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THE SNOW LION BUDDHIST NEWS & CATALOG
Bhikshuni Thubten Chödrön
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First International Congress on Buddhist Women's Role in the Sangha
by Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron
The First International Congress on Buddhist Women's Role in the Sangha in Hamburg, Germany, July 18-20, 2007, was a great success, with nearly 400 participants. Organized under the auspices of the University of Hamburg and the Foundation for Buddhist Studies, it gathered together monastics from Tibet, Taiwan, Korea, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Thailand, and several Western countries, as well as academic scholars researching bhikshuni ordination and other topics concerning Buddhist nuns.
While some people hoped that His Holiness would announce the reinstatement of full ordination for women in the Tibetan tradition, this was not possible. His Holiness has repeatedly said that this is not a decision that he can make alone. The Buddha established the sangha as a community and all major decisions must be made by community consensus. His Holiness said, "If Buddha were here today, I'm sure he would give permission for bhikshuni ordination. But Buddha is not here, and I cannot act as Buddha."
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Still, His Holiness' interest in and support of bhikshuni ordination and the geshema degree is unequivocal. He stressed the necessity of having the bhikshuni sangha so that Tibet can be considered a Central Land, which is defined by the existence of the four-fold Buddhist community: male and female fully ordained monastics and male and female lay followers. "I wish more of an effort had been made to introduce the bhikshuni vow when Buddhism was first brought to Tibet centuries ago," he said.
Many members of the Tibetan bhikshu sangha are very conservative. Since there has never been a bhikshuni sangha in Tibet, they don't understand why there is the need or interest to have one now. In addition, they want to see the ordination done in accord with the details of the Vinaya. Thus His Holiness encouraged the Tibetan sangha to do more research and have more discussion amongst themselves.
His Holiness recommended that another conference occur in India, with many Tibetan geshes, abbots, and rinpoches present. His Holiness feels so strongly about having bhikshuni ordination in Tibetan Buddhism that he said he would cover the costs of this conference, which is planned for the winter of next year.
I'd like to share a personal reflection. One day a sramanerika (novice nun) offered lunch to some of the Western bhikshunis. I found myself sitting at a table with a group of extraordinary women such as Bhikshunis Tenzin Palmo, Lekshe Tsomo, Jampa Tsedroen, Jotika, Khenmo Drolma, and Tenzin Kacho. Ven. Tenzin Palmo has been ordained for 43 years, two others for thirty years, and the rest over twenty years. Each one was learned, good-hearted, and actively involved in benefiting others by establishing monasteries, teaching the Dharma, running Dharma centers, and so on. This is indicative of how much the Buddhadharma in general and the Tibetan community in specific would benefit if Tibetan nuns were able to become bhikshunis and geshemas. I left feeling grateful and inspired by the joyous effort and abilities of these remarkable nuns and hopeful for the future of nuns and monks working together to spread the Buddha's teachings for the benefit of all.
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