High-ranking Chinese bhikkunis in an alms round.

A Bhikkhuni (Bhikṣuṇī (Sanskrit) , Bhikkuṇī (Pāli) or 比丘尼(Chinese characters) (Thai: ภิกษุณี)) (pík-sòo-nee)is a fully ordained female Buddhist monastic. Male monastics are called Bhikkhus. Both Bhikkunis and Bhikkhus live by the vinaya. Bhikkhunis hold 311 vows. Bhikkhuni orders enjoy a broad basis in Mahayana countries like Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Taiwan. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Alms Bag taken from some Tapestry in Orleans, Fifteenth Century. ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Pāli is a Middle Indo-Aryan dialect or prakrit. ... Japanese name Kanji: Kana: Korean name Hangul: Hanja: Vietnamese name Quoc Ngu: Hantu: A Chinese character (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ) is a logogram used in writing Chinese, Japanese, sometimes Korean, and formerly Vietnamese. ... A silhouette of a Buddha statue at Ayutthaya, Thailand. ... Monasticism (from Greek: monachos—a solitary person) is the religious practice of renouncing all worldly pursuits in order to fully devote ones life to spiritual work. ... A Buddhist Monk in Sri Lanka In Pāli, a bhikkhu (male) or bhikkhuni (female) is a fully ordained Buddhist monk. ... The Vinaya (a word in Pali as well as in Sanskrit, with literal meaning discipline) is the textual framework for the Buddhist monastic community, or sangha. ... Relief image of the bodhisattva Kuan Yin from Mt. ... This article is about the Korean peninsula and civilization. ...

The lineage of bhikkhunis was originally created by the Buddha after being requested to do so by his foster-mother Mahapajapati Gotami, and the bhikkhuni order spread to many countries. Mahapajapati Gotami (in Pali; Mahaprajapati Gautami in Sanskrit) was the first woman to request ordination from the Buddha and to join the Sangha. ...

Bhikkhunis in Theravada

In the Theravada tradition, many believe that the bhikkhuni lineage became extinct in the 11th century, after which no new bhikkhunis could be ordained since there were no bhikhunis left to give ordination. For this reason, some members of the Theravada bhikkhu Sangha deem fully ordained bhikkhunis as "untrue."^[1] Other members support the ordination of woman as bhikkhunis.^[2] Theravada (Pāli: theravāda; Sanskrit: स्थविरवाद sthaviravāda; literally, the Way of the Elders) is the oldest surviving Buddhist school, and for many centuries has been the predominant religion of Sri Lanka (about 70% of the population[1]) and most of continental Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand). ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 11th century was that century which lasted from 1001 to 1100. ... A Buddhist Monk in Sri Lanka In Pāli, a bhikkhu (male) or bhikkhuni (female) is a fully ordained Buddhist monk. ... Sangha (संघ saṃgha) is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as association or assembly or community. It is commonly used in several senses to refer to Buddhist or Jain groups. ...

The traditional appearance of Theravadan bhikkhunis is nearly identical to that of male monks, including a shaved head and saffron robes. White or pink robes are worn by Theravadan nuns who are not fully ordained, in some counties nuns wear dark chocolate robes or sometimes the same colour as monks.These nuns are known as dasa sila mata in Sri-Lanka, Silashin in Myanmar(Burma) and the siladharas of Amaravati monastery in the United Kingdom and its branch monasteries.

