Theravadin bhikkhuni orders have been undergoing difficult birthing pains. Thanks to the support of some fair minded bhikkhus, male monks, and some very brave and determined women, the bhikkhuni order in Sri Lanka has been reestablished and is growing, although it does not yet enjoy governmental recognition. Burma and Thailand is another story. In these countries there have been local laws developed to prohibit women from ordaining. Burma, being a closed system, does not currently allow for any movement at all on this issue. However, in Thailand there have been recent events that have challenged the all male monastic system. Last month Ajahn Braham, a bhikkhu ordained in the Thai forest tradition of Ajahn Chah, went ahead and ordained four women in his monastery in Australia against the wishes of the Thai elders and many of the western monks trained in the Ajahn Chan lineage. For this he was excommunicated and the WPP who voted for this excommunication also declared that the ordinations are null and void. In the same month Ajahn Sumedo of England, a western monk who is also ordained in the Ajahn Chah tradition, developed his “5 Points” which basically puts female monastics in a lower position than male monastics and does not allow the women to become fully ordained bhikkhunis. The significance of this is that a western monk is not only importing the old rules excluding women but creating new ones. As Buddhism comes to the West it is essential that we do not import the old, cultural misogynistic views along with the beautiful, relevant teachings of the Buddha. The Buddha was a civil rights advocate in his day. By ordaining “untouchables and women” he went as far as he could go at the time to include all people. Now is a time when women all over the world are being lifted up high enough to stand side by side with their brothers. Women are becoming ordained as priests and rabbis in the western traditions. In Buddhism women are also moving into roles of spiritual leadership and have similar battles as their western sisters. There is much back and forth about laws and traditions but bottom line, women are moving into positions of equality and, predictably, many Buddhist males enjoying positions of power are fighting this movement. As St. Augustine wrote, “An unjust law is no law at all.” In the highest regards no laws were broken when Ajahn Brahm ordained the four new bhikkhunis and, actually, the Buddha’s laws are being broken wherever females are excluded from full ordination. Following is a petition being sent around to support our Theravadin sisters as they move into the place assigned to them by the Buddha over 2500 years ago. If you are interested in more information on bhikkhunis you can find it at http://www.bhikkhuni.net/ The petition can be found at: http://new.ipetitions.com/petition/bhikkhuni-ordination/ These are interesting times for Buddhism. It is an honor to join you on this journey westward. Happy, happy holidays to you and your families! |
| December 2009 |
| From The Hearth |
MISSION: The Hearth Foundation is dedicated to the spiritual growth and well-being of mothers through study, practice and community building activities. While our core philosophy is very much shaped by Buddhist principles and practices, we are a non-sectarian organization which draws on all Wisdom traditions to further positive mothering experiences through spiritual awareness and enlightened actions. |
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| Copyright (c) 2009 by Hearth Foundation. All articles are the copyright of the particular writers and cannot be reprinted without their expressed permission. All rights reserved. International copyright laws prohibit reproduction of or distribution of this page by any means whatsoever, electronic or otherwise, without first obtaining the written permission of the copyright holder. Any advice given is for informational purposes only. |
| JACQUELINE'S DHARMA TALK BHIKKHUNIS IN THAILAND AND THE WEST by Jacqueline Kramer |
| MONTHLY REFLECTION: DECEMBER - GENEROSITY "Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." Buddha |
| ANNOUNCEMENTS: COUNSELING SERVICES: Jacqueline is available for one-on-one counseling via phone or in person. In order to set up an appointment email Jacqueline directly. ANNOUNCEMENT: The Hearth Foundation will soon be going by a new name: Radiant Hearth! We are looking for an image for our new foundation! If you see something that looks interesting for our cards, brochures and other materials, please email Jacqueline. FROM THE HEARTH NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTIONS: If you subscribed to receive From the Hearth in your email in-box, but did not receive the latest edition, please contact Wendy Myers to verify your email address. If you aren't subscribed to receive From the Hearth in your in-box, but would like to be, please CLICK HERE. SUBMISSIONS NEEDED: The Monthly Reflections article is a reflection by a student of The Hearth Foundation on a pre-set monthly theme. If any of the themes below call to you for reflection, regardless of where we are in the calendar, please write your reflection down and submit them to Jacqueline. Each month we will publish one reflection based on that month's theme. Don't hesitate - we could use submissions right away! As with all submissions, The Hearth Foundation reserves the right to decide which submissions are to be published. January: Beginner's Mind February: Love March: Transformation April: Service May: Joy June: Meditation July: Interdependence August: Abundance September: Learning/Growing October: Death November: Gratitude December: Generosity |
| UPCOMING EVENTS AND CLASSES: EVENTS: If you know of an upcoming local, national or international event which fits in with the Mission of the Hearth Foundation, such as spirituality, meditation, pregnancy and birthing, Buddhism, parenting, women's issues, ecology, education and homemaking, please submit it by emailing Wendy Myers, so that we may all benefit. CLASSES: ONLINE BOOK GROUP: VOLUNTARY SIMPLICITY: With these difficult economic times, many of us are looking at how we can simplify our lives and our finances. Voluntary Simplicity by Duane Elgin, is a book about how one family deliberately simplified their lives. If you are interested in doing a book group on this book, with the possibility of other similar books to follow, please email Heather. ONLINE CLASSES: ~MEDITATION CLASS: For those who have finished the Shrine Series and what to take your meditation practice further, this is the class for you. Please email Heather to sign-up. ~KOAN GROUP: This has been going very well! More participants are welcome! A six-week "salon-style group" designed to enhance your meditation practice by the use of Koans. John Tarrant, of Pacific Zen, is initiating the class with Jacqueline facilitating. For more information, contact Jacqueline. To sign-up, please contact Heather. ~FAMILY HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS: REOPENED! With the upcoming holiday season, we are reopening the discussion on celebrating the holidays in a seemingly Christian-centered society. Visit the Family Holiday Celebrations forum - Christmas 2009 to discuss what your family does during the holidays! (At the time of publishing, the current discussion is on Santa Claus.) Registrations for all classes are taken year-round. When a class fills up, it begins. To sign up for any of the classes or with further questions on the specific classes, please email Heather Thornton. |
| As with all submissions, The Hearth Foundation reserves the right to decide which events and articles are to be published. |
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| DANA It is the Buddhist tradition to offer teachings freely. This comes from a heartfelt desire for the happiness of all beings. There is another complimentary Buddhist tradition for the recipients of the teachings to offer dana, or generosity upon receiving the teachings. It is our pleasure to offer From The Hearth and introductory classes free of charge. We are able to do this thanks to a core of dedicated volunteers and a strong commitment to keeping Hearth’s services available for you, regardless of your ability to pay. If this newsletter, the classes or any other Hearth offerings have been helpful to you we are happy to receive your appreciation in the form of donations or services. As it is also a customary "season of giving" during December, it is an excellent time to donate to the Hearth Foundation in honor or memory of somebody special. Your tax-deductible donation makes Hearth services available to moms all over the world. Everyone has something to give and it takes many hands and eyes to create a vital community. Thank you for your support! Write checks to: Hearth Foundation 19201 Twin Oaks Lane Sonoma, CA 95476 |