Being a Bhikkhuni, or female monk, is not easy in Thailand. They are not recognised by religious authorities, and women who want to be Bhikkhuni have to be ordained by religious figures from other Theravada Buddhist countries such as Sri Lanka.
A delegation of Bhikkhuni meet the National Reform Council at parliament to explain the recent Bhikkhuni ordination in Songkhla. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)
Although the Sangha Supreme Council of Thailand (SSC) is happy for Bhikkhuni to live here, their ordination is not allowed. The SSC last week came out to reiterate its stance against ordaining female monks, following a recent rebel Bhikkhuni ordination ceremony in Songkhla.
It was organised by Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, an abbess at Wat Songdham Kalayani in Nakhon Pathom. The ceremony was held at Thippayasathandhamma Bhikkhuni Arama in Songkhla's Koh Yor on Nov 29.
Members of the Sri Lanka Bhikkhuni sect were invited to perform the ordination, which has annoyed the SSC.
Observers say that although those ordained in Songkhla are technically under the Sri Lanka Bhikkhuni sect, the SSC has waded in to the affair because it is keen to stem any expansion of the female order.
It has sought help from the Foreign Ministry to ban any more Sri Lankan monks from coming here to ordain women.
The SSC's announcement has worsened the plight of Bhikkhuni, says Bhikkhuni Dhammananda.
She was among a group of Bhikkhunis and laywomen who visited members of the National Reform Council (NRC) at parliament on Friday in protest against the SSC announcement, which they say curbs religious freedom.
The group will follow up on that visit today by handing an open letter to NRC members Paiboon Nititawan and Naowarat Pongpaiboon, calling for an end to what they describe as the SSC's "gender discrimination".
Commenting on the Thai context, the SSC said Thai Bhikhus (ordained male monks) are not permitted to ordain women as Bhikkhuni (fully ordained nuns), Sikkhamana (intensive novices) or Samaneri (female novices).
It says the lineage of the Theravada Bhikkhuni order, under which women can be ordained, died out long ago.
According to the Theravada rules, women are allowed to be ordained as Samaneri, and those aged over 18 can be ordained as Sikkhamana and have to observe six precepts for two years.
When they reach 20 years of age, they are then allowed to be ordained as Bhikkhuni under strict conditions that the ordination must be conducted by both the male Sangha and the female Sangha.
The SSC claims the lineage of Theravada Bhikkhuni has died out, so female ordination can no longer be recognised here.
SSC spokesman Phra Phrom Methee said foreign Sangha should seek permission before holding ordination ceremonies in Thailand. It will ask the Foreign Ministry to issue an announcement to that effect.
Bhikkhuni members oppose the SSC's stance, which they say exceeds its powers.
"They insist on something which is not possible," said Bhikkhuni Dhammananda.
Female ordination has been a controversial issue in Thailand for decades with no change to the established order in sight. At least 80 Bhukkhunis are spread over 20 provinces nationwide, she said.
"The public has supported us well, but official documents like my ID card still refer to me as 'Mrs', and they will not register our temple," she said.
In her view, the SSC was exceeding its powers in asking the ministry to stop Sri Lankan monks coming here to ordain women. In the Songkhla ceremony, Bhikkhu Sangha and Bhikkhuni Sangha from Sri Lanka were invited to perform a full ordination.
NRC members Paiboon, Ticha Na Nakorn, Supattra Nakhapew and Nareewan Jintakanon, who met the group of Bhikkuni and laywomen last week, agree the SCC's strict regulation violates religious freedom.
"Bhikkhuni are doing good things to help disseminate Buddhism, so I have no idea why the SSC has tried to impede their involvement," Mr Paiboon said.
Ms Supattra, meanwhile, said she was confident the new version of the constitution will meet standards set by its predecessors in upholding freedom of religion and human rights.
Niran Pithakwatchara, the National Human Rights Commissioner, has offered his view on if the SSC's announcement breaks human rights law. He said if the SSC announcement breaks religious freedom laws, he could send a case to court.