Report on the seminar on "Bhikkhuni issue".

Organized by the senatorial sub-committee, and Bhikkhuni Support group

Venue: Sofitel Raja Orchid Hotel, Khonkaen

Date: May 13, 2004, time 13,30-16.30 hrs.

Speakers: Ven.Bhikkhu Kosila, Ven.Bhikkhuni Dhammananda, Senator Rabiebrat Pongpanit (from Khonkaen Province), Senator Sunee Inchat (from Sisaket Province), Mr. Santisuk Santisasanasuk

Audience: approx. 900 members of Govt. officers' wives from 17 north-east provinces and more than 100 student monks from Maha Chulalongkom buddhist University in Khonkaen

Sponsorship: Senatorial fund and Bhikkhuni support group

Media access: the seminar was on air live, and can be viewed on T. V. Channel 11 during 15-16 hr. Many local news also reported on the event.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Content:

Senator Rabiebrat moderated the seminar, she started out by giving the background of the 6-month study done by the sub-committee by interviewing leading Buddhist scholars and monks both for and against the ordination of bhikkhuni. The committee came up with a proposal for the government to consider support for the bhikkhuni revival.

This seminar is the first in the series of seminar tour to educate people in the four regions of the country on the issue of bhikkhuni.

It is clear that by law, the latest Thai constitution B. E.2540 (1997) a woman has full freedom for ordination. But the Sangharaja order since 1928 stands in the way as this order forbids the Thai monks to give ordination to women. The study points out that by law any order which goes against the constitution must be lifted up and automatically becomes invalid. Yet, as late as Nov. 2003 the Council of the elders still repeat this order as a reason not to consider bhikkhuni sangha. The senatorial sub-committee is urging the government and the Council of Elders to reconsider their decision.

Ven.Bhikkhu Kosila reminded the audience that when the Buddha was enlightened, the Mara requested him to pass away. The Buddha refused, saying that he would not do so until the Bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, laymen and laywomen were well established in their study and their practice. This showed that the Buddha had planned for the four groups of Buddhists even before the actual introduction of the bhikkhunis sangha. In Vol. 33 there is a clear mentioning of 25 previous Buddhas, and each buddha there were leading bhikkhu and bhikkhunis disciples. It is clearly a Buddhist tradition of old to have bhikkhuni sangha.

Again in the 227 monastic rules which the monks follow, there are at least 15 of them which deal directly with the bhikkhunis. In order for the monks to keep all the 227 rules, the existence of the bhikkhunis is necessary.

Some people feel that the nuns should not be wearing the-robe like the monks, the Ven.Kosila pointed out that in the Buddha's time there was a record that the monk and nun exchanged their robes which meant that they wore the same kind of robe, etc.

The Ven.Dhammananda helped clarified the point about the robe, and insisted that it was the Buddha who actually allowed women to wear the robe, even some may suggest that women should only wear the white robe.

She explained the reasons why the bhikkhunis have 311 precepts as to the 227 of the monks. Also she provided for the historical background the reasons why Thailand never had any ordained women. She mentioned also the three waves of the bhikkhuni movement in Thailand, with her ordination as the beginning of the third wave.

The Senator Sunee Inchat spoke clearly about her support for the bhikkhuni Sangha. She corrected the often quoted 4 groups of Buddhists when the monks tend to comfortably replace bhikkhunis with the samaneras (male novices) hence the three fourth of the Buddhists are men.

The audience showed great interest judging from the questions which came up from the floor. The panelists had to select and answered only some of them, yet there was a big pile of questions. The seminar was considered 100% success.