International Bhikkhuni Day, 2014 (Part 4)

Honouring Eminent Asian Buddhist Women in the Modern Era

B. Dhamma Propagation - Scholars and Teachers

1. Thailand – Ven Dhammananda (Chatsumarn Kabilsingh) (1944- ).  She is a former professor at Thammasat University, Bangkok and became the first Theravada bhikkhuni in Thailand. She was ordained in the Theravada tradition in Sri Lanka as a samaneri in 2001 and later as a bhikkhuni in 2003. This is after overcoming much trials and tribulations and she is now the abbess of Songdhamma Kalyani Monastery, which her mother, Venerable Ta Tao Fa Tzu had built in Nakhonpathom, Thailand. The Monastery now acts as the coordinating center of the Network of Thai Theravada Bhikkhuni Sangha formed in 2013.

        Training of Nuns

Ven Dhammanda holds temporary samaneri ordination programs twice annually and also conducts novitiate and meditation retreats at the Monastery. Presently, there are approximately 100 female monastics in Thailand.

Most notably, the bhikkhunis at Songdhammakalyani has started to spread the dhamma to female inmates in prison since 2011. She is being invited for inter-faith dialogue with the Muslims in Thailand and incorporates environmental concerns in the program of the temple, for example, a recycling project and spreading the dhamma to preserve the environment.

Publications

Ven Dhammanda is an author and her doctoral thesis was on ‘A Comparative Study of the Bhikkhuni Patimokkha.’ She has published numerous works in Thai and English, including ‘Thai Woman in Buddhism.’ She translates over 30 Buddhist books from English to Thai with the most well-known being the ‘Saddharmapundarika Sutra’ (Lotus Sutra) and ‘Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of The Dalai Lama.’

She is a sought after speaker at international conferences and also participates in the ordination of bhikkhunis and samaneris abroad. She is one of the Spiritual Advisors of Gotami Vihara Society, Malaysia and was a past President of Sakyaditha, International Association of Buddhist Women.

She also worked closely with the International Network of Engaged Buddhist (INEB) to support the growth of Buddhism in India and has provided bursaries to the Youth Buddhist Society, in Sankissa, India to come to Sondghammakalyani to further enhance their spiritual capabilities. In addition, she facilitated and assisted in the full ordination of ten monks from Sankissa in Thailand.

Recognition

Ven Dhammanda’s contribution to the spread Buddhism globally has won her accolades and recognition nationally and internationally. In 2012, the Ashwagosh Foundation in Nagpur, India awarded her the Sakyamuni International Award. The United Nations selected her as one of the fifteen Buddhist women recipients from world-wide to receive the ‘Outstanding Buddhist Women Award’ in 2004. She was on the screening committee of Japan’s Niwano Peace Award from 2003-2006.

She will complete 12 vassas (rain retreat) by end of 2014 at the age of 71.