Here’s a reflective and carefully thought out essay on the position of women in early Buddhism. The author, Bhikkhu Cintita, does not try to avoid the apparent discrepancies, and chooses to interpret them through the overarching message of love and compassion that resonates through all the Buddha’s words.
Note: This paper was submitted for the United Nations Day of Vesak conference in Vietnam, 2014. It was accepted, but on arrival at the conference Ajahn Brahm was told he could not deliver it. On December 1 1955, in Montgomery Alabama, an African-American woman refused to obey a bus driver’s order to give up her […]
Here’s a message from our friend Ayya Adhimutta. dear friends, ~i want to write to you of a very grand and inspiring initiative that a group (hopefully soon to become very international and multifaceted group, a vast web/network coming together of buddhist women) of us are undertaking. ~ we are hoping to create a multimedia […]
A Christian group at Bristol University in England is being investigated for its discriminatory policies. Women are banned from teaching at their weekly meetings without their husbands beside them. The email from their president said: “We understand that this [women teaching] is a difficult issue for some and so decided that women would not teach […]
Bangkok, Thailand June 12-18, 2011 The 12th Sakyadhita Conference is about to start. If you’re near Bangkok, or if you can travel, be there! It will be a wonderful week of learning an connecting with Buddhist women from all around the globe. Anyone who still clings to the view that ‘Thais don’t support bhikkhunis’, prepare […]
The following wonderful news was sent by Bhikkhuni Sudhamma of the Carolina Buddhist Vihara. Good news! The historic temporary ordination of Khmer (Cambodian) women happened at the Khmer Wat (temple) yesterday morning, along with 2 little kids joining the Sangha permanently. It was very moving. The ceremony had historic meaning, because we know of no […]
I just came across a site with some good resources on the role of Indian women during the important period of the Kushan empire. Here’s the site’s own description of these resources. Gender studies has been a vital part of historical study since the 1970s. However most writing on Indian women overlooks the Kushan period. This […]
Who exactly is in charge? I live in NSW, Australia, near Sydney, and chief public leaders are: Sydney mayor: Clover Moore NSW Governor: Marie Bashir NSW Premier: Kristina Keneally Governor-General: Ms Quentin Bryce Prime Minster: Julia Gillard Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II Quite extraordinary; but a misleading snapshot of public life in Australia, where […]
As recommended by our readers, here’s the latest and wonderfullest edition of Present.
When we listen to monks discussing the ‘problem’ of bhikkhunis, or indeed any nuns, one notion that keeps popping up is that they want stuff. The nuns are always asking for things, pushing the boundaries. They’ll never be satisfied. Being a bit of a history buff, I have been intrigued at how such ideas come […]
Sujato’s Blog 