Thailand

In Thailand, Bhikkhunis (Thai: ภิกษุณี) (pík-sòo-nee) ^[3] are referred to as "Ayya," a veneration. Ajahn, which means teacher, is another veneration, which a Bhikkhuni (or [Bhikkhu] or samaneri) teacher of 10 or more rains retreats (vassas) is often called. Voramai Kabilsingh helped begin a movement to allow ordination of women. Voramai Kabilsingh received the eight precepts of the Thai female renunciant (mae chi) from Phra Pronmuni of Wat Bovoranives, taking the name Venerable Dhammananda (Thai: ธัมมนันทาี),^[4][5] . Her example eventually caused a number of young women to also seek ordination, donning yellow robes, and founding the first Thai monastery for Buddhist women. Ayya Vaikundar was the Manu avathar (to born as a human being) of Lord Narayana according to Akilattirattu Ammanai the holy script of Ayyavazhi religion. ... Ajahn (Thai: อาจารย์) is teacher in the Thai language; it is derived from the (Pali) word ācārya. ... A samaneri (pali language) is novice nun, who lives according to the ten precepts. ... Vassa (Thai พรรษา, pansa or phansaa), also called Rains Retreat, is the traditional retreat during the rainy season lasting for three lunar months from July to October. ... Mae Ji (sometimes transliterated Mae Chi) are Buddhist laywomen in Thailand who occupy a position somewhere between that of an ordinary lay follower and an ordained monk. ... Statue of King Rama IV in a niche at Wat Bowonniwet Wat Bowonniwet Vihara (Thai: ) is a major Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok, Thailand. ... Monastery of St. ...

Indo-China

In Indo-China Theravada tradition, many women who are not allowed to ordain, continue as dedicated practitioners, following the spirit and often the letter of the bhikkhuni vows. They are considered mae chis, laywomen or “semi-ordained,” since they are not officially recognized by the Theravada Sangha. These women attempt to lead a life following the teachings of the Buddha. They observe 8-10 precepts, but do not follow exactly the same codes as ordained Buddhist monks. They receive popular recognition for their role. But they are not granted official endorsement or the educational support offered to men. They spend most of their time as temple maids and cooks for monks.

Bhikkhunis in Mahayana

In Japan, fully ordained women are usually called "尼さん(ama-san)." Some younger Japaneses are not familiar with the word "比丘尼(bhikkuṇī)." The most famous bhikkuṇī alive (as of 2006) in Japan is Jakucho Setouchi. The legendary bhikkuṇī in medieval Japan, 八百比丘尼(yao-bhikkuṇī), was believed to be a witch and is said to have lived more than 800 years ("yao" means "800"). Jakucho Setouchi (瀬戸内 寂聴 Setouchi Jakuchō, May 15, 1922 - ) is the name of the Buddhist nun, writer and activist formally known as Harumi Setouchi (瀬戸内 晴美). Biography Setouchi was born in Tokushima in 1922. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Witchcraft. ...

See also

• Buddhism
• Nuns
• International Congress on Buddhist Women's Role in the Sangha
• Ordination Process
• Sangha
• World Buddhist Sangha Council

A silhouette of a Buddha statue at Ayutthaya, Thailand. ... In general, a nun is a female ascetic who chooses to voluntarily leave the world and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent. ... The International Congress on Buddhist Womens Role in the Sangha: Bhikshuni Vinaya and Ordination Lineages is an historic event. ... Sangha (संघ saṃgha) is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as association or assembly or community. It is commonly used in several senses to refer to Buddhist or Jain groups. ... Sangha (संघ saṃgha) is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as association or assembly or community. It is commonly used in several senses to refer to Buddhist or Jain groups. ... The World Buddhist Sangha Council (WBSC) is an international non-government organisation (NGO) whose objectives are to develop the exchanges of the Buddhist religious and monastic communities of the different traditions worldwide, and help to carry out activities for the transmission of Buddhism. ...

External links

• The Bhikkhunis' Code of Discipline (Bhikkhuni Patimokkha) Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
• Buddhist Monastic Code II: Bhikkhunis
• the website of Santi Forest Monastery contains several (ancient and modern) texts on the role and ordination of women in Buddhism.
• Bhikkhuni committee of the ASA includes a large resource of articles regarding Bhikkhunis
• Monastic Resources - Training
• "Female Monks In Buddhism", by Dhammacaro (07/23/2005).
• "Vinaya Pitaka", brief description includes "Order of ordination for men and women...."

References