“You know, we are not ordained to gain acceptance. That is not our purpose.”
A clear statement from The Venerable Dhammananda, the first fully-ordained female monk in Thailand and the abbess of Songdhammakalyani Monastery, which is home to female Buddhist monks, or bhikkhunīs, in Nakhon Pathom province.
“If you want to be ordained for recognition, then you’ll have to fight a long way. If you’re ordained because you want to commit your life for the benefit of Buddhism and Thai society, then keep doing it.”
Challenging monastic traditions
For the past 20 years, The Venerable Dhammananda has been at the forefront in challenging the long-standing gender roles in this male-dominated religion, as people often believe that monks in saffron robes should only be male.
Despite the criticism from or disbelief by others, it has also been an opportunity for her to…
