The Thai Council of the Elders forbids Bhikkhuni ordinations

The Thai Council of the Elders forbids Bhikkhuni ordinations

Phra Prommethi, the Council of the Elders spokesman and 

member, said that regarding the recent event that Sri 

Lankan 

monks came to Thailand to give Bhikkhuni ordinations in 

Songkhla, the council’s meeting agreed to announce that all 

monks in Thailand must follow the Sangharaja’s order 

issued in 1928.

Phra Prommethi said that the Bhikkhuni lineage in Sri Lanka 

was discontinued since King Vijayabahu’s era, and today the 

government and the Sangha of Sri Lanka do not recognize 

the status of Bhikkhunis in Sri Lanka. Bringing in Mahayana 

Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis from Korea and Taiwan to perform 

Bhikkhuni ordinations in India made that Sangha act flawed, according to the vinaya.

Phra Prommethi said that the National Office of Buddhism 

has been assigned to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign 

Affairs to issue an order requiring that a Bhikkhu from other 

countries who wishes to come to Thailand to perform an 

ordination ceremony inform the Council of the Elders to get a 

written permission. This is to prevent another incident like 

that in Songkhla.

Media: Thai-language Daily News, Page 9

Date: December 12, 2014

Title: The Council of the Elders forbids Bhikkhuni ordinations