In some Buddhist communities, increasing prestige is accorded to those who earn a degree in Buddhist Studies. Monks and nuns who obtain a PhD in
Willow Myers works full time as a child and family psychotherapist in a non-profit agency in Bellingham WA. She writes freelance in her spare time.
Editor’s note: Ven. Analayo has kindly given Buddhistdoor International permission to republish his recent, groundbreaking, Vinaya-based study of nuns’ higher ordination. Because it is Vinaya-based,
Every Buddhist would find it difficult to contest the idea that Buddhism values spiritual authority. Buddhism’s need for legitimate transmission inevitably means upholding the monastic sangha as
Editor’s note: This feature was first published in the now-retired Bodhi Journal, Issue 1, October 2006. After a hiatus of one thousand years, Theravadin women
B: One of the conference topics was “Is there a Feminine Dharma?”. This question is far more loaded than the usual question about nuns or
It is beautiful to see a flower unfold and open from the sun’s light and earth’s moisture. It is a sight at once special but
Editor’s note: This is a speech given by Ven. Santini at Smrti Park, Bihar in India during the International Buddhist Sangha Conference this year. She
We can see from the study of the Buddha’s earliest teachings in the vinaya-pi?aka, that he originally taught only dhamma necessary for the attainment of nibb?na. The dhammas such as the
It is said that your conditions determine your vocation in life. Sometimes, such a proverb overlooks the role that human hands play in dealing a
Writer Christine Arpita works closely with Pema Choling to improve the lives and opportunities of nuns in Bhutan. It is 4:45 a.m. and the bell
Increasingly, we find Buddhist Film Festivals popping up in cities around the world for audiences of all ages and backgrounds – there are films with
