precious human birth

Sent as an email to consenting petitioners on 27–28 December 2009.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for adding your name and comments to the petition “Buddhism and women: calling for Bhikkhuni ordination and gender equality in the Forest Sangha”.

The petition is now closed. The full petition (179 pages, including comments) is attached as a pdf. (The final version of the petition will remain available on fourfoldsangha.org/petition-text/.)

In total, 2565 signatures (received in 19 days) were on the petition we submitted to the meeting of Western abbots in Thailand (see more below), and 2902 signatures when the petition closed. People from 72 countries have signed the petition. Seeing signatories from so many countries sign in support is immensely encouraging.

1806 signatories have asked to be contacted with an update about the petition.

Submitting the “Buddhism and women” petition

We decided the meeting of the Wat Nong Pah Pong Western Abbots’ (WAM) to be held in Thailand, 7–9 December 2009, was the most appropriate forum to submit the petition and other expressions of concern. Abbots who were responsible for expelling Ajahn Brahm from the WPP community, and who were also responsible for drafting the 5 points that subjugate the Siladhara nuns, were attending this meeting.

The petition, and other documents of public support, were delivered in hard copy to the WAM. We set up an email address so that WAM representatives could direct their responses to you there. To date, there has been no response to that address.

The other related documents delivered to the WAM are:

• selected comments made on public fora about gender equity in Theravadan Buddhism (read at fourfoldsangha.org references and Alliance for Bhikkhunis at www.bhikkhuni.net)
• letters written in support of Bhikkhuni ordination (read at www.SupportBhikkhunis.org)
• scholarly articles outlining the legitimacy of Bhikkhuni ordination (seen as a necessary response to Ajahn Thanissaro’s refutation of the validity of the Bhikkhuni ordinations in October in Perth, Australia) (read at fourfoldsangha.org references and Alliance for Bhikkhunis at www.bhikkhuni.net).

Report from the WAM

On December 11, several days after the WAM, a written report of the meeting began circulating on the internet, and was posted on the Forestsangha.org site on December 15. (Read the report and a response from Bhante Sujato in his post, “Statement from the WAM“.)

The authors of this report chose not to respond directly to you or us; nor did they identify themselves, so we assume the report was authored by all in attendance at the WAM. WAM attendees included Ajahns Sumedho, Pasanno, Sucitto, Amaro, Munindo, Vajiro, Jayasaro, Dhammasiha, Nyanadhammo, Chandako, Chandapalo, Jutindharo, Kevali, Khemasiri, Punnadhammo, Tiradhammo, Sona and others.

It seems that, given the opportunity to address petitioners’ express concerns over the stated issues, the Western elders chose instead to reiterate their views and, to date, have not responded to our requests for dialogue.

Thai journalist Sanitsuda Ekachai (Bangkok Post) wrote recently in “Time for monks to let go“:

“The time of monks’ monopoly on Buddhist teachings is over. The emergence of lay dharma teachers in greater numbers. The reinstatement of the Bhikkhuni order despite the elders’ frowns. The growing interest in Buddhist spirituality among householders. The message is clear: the monk-centric mentality is crumbling.

Instead of feeling threatened, the clergy should work with the other three [folds of the] Sangha to bring dharma back. They should welcome the opportunity to return to the original mission of monkhood: letting go of all forms of attachment and prejudice.”

Religious imperative for the equality of women

At the Parliament of World Religions, held 3-9 December 2009 in Melbourne, Australia, Jimmy Carter offered this assessment of systemic gender inequity:

“The truth is that male religious leaders have had — and still have — an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter. We are calling on all those with influence to challenge and change the harmful teachings and practices — in religious and secular life — that justify discrimination against women and to acknowledge and emphasize the positive messages of equality and human dignity.” (See the full text on The Carter Centre site.)

The Elders Group* made this statement on gender equity and religion in July 2009:

“Religion and tradition are a great force for peace and progress around the world. However, we believe that the justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a higher authority, is unacceptable. We believe that women and girls share equal rights with men and boys in all aspects of life. We call upon all leaders to promote and protect equal rights for women and girls.

We especially call on religious and traditional leaders to set an example and change all discriminatory practices within their own religions and traditions.

Signed,

Aung San Suu Kyi, Nelson Mandela, Martti Ahtisaari, Gro Brundtland, Ela Bhatt, Lakhdar Brahimi, Kofi Annan, Fernando H Cardoso, Graça Machel, Mary Robinson, Jimmy Carter, and Desmond Tutu”

*The Elders Group is an independent group of eminent global leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela, who offer their collective influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity. (See more at http://theelders.org/womens-initiatives.)

What now? Ways to engage, connect and practice

We encourage all members of the international four-fold assembly to:

• find ways to carry this momentum for responsible change and gender equity into your own Dhamma communities
• invite Bhikkhuni Dhamma teachers into your lay communities to teach and give retreats
• donate time and dana to organizations that work to enable Bhikkhunis to attend monastic conferences, teachings, retreats, or to undertake teaching tours
• support Bhikkhuni monasteries that are already in existence, and donate for the development and construction of new Bhikkhuni monasteries
• support four-fold assembly monasteries that are already in existence, and donate for the development and construction of new four-fold monasteries
• donate time and dana to the Alliance for Bhikkhunis (www.bhikkhuni.net), an organization purpose-built to support the establishment and protection of a thriving worldwide Theravadan Bhikkhuni sangha
• study the Nikayas and the Vinaya. Be willing to ask questions about interpretations of the Buddha’s teachings that lead to harm and do not accord with your own direct experience
• read monastic scholarly research on Bhikkhuni ordination
• actively support all those who support Bhikkhunis.

As His Holiness the Dalai Lama notes, “Bhikkhunis have a unique role to play in the evolution of Buddhism where the universal principle of the equality of all human beings takes precedence.”

Please seek out and engage in opportunities that support the rise of the Bhikkhuni sangha in our times, and for our times.

Wishing you well-being,

Jacqui McGirr, Elizabeth Day, Thanissara, Jitindriya, Rebecca Green, Brenda Batke-Hirschmann, Margaret Smith

With thanks to the following for helping to establish the petition

Jill Chapman, Joy Esser, Martin Alyward, Pascal Auclair, Sarah Roddie, Anna Eisler, Marcia Pimentel, Sarana Nona Olivier, Andrea Cook and special thanks to Andrea Khoo, and others, who enabled the documents to be received at the WAM.