Religious Rights and Freedom as an Alternative Path for Bhikkhunī Ordination in Thailand: A Proposal for Sri Lankan Lineage Ordination

Abstract

This article explores the issue of religious rights and freedom as an alternative path for Bhikkhunī ordination in Thailand. Although Buddhist teachings emphasize equality by granting both men and women intellectual freedom to cultivate themselves toward the ultimate goal of Nibbāna, the ordination of bhikkhunīs remains contested within Thai society. The central challenge lies not in national law—which protects religious freedom - but in the Theravāda Vinaya, which sets conditions for female ordination that are currently viewed as unfulfilled in Thailand. Thai women ordained in Sri Lanka insist that their bhikkhunī status is valid under the Theravāda tradition. This situation has raised questions about recognition and legitimacy within the Thai Sangha. This article argues that a constructive solution might involve the Thai state and the Sangha Supreme Council formally recognizing a bhikkhunī saṅgha under the designation of the Sri Lankan lineage. Furthermore, clear guidelines for ordaining women should be developed to ensure consistency with both Vinaya principles and Thai law. Such measures would affirm gender equality in religious practice, while addressing institutional concerns surrounding bhikkhunī ordination in Thailand. This approach would create a legally recognized pathway for women who wish to be ordained, while simultaneously providing the Sangha institution with a clear regulatory mechanism. This proposal, therefore, addresses both the principle of gender equality and the institution's administrative concerns.