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The bhikshuni sangha in the West and its future

The bhikshuni sangha in the West and its future

A talk given at the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts in Taipei, Taiwan (ROC). In English with Chinese translation.

  • The three current extant vinaya lineages
  • What it’s like for western women to take the bhikshuni ordination
  • The situation for Tibetan nuns
  • Starting Sravasti Abbey
  • Bhikshuni ordination in the Theravadan tradition
  • The present status of bhikshuni ordination in the West and in Asia
  • What do you see for the future of Western Buddhism?
  • What are the barriers to bhikshuni ordination in the Tibetan tradition?
  • What is the importance of an ordained sangha in Budddhism?

The bhikshuni sangha in the West and its future prospects (download)

Venerable Thubten Chodron

Venerable Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners. She is well known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings. She was ordained as a Buddhist nun in 1977 by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche in Dharamsala, India, and in 1986 she received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan. Read her full bio.