Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu

At the time of the Buddha Shakyamuni (2,500 years ago), the monk and nun lineages were established to safeguard and continue the teachings and practices leading toward awakening. Due to external circumstances, the women's line was eventually broken, meaning that all the nuns died before another was fully ordained. Buddhism is meant to spread "from warm hand to warm hand," so this was a serious loss.

There are plenty of Buddhist nuns today, but it has traditionally been claimed that because the line was broken, they are not fully ordained. They do not enjoy the rank or respect of the monks because they cannot claim an unbroken line back to the Tathagaatha (Buddha).

Today, a joyful note came from Ayya Tathaaloka, abbess of Dhammadharini Vihara, announcing that a big change has come about (in her words, "a significant breakthough" and "an unprecedented event"):

Twenty-five years ago, a conference was held to investigate the possiblity of reestablishing the full ordination for women in the traditions in which it had lapsed. Further research was called for, and has been done. A few months ago, members of the Tibetan traditions, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, assembled to review this research. A decision was reached that the research supported the reestablishment of full ordination, with several means to do so possible.

[Emphasis mine]. I find this very inspiring. Who says religions can't change, even those that are older than monotheism?

In order to share the research with the International Buddhist Community and the reasons for going ahead with this major decision, as well as to decide the method preferred together as an International Sangha, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has supported the calling of an International Congress of Eminent Buddhist Monastics and scholars from around the world. This gathering has been scheduled to be held in Hamburg, Germany, in July, 2007.

If you would like more information on this Congress, or to attend, there is a website which went live on August 26th, 2006: http://www.congress-on-buddhist-women.org.

Note that Ayya Tathaaloka will be participating in this event, along with many other members of the Noble Sangha.

Truly inspiring.