Hung, Ruey Yu Rena See all items with this value

2004

Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies

Guruge, Ananda W. P.

Lancaster, Lewis R.

Kimball, Richard L.

This report consists of an historical, textual and field study of the Sri Lankan Bhikkhunī Sasana (order). The present study attempts to link tis early development, and subsequent disappearance, to its current restoration. The problems is that the restoration movement has been a controversial issue because the Sri Lankan Buddhist Sangha (monastic community) insists on the necessity of dual ordinations of Bhikkhunīs to be rendered by a quorum of at least five qualified members from both the Bhikkhu and Bhikkhunī Sanghas respectively in compliance with the Vinaya rules (the disciplinary codes for monastics). It is claimed that since Sri Lanka lost its Bhikkhunī Sasana in the 11th century CE, it has been impossible to revive it because no legitimate Bhikkhunīs could be a part of the indispensable quorum for ordination in this tradition. On the other hand, however, those who support the revival movement argue on the grounds of gender equality and claim that the Bhikkhunī Sasana was initiated by the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, about 2500 years ago, therefore there is no reason not to let it exist now. Several options have been brought up for the restoration because of the public discussions and debates that have taken place, especially in the past decade, with regard to whether or not the Sri Lankan Bhikkhunī Sasana should be or can be revived. To resolve this problem peacefully, for the first time ever in the Buddhist history, the three major Buddhist traditions – Theravāda, Mahayana and Vajirayana – joined and planned together to conduct an international ordination in Bodhgaya, India in 1998.
The three major purposes of this study are: (1) to examine various options for restoration; (2) to explore the validity and subsequent impact of the 1998 Bodhgaya International Ordination; (3) to investigate the current situation of the Sri Lankan Bhikkhunī Sasana through field research.

My study indicates that the Bodhgaya International Ordination has proved to be valid. The Sri Lankan Bhikkhunī Sasana has now been restored due to both local and international support as well as the women’s own endeavors. Bhikkhunī centers have been built to ensure that newly ordained Bhikkhunī receive proper training. Now Sir Lanka is the only Theravāda Buddhist country that conducts Bhikkhunī ordination and which attracts nuns from neighboring countries such as Thailand, Nepal and Myanmar to go there for higher ordination. Thus, the efforts that have been put into the restoration movement in Sri Lanka have proved to be of great value to Buddhism.

Buddhist nuns See all items with this value

Buddhist monasticism See all items with this value

Sri Lanka See all items with this value

University of the West