Precis

Across Thailand a quiet revolution is underway.

Hundreds of women are defying generations of Thai tradition and ordaining as Theravada Buddhist monks.

"Woman can do it too, not only man. Men can say anything they want, but if woman decide to do it, just go for it. Nothing going to stop you." - Achara Ratanakasin, novice monk candidate.

Under the current rules in Thailand, only men are officially able to be ordained as monks. For women, it's forbidden.

The governing body for monks, the Supreme Sangha Council, maintains that women can't be ordained because female monks never existed in Thailand.

"The monk's law doesn't endorse them. Therefore, they can't be ordained. If they are ordained, it is considered an offense to Buddha." - Phra Thamkittimetee, Buddhist Protection Society of Thailand.

At the forefront of this growing movement in Thailand is the Venerable Dhammananda. In 2003, the former academic became the country's first Theravada Buddhist female monk but to be ordained, she had to travel to Sri Lanka.

"We are asking for ordination, you are not giving it to us, that's fine. So we go somewhere else." - Venerable Dhammananda Bhikkhuni.

As the Abbess of Thailand's first all-female monastery, she's now offering temporary ordination to other women.

In this moving episode of Foreign Correspondent, Southeast Asia correspondent Mazoe Ford follows two Thai women as they embark on a deeply spiritual quest to reclaim the saffron robe.

"A new chapter is about to begin … it's probably the only thing that I believe that can make me a better person." - Wanida 'Anne' Lertpanyawai, novice monk candidate.

"I keep telling them, you are part of this movement that is going to be written down in history… we are on the right side of history." - Venerable Dhammananda Bhikkhuni.

Sunrise over temple stupa

Music

00:10

Female monks collect alms

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: As dawn breaks each day across Thailand, one of the country’s most important and revered traditions unfolds. Theravada Buddhist monks go out on their morning alms rounds to give blessings in exchange for food. But in a few neighbourhoods there’s a quiet revolution going on. The saffron robes are worn by women. and the all-male Thai clergy is not happy.

00:19

Thamkittimetee

PHRA THAMKITTIMETEE:  The monks’ law doesn’t recognise them, so they can’t be ordained. If they are ordained, it is considered an offence, even an offence to buddha.

00:56

Male monks chant

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Here in Thailand, only men can become fully ordained monks.

01:02

Mazoe to camera. Super:
Mazoe Ford
Reporter

For females, it’s forbidden, but there’s a growing movement of women challenging this rule. They’re standing up to the patriarchy and fighting for spiritual equality.

01:07

Dhammananda

DHAMMANANDA: Thai women are very sweet and very tame,

01:18

Dhammananda 100%

and I'm also sweet, but I'm not tame.

01:22

Female monks having hair cut

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Women have found a loophole; they’re holding ordination ceremonies of their own. And more and more candidates are signing up.

01:25

Anne 100%

ANNE LERTPANYAWAI: My focus is really clear that I have to do this.

01:33

Achara 100%

ACHARA: If people doesn’t like it, it’s their problem.

01:39

Female monks collect alms. Title: Taking Up Alms

Music

01:42

Bangkok GVs. Super:
Bangkok, Thailand

Music

01:50

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: As pandemic restrictions ease in Thailand, the capital Bangkok, is roaring back to life.

02:02

Anne boxing

Anne Lertpanyawai is getting back into the swing of things. But the quiet times during COVID made her reassess everything.

ANNE LERTPANYAWAI: Every single day you get up at 5:30, you put on your makeup, get dressed, go out,

02:11

Anne 100%

drive to work. and then, yeah, clock in, clock out.

02:35

Anne doing yoga

After doing that life for many years, I just think, what's the next chapter, the new journey of my life?

02:39

Music

02:50

Anne going to work

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Anne works in life insurance and does enjoy her job. She’s 43, married and loves her family and friends, but she’s been searching for more meaning. 

02:56

Anne 100%

ANNE LERTPANYAWAI: And when I turned like 40 and COVID came along, after that I kind of think, oh yeah, probably I'm having a mid-life crisis.

03:07

Anne farewells work colleague

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Today Anne's saying goodbye to work for a couple of weeks to go and do something very few Thai women have done. She’s defying the Thai clergy and going to be ordained as a novice monk.

03:17

COLLEAGUE: I'm surprised that Anne who is close to me, is doing this. I personally don’t know anyone who’s wanted to do this before.

03:33

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: 95 per cent of Thailand's population is Buddhist,

03:49

Photos. Anne

but Anne comes from a Christian family. After her father died in an accident 20 years ago,

03:53

Anne and Tee at temple

a friend took her to a temple for the first time. Then, seven years ago, she married Tee who’s a Buddhist.

