The Buddha's Forgotten Nuns Summary

The Buddha’s Forgotten Nuns (2013) by Wiriya Sati is a documentary film, depicting the struggles of the Bhikkhunis and other women in the Theravada order of Buddhism in Thailand. Sati, raised a Buddhist, had multiple opportunities to interact with a monk of the Thai Forest Tradition from a very young age. As she grew older, Sati gained an immense interest in the “Teachings of No/Not Self”; a belief in not being defined by the body, mind, gender, or ethnicity. However, Sati soon found out she will never be granted the right to be ordained as a Bhikkhuni, regardless of her commitment and/or progress in her practices. To Sati, who has always known that the Buddha considered both men and women qualified to be ordained, the rejection she faces is

Such portrayals varied by different factors, such as the kind of the Buddhist branch and/or geographical differences. For example, the Mahayana branches in countries like China and Korea are more liberal with Bhikkhuni ordination compared to the Theravada branch. However, the two major kinds of depiction in the film are divided into: rebellious or radical and progressive, since the Theravada order of Buddhism consists of a strong conservatism and traditions. (CITE) Ajahn Jayasaro—one of the most senior western monk in Thailand—confirms that women simply cannot be ordained and even if they were ordained in a different century under a different branch of Buddhism, it will not be considered valid in the Thai Sanga. (CITE) However, the display of scapegoating in Jayasaro’s response to the issues of Bhikkhuni ordination is clearly evident. In Jayasaro’s interview, there is a subtle or, perhaps, obvious nuance of blame towards the Bhikkhunis for labelling them rebellious and forceful, rather than viewing the Bhikkhunis’ actual struggle of being deprived of their rights to be ordained. Jayasaro further argues that the harmony between the traditionalists and the Bhikkhunis will not be reached, “if the Bhikkhunis’ option is too much” as if the Bhikkhunis and other women are striving to achieve something they never deserve. (CITE) In reality, the Buddha invited women to join his