Dhammananda Bhikkhuni

Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, Ph.D. (Chatsumarn Kabilsingh, b. 1945), ordained Bhikkhuni Dhammananda, is a Thai bhikkhuni (Buddhist nun). On February 28, 2003, Kabilsingh received full bhikkhuni (nun) ordination in Sri Lanka. She earned a Ph.D. at Thammasat University in Bangkok and was a professor of Buddhist philosophy for twenty-seven years and currently is abbot of the only temple in Thailand where there are fully ordained nuns.

Quotes from Bhikkhuni Dhammananda

"study shows that we cannot take the Eight Garudharmas (heavy rules) as final authority without flexibility. I can quote an example of the first Garudharma which says that "a nun even ordained for 100 years must pay respect to a monk ordained that day." Later there was a case of six monks who playfully lifted up their robes showing their thighs to attract the bhikkhunis' attention. In this case, the Buddha instructed the bhikkhunis not to pay respect to these monks. This shows that any rule laid down by the Buddha always has a certain requirement to it. One should not stick to the rule without understanding the spirit of it."

"I do not choose to be ordained because I want people to recognise me.[sic] I did it because I want to carry on the heritage of the Lord Buddha. I am trying to revive the four pillars of Buddhism-bhikkus, bhikkhunis, laymen and laywomen-that will sustain the religion into the future. I don't mind if some people reserve different opinions about bhikkhunis. The public will be the ones to judge our worth."

"I would be satisfied if I could serve as a refuge for women. I am not aiming at a big market. I don't think Thai women will rise up and get ordained en masse. A monastic path is not a comfortable lifestyle. I am thinking of a small religious community which helps women develop their own spirituality and contribute something to society."

"I know there is some resistance out there. It is not my intention to stick out and provoke anybody. I will try to honour everyone. I will try to be a supatipanno, to be a female monk with good conduct. Time will tell. If society believes this is a worthy role, then people will support it and consider it another alternative for women."

Buddhist publications in English

• A Comparative Study of Bhikkhunã Pàtimokkha. Chaukhambha Orientalia: India, 1981.
• A Cry From the Forest.1981. (further information unavailable)
• Bhikkhunã Pàtimokkha of the Six Existing Schools.tr. Bangkok, 1991. Sri Satguru Publications, 1998.
  • ISBN: 9788170305705
• Buddhism and Nature Conservation.Bangkok, Thailand: Thammasat University Press, 1998.
  • ISBN: 9789745716568
• "Early Buddhists on Nature" in This Sacred Earth by Roger S. Gottlieb. Routledge, 2004. 130-133.
• "Reading Buddhist Texts with New Light" in Buddhist Exploration of Peace and Justice by Chanju Mun and Ronald S. Green. Honolulu, HI: Blue Pine Books, 2006. 89-96.
• Thai Women in Buddhism.Berkeley, CA: Parallax Press, 1991.
• Women and Buddhism.Institute of Women's Studies (St. Scholastica's College), Isis International (Manila, Philippines). Manila: Isis International, 1996.
• Women in Buddhism: Questions and Answers.First published 1998.
  • ISBN: 9745726079
  • eBook: [1]

Chatsumarn Kabilsingh
Dhammananda Bhikkhuni at the Congress on Buddhist Women
Born	1945 Thailand
Education	B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
Alma mater	Thammasat University
Occupation	Buddhist nun
Religion	Theravada Buddhism

References

• http://www.theravadabuddhism.org/
• “A Path Less Travelled” by Atiya Achakulwisut, originally in the Bangkok Press, found here: http://www.buddhanet.net/budsas/ebud/ebdha220.htm, which is part of the page “On the Restoration of the Bhikkhuni Order – Selected articles.