Women and Theravada Buddhism

I just received this question from a member and wanted to share it with the group. Please append comments to this discussion on any topics related to women in Theravada Buddhism. How about your own experiences?

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QUESTION:

Hi Pierce,

I am trying to find the location in the Dhamma that refers to the first female monk during the Buddha's lifetime.

I think he decided to eventually ordain his wife? I kind of remember something like this and was trying to locate the readings in the Dhamma.

Any ideas where it would be?


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ANSWER:

It’s his adoptive mother (originally his aunt) that he ordains. (The Buddha’s biological mother died 7 days after giving birth to him).

See this story here: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/silacara/youngpeoples.html

(Despite this being a “young people’s” biography of the buddha, it is pretty good.)

Also see this article on women in Buddhism more generally: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/dewaraja/wheel280.html

Let me know if you have any more questions...