The Buddhist Publication Society, the world’s premier Theravadin publishing organization, has just released its newest publication, Mohan Wijayaratna’s Buddhist Nuns: The Birth and Development of a Woman’s Monastic Order (ISBN 978-955-24-0345-3). Dr. Wijayaratna is already well-known for his former publications, especially his excellent Buddhist Monastic Life (CUP, 1990). The present book was originally written in French. An English translation was published in 2001 and this is a revised edition of that translation. Wijayaratna gives a detailed account of the founding of the nuns’ Sangha, the rules for nuns and in the appendixes the text of and a translation of the Bhikkhuni Patimokkha. Altogether it is a useful and well-written book. The revised part of this edition is a 33 page postscript in which Wijayaratna discusses why the nuns’ Sangha died out and whether or not it can or should be re-established. Why the Theravadin nun’s Sangha disappeared is undoubtedly a complex matter and sources concerning it are scant, but I find Wijayaratna’s explanation generally superficial. Foreign (read ‘Tamil’) invasions are popularly sited by Sri Lankans for many of their country’s past troubles and the author gives this as the main cause. There can be no doubt that such invasions were very destructive. But Sinhalese always assume that only Tamil invaders looted Buddhist temples, killed monks and raped nuns even though the Mahavamsa offers ample evidence that Sinhalese soldiers, mercenaries and bandits were just as prone to do so at times of social disruption. The numerous civil wars and dynastic struggles that plagued Sri Lanka especially after the 8th century were probably just as destructive as ‘foreign invaders’. And even if we accept this as a significant cause of the disappearance of the nuns’ Sangha it still leaves unanswered the question of why the monks’ Sangha, which also disappeared several times during this period, was later revived and the nuns’ Sangha was not. Several of the other reasons the author for the disappearance of nuns are, to my mind, equally unsatisfactory.
Concerning whether it would be possible to revive the nuns’ Sangha today, Wijayaratna believes it is not and gives his opinion why he thinks this. Again I find his reasons unconvincing. Another book, published in Malaysia, is a much more useful examination of the question of reviving the nuns’ Sangha. The Revival of Bhikkhuni Ordination in the Theravada Tradition by Bhikkhu Bodhi would have to become essential reading for everyone interested in this issue.
Anyone familiar with Bhikkhu Bodhi’s style of writing will not be surprised that he approaches this contentious issue in a balanced and considered manner and combines a deep concern for the well-being for the Sasana with impeccable scholarship and common sense to argue his point. Bodhi starts by examining the cases against and for revival, treating them both with the respect they deserve, then moves on to examine the legal (i.e. Vinaya) technicalities related to the issue. The book ends with a most surprising and interesting document, a short essay written by the famous Mingun Jetavan Sayadaw in 1949 arguing for the revival of the nuns’ Sangha. I confess that I usually think of the Burmese Sangha as rigidly (sometimes I use the term ‘hopelessly’) conservative but as I said in my post of 12th 7, 2010, ‘It’s always good for you to have to readjust your mindset in the face of reality’. I would have never expected an elderly Burmese monk so long ago to have been willing to reconsider traditional practice. Mingun Jetavan Sayadaw’s essay ends with these poignant words ‘Thus the Bhikkhu Sangha...should make a determined effort as follows: “Now that the Bhikkhuni Sangha has become extinct, we will revive the institutions of the bhikkhunis! We will understand the heart’s wish of the Exalted One! We will see the Exalted One’s face brighten like the full moon!”’ ’
Buddhist Nuns is available from The Buddhist Publication Society at www.bps.lk/new_releases.asp The Revival of Bhikkhuni Ordination in the Theravada Tradition is published by Inward Path, PO Box 1034 GPO, 10400 Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia, or ijbook@inwardpath.org for free copies or inwardpathpublisher@gmail.com
Concerning whether it would be possible to revive the nuns’ Sangha today, Wijayaratna believes it is not and gives his opinion why he thinks this. Again I find his reasons unconvincing. Another book, published in Malaysia, is a much more useful examination of the question of reviving the nuns’ Sangha. The Revival of Bhikkhuni Ordination in the Theravada Tradition by Bhikkhu Bodhi would have to become essential reading for everyone interested in this issue.
Anyone familiar with Bhikkhu Bodhi’s style of writing will not be surprised that he approaches this contentious issue in a balanced and considered manner and combines a deep concern for the well-being for the Sasana with impeccable scholarship and common sense to argue his point. Bodhi starts by examining the cases against and for revival, treating them both with the respect they deserve, then moves on to examine the legal (i.e. Vinaya) technicalities related to the issue. The book ends with a most surprising and interesting document, a short essay written by the famous Mingun Jetavan Sayadaw in 1949 arguing for the revival of the nuns’ Sangha. I confess that I usually think of the Burmese Sangha as rigidly (sometimes I use the term ‘hopelessly’) conservative but as I said in my post of 12th 7, 2010, ‘It’s always good for you to have to readjust your mindset in the face of reality’. I would have never expected an elderly Burmese monk so long ago to have been willing to reconsider traditional practice. Mingun Jetavan Sayadaw’s essay ends with these poignant words ‘Thus the Bhikkhu Sangha...should make a determined effort as follows: “Now that the Bhikkhuni Sangha has become extinct, we will revive the institutions of the bhikkhunis! We will understand the heart’s wish of the Exalted One! We will see the Exalted One’s face brighten like the full moon!”’ ’Buddhist Nuns is available from The Buddhist Publication Society at www.bps.lk/new_releases.asp The Revival of Bhikkhuni Ordination in the Theravada Tradition is published by Inward Path, PO Box 1034 GPO, 10400 Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia, or ijbook@inwardpath.org for free copies or inwardpathpublisher@gmail.com
Sincere thanks for your well-considered review of these two books on this timely issue. Thanks too for giving credit to Mingun Jetavan Sayadaw whose thoughts on Bhikkhuni ordination are suppressed by the Burmese government. As always we must applaud "your willingness to readjust your mindset in the face of reality" and try always to do the same ourselves.
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