Varanggana Vanavichayen

Varanggana Vanavichayen is the first female monk ordained in Thailand.[1][2]

Life

Vanavichayen worked as a translator, and then as a secretary. She was married and had two children, but divorced her husband in order to maintain a vow of celibacy. She became a nun for nine years, prior to becoming a monk.[3]

Ordination

In 2002, at 55, Vanavichayen became the first female monk ordained in Thailand. She was ordained by a female Sri Lankan monk, and in the presence of a male Thai monk, as in accordance with Thai interpretation of Theravada scripture.[1] The scriptures require that both a male and female monk be present in order for a woman to be ordained a monk. Seven female monks were in attendance as well. Vanavichayen was ordained in a temple that is headed by Chatsumarn Kabilasingha in Nakorn Pathom. Kabilasingha is a female monk that created controversy when she was ordained as a monk in Sri Lanka and returned to Thailand. Her temple and ordainment are nort recoUpon Vanavichayen's ordainment, she was quoted as saying, "I know that there might be resistance. But I am prepared, knowing that I am doing the right thing."[3]

Controversy

The Thai government's Deputy Chief of the Religious Affairs Department said that Vanavichayen would not be recognized as a monk.[1] This created a problem, as the Thai constitution prohibits gender discrimination, but anyone that dresses as a monk that is not a monk faces a two-month jail sentence.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Nation's First Female Buddhist Monk Ordained". LA Times. LA Times. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  2. ↑ Turner, Darrell. "Religion: Year In Review 2002". Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Sivasomboon, Busaba. "First female monk ordained in Thailand, challenging country's all-male Buddhist clergy". The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. AP. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
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