"Female Buddhist monk walks a pioneering path"

BonsaiDoug

An interesting read:



http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=9,11386,0,0,1,0

caz

Nun !

vinlyn

Yes, from what I can find on the internet, in Thailand she is recognized as a Buddhist nun, not a monk.

Dakini

I'm not sure what's "pioneering" about this particular nun. There have always been nuns in Thailand. Few have received full ordination, but that's been changing, as fully-ordained nuns from Taiwan have been traveling to SE Asia to ordain nuns there. I don't see why this particular nun was singled out for attention...? Maybe she's just one example of what fully-ordained nuns are doing in that country.

vinlyn

As far as I am aware, no female Buddhist monks have been recognized by the Supreme Sangha in Thailand. Even "mae chee" in Thailand have no official standing.

BhanteLucky

I heard that in the past year or three, nuns are getting more visitors to their few monasteries, and more morning-alms-round support than the monks.

The monk who reported this said it was because Thai laypeople were tired of the scandals and laziness surrounding some Thai monks.
The nuns are seen as serious and devoted, whereas some monks gamble, smoke, and sit around in the courtyard listening to the football.

lobster

The nuns are seen as serious and devoted

I always knew Ananda was right to persuade the Buddha to let in them wimmin . . .

Cinorjer

Her mother decided to become a nun, but stayed with the family and combined her family and home life instead of abandoning her children (she apparently didn't have a father around). When it's her turn, she walks away from her husband when she became a nun, saying he was "confused but not angry"? If he loved her, he was not just confused, he was deeply hurt. He eventually remarried.

Is it normal in Thailand for husbands to walk away from their wives of many years to become monks? And how is this viewed in the society?

vinlyn

Cinorjer said:

Is it normal in Thailand for husbands to walk away from their wives of many years to become monks? And how is this viewed in the society?

Is it normal? No. I'd say it's a rarity. Mostly monks are either older, long-established...OR...younger, almost every man does for a short while. I do know of men who will walk away from family life for a short time (let's say up to 3 months) to become monks. This is often in thanks for something (such as a long-childless couple who then had a child).

What's common is a husband having a "mia noi".

Cinorjer

vinlyn said:

Cinorjer said:

Is it normal in Thailand for husbands to walk away from their wives of many years to become monks? And how is this viewed in the society?

Is it normal? No. I'd say it's a rarity. Mostly monks are either older, long-established...OR...younger, almost every man does for a short while. I do know of men who will walk away from family life for a short time (let's say up to 3 months) to become monks. This is often in thanks for something (such as a long-childless couple who then had a child).

What's common is a husband having a "mia noi".

Ha! Had to look it up. A "minor wife" to go along with the main wife, huh? Sounds like a lot of work and expense to me.

vinlyn

Cinorjer said:

vinlyn said:

Cinorjer said:

Is it normal in Thailand for husbands to walk away from their wives of many years to become monks? And how is this viewed in the society?

Is it normal? No. I'd say it's a rarity. Mostly monks are either older, long-established...OR...younger, almost every man does for a short while. I do know of men who will walk away from family life for a short time (let's say up to 3 months) to become monks. This is often in thanks for something (such as a long-childless couple who then had a child).

What's common is a husband having a "mia noi".

Ha! Had to look it up. A "minor wife" to go along with the main wife, huh? Sounds like a lot of work and expense to me.

And it's an appalling aspect of Thai male behavior. But of course, when you have the Crown Prince doing it openly, it's kinda tough changing minds.