Comments for LittleBang

Comment on Bhikkhuni Issue: by Cittasamvaro

Cittasamvaro — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:31:09 +0000

I think the video you linked to was an old one of the conference they had on Bhikkhuni ordination in Aus. a couple of years back.
“Forest Tradition” does not really mean much. It is a description rather than any kind of title/header. Generally it refers to Ajahn Mun related forest temples … but many of those temples are now in the city due to urban sprawl. Ajahn Chah temples are not officially part of the Ajahn Mun lineage as they are Mahanikaya, not Dhammayut temples.
The ‘Forest Temples’ tend to try and distinguish themselves from the decadent ‘Urban Temples’ as being superior on every level – practise, meditation etc.. These days however, there are actually lots of decadent forest temples, and excellent urban temples, so the distinction is not really valid.
Wat Pa Phong tradition is the same as Ajahn Chah tradition. They describe themselves as ‘Forest Lineage’.

I really don’t think Ajahn Brahm felt any need to be defiant. The women in his temple were going to ordain as Bhikkhunis like it or not. He could send them off to do it elsewhere … but they were his follwers and were supported by the Perth Buddhist Society. He knew if he waited for the Abbots meeting of the Ajahn Chah temples he would be refused permission (as Ajahn Sumedho has repeatedly not supported the Bhikkhuni ordination in the UK until the Thai Sangha gives him permission). He was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and did as his conscience told him.
Remember, they would have ordained anyway. Ajahn Brahm could not have stopped that even if he wanted to.

Comment on Bhikkhuni Issue: by billzant

billzant — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:38:16 +0000

Dear Phra Pandit,

Thanks very much for your comments on the Bhikkhuni ordination in Perth, as one who had asked you privately about this I was pleased to read it.

There were some interesting comments by the Bhikkhunis (at the ordination I believe) as to how they had gained spiritually from ordination, and I have a clip (120Mb – collected from YouTube clips) of what they said:-

http://zarendhara.com/Clips/Buddhism/Bhikkhuniordination.flv

Personally I had considered that I nominally followed the Forest Sangha having gained much help from Harnham Buddhist Monastery. I believe this issue might have some implications for England with its Forest Sangha monasteries – might require intending Bhikkhunis to visit Scotland? Is there any difference between Forest Sangha monasteries, the Wat Pa Phong Sangha and the Ajaan Chah tradition you speak of?

With regards to the position of women I believe there are educational and cultural differences between England and Thailand and Australia. It appears that Ajaan Brahm and his monastery felt the need to be defiant concerning the issue. Is it true that Wat Pa Nanachat (international wat?) was setup by Ajaan Chah to promote the Dhamma in the west? If that is the case, how will this expulsion help with that?

Hope you are keeping well,

All the Best,

BillZ

Comment on Bhikkhuni Issue: by Cittasamvaro

Cittasamvaro — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:05:22 +0000

The Bhikkhus section has a main preceptor, and two assistants who do the examination (are you a human, are you free from debt etc..) – as with Bhikkhu ordinations. As memory serves A. Brahm was one of the two.
Of course, it all went down in his temple, so he cops for the criticism from his former temple group.

Comment on Bhikkhuni Issue: by billzant

billzant — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:52:17 +0000

Phra Pandit

“4 practicing lay women from Ajahn Brahm’s temple in Perth took ordination with several Bhikkhunis. According to tradition they first ‘go forth’ in ordination with the Bhikkhuni preceptor, and then go for a second ceremony with the Bhikkhu Sangha, which kind of puts its seal on the ordination.”

Did the 4 lay women after ordaining with the Bhikkhunis present then go for “seal on the ordination” with Ajaan Brahm representing the Bhikkhu Sangha?

Comment on Report on A. Jayasaro’s Talk by Terry

Terry — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:34:37 +0000

Yes, I do agree with Craig, but time frame provided a bit too short, if more time available would be great especially during daytime on weekend holidays. Ajahn Jayasaro ’s dhamma books are quite interesting , inspiring and impressive . His writing is quite up-to-date to the current events raised up on several similes.

hope LB could arrange another in the near future

Thank /

Comment on Report on A. Jayasaro’s Talk by Craig

Craig — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:22:15 +0000

An excellent and inspiring Dhamma talk. I hope we’ll be able to have another from Ajahn Jayasaro sometime in the future.

Comment on Report on A. Jayasaro’s Talk by Cittasamvaro

Cittasamvaro — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:57:18 +0000

I was there, and enjoyed it. Great to see so many of our group come – old and new.
The rough survey shows about 200 people. 70% from Littlebang and the rest from Baan Aree.
I know a lot of the Thai people like to listen to dhamma in English too.

Also nice to be able to stop and chat afterwards – after Planet Yoga where we had to clear out for the next class.

Special thanks to the Thawsi school for the many dhamma books – both this time and on previous occasions when Khun Terry had gotten Dhamma books from there for free distribution.

Comment on Bhikkhuni Issue: by Marcus

Marcus — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:28:05 +0000

LOL! Wow – and there’s you putting it in bold too! Funny how you read enough headlines, you think you know what happened! Thanks again for the clarification! _/\_

Comment on Dhamma Talk with Ajahn Jayasaro by Marcus

Marcus — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:13:04 +0000

Fabulous talk! Thank you!

My report here: http://marcusjournal.blogspot.com/2009/11/tahn-ajahn-jayasaro.html

_/\_

Comment on Bhikkhuni Issue: by Cittasamvaro

Cittasamvaro — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:34:10 +0000

I don’t want to belabour the point – but he did not actually ‘ordain’ anyone. The other bhikkhunis did the ordination.

This proceedure has happened lots of times, in lots of places. The only difference now is the issue is being more fully discussed and aired. And I guess some of the Bhikkhunis might be less likely to come to Thailand for a while – which is a shame as we have invited a number of them to talk for us.