While the Buddha eventually permitted women to ordain it was a radical experiment for its time and the bhikkhuni Sangha were required to accept many extra conditions. Today in some societies, ordained and lay women still struggle to be fully recognised as spiritual leaders above the authority of men and it is still somewhat contested as to whether women can attain enlightenment in a female body. As part of International Women’s Day celebrations (March 8), I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to some of our very wonderful historical and contemporary Buddhist women.

In the Soma Sutta the bhiksuni Soma is addressed by the evil god Mara:

“That state’s very challenging; it’s for the sages to attain.
It’s not possible for a woman, with her two-fingered wisdom.”

Soma responds to Mara’s taunt:
“What difference does womanhood make when the mind is serene,
and knowledge is present as you rightly discern the Dhamma.
Surely someone who might think: ‘I am woman’, or ‘I am man’, or ‘I am’ anything at all,
is fit for Mara to address.”

At this response, Mara disappears.

BomHyon Sunim is ordained in the Mahayana Zen tradition and lived in the Korean monasteries for several years before returning to Australia in 2010. Sunim presently resides at Bodhi Ahm hermitage in the Southern Highlands and is in the final months of completing her PhD. She has recently retired from the Defence Religious Advisory Committee but will continue to support Buddhist chaplaincy in general. Sunim is also a member of the Contemplative Studies Centre Advisory Board at Melbourne University.

All Sessions are by Donation (Dana) to the Buddhist Library. All donations to the Buddhist Library of $2 and over are tax deductible.

Dana is the traditional practice of generosity, the extending of one’s goodwill, which is fundamental to Buddhism and other spiritual traditions. The dana you give is shared equally with the teacher and the Buddhist Library. This helps to maintain the Library and supports the teacher so that they may offer more teachings on the Dhamma in the future. It is up to each person to determine the amount of dana they’d like to offer. We understand that this is a difficult time financially for many, and people will give what they can. An appropriate dana can’t be prescribed but requires sensitivity to its intent and to the individual’s own situation, as well as awareness of the cost of organising events and supporting teachers who spread the Dhamma.