TEE: I'm very proud she’s doing what she wants to do.

03:59

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Over the years, Anne's interest in Buddha’s teachings has grown.

04:14

ANNE LERTPANYAWAI:  It's probably the only thing that I believe that can make me a better person, self-development starts with his teachings.

04:20

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Keen to delve deeper she’s about to go into a female-only monastery for 12 days. First though, one last family dinner before the strict monastery routine begins. 

04:32

Mazoe walks with Anne

"Who will I be meeting tonight?” 

ANNE LERTPANYAWAI: This is like my mum birthday dinner, because her birthday is coming up next week, but I will be away. So, my brother, my sister, my mother and my husband will be here tonight. 

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: And are you all close?

ANNE LERTPANYAWAI: Yeah, we are very close. a small, little family.

04:46

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: It’s important to Anne to have her family’s support. She wants her ordination to bring them good karma.

05:04

Anne and family at restaurant

05:10

MOTHER: I never knew there were female monks. I only know male monks.

05:15

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: What do you think about your daughter doing this?

05:21

MOTHER:  I had some doubts. I was curious why she wanted to get ordained. What was she thinking? But then I thought, she’s determined to do it. I should let her do it.

05:24

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: What do you think about it?

TEE:  I was stunned at first. I was shocked. I asked her, how long will you be ordained for? After she told me it was just a short course, I was okay to let her go and study.

05:36

SISTER: : I told Anne, we are okay if you want to do this, you can be a monk, you can be everything what you like, but you have Mum and you have husband, you have to come back to the real life, not go forever. Whatever you want to do, just go ahead. Do whatever you love, do what you do, but you have come back.

05:56

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: They all plan to go to the monastery for Anne's big ordination day.

05:15

"You were saying you think you're going to be emotional too."

ANNE LERTPANYAWAI: I will, of course, will be like a baby. I don’t know, it’s a beautiful moment deep inside my heart.

06:20

BROTHER: Happy tears.

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Happy tears.

ANNE LERTPANYAWAI: Yeah, no hair.

06:36

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: If Anne was male none of this would be remarkable. Men ordain as monks for short periods all the time in Thailand. It’s a rite of passage, and a way to bring merit to their families for longer and happier lives. Only a handful of women are doing it, but their movement’s growing.

06:37

Mazoe travelling to Ratchaburi

Music

06:50

MAZOE FORD, Reporter:  I'm on my way to Ratchaburi province, about 100 kilometres west of Bangkok, to meet another woman signing up. 

07:02

Achara greets Mazoe

Achara Ratanakasin wants to push the boundaries even further. To start as a novice, but then go as high as the men do and become a fully ordained monk.

07:14

So all these established trees are your doing?  That’s beautiful.

ACHARA: And Tom was the once who decided the house and built the house.

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Such a great house. Achara became a widow eight years ago after her husband Tom died.

07:31

Achara 100%

ACHARA:  I didn't expect it's going to happen. He just, bang. He got heart attack.

07:46

Achara in house at altar

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Their wonderful life together was over in an instant.

ACHARA:  When I first lost him, still like grief, grieve

07:51

and just suffer, so what I did is start to chant.

07:58

Achara chants

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Now at the age of 60, Achara’s devotion to Buddhism is stronger than it’s ever been.  After two years as a novice, she plans to become a Bhikkhuni, the ancient Indian term for a fully ordained female monk.

ACHARA: I decide to be a Bhikkhuni, because I feel like

08:08

Achara 100%

I had enough with my life. I don't mean enough in term of give up my life, but I have such a good life, and enjoy my life every day. But then there are times that I feel suffer a lot after I lost my husband.  

08:28

Achara with dogs

But I've been through it, because I pick up Buddha's teaching, and his teaching can help us to stay away from suffering or help allay suffering.

08:44

Achara working on farm

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: As Achara prepares to move to the female monastery, there’s a huge to do list at home, including some things she won’t be allowed to do once she enters monastic life. The Buddhist text says monks can’t kill living things, right down to ants so this is the last time she can work on the farm like this. 

09:05

"Will you miss this?"

ACHARA: Yes I think I do, I will. Because I been here for like 20 years and it’s my home and it’s the only home that I have.

09:34

Achara packs suitcase

Music

09:44

ACHARA: I love this place and I said to myself how I going to walk away from what you love. And this is the most difficult bit, to walk away from what you have, to go to something, having nothing. Buddha said become a monk, it’s like you become like a beggar and I think I look forward to my new life.

09:53

Achara 100%

I'm ready for that.

10:15

Achara leaves farm

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Achara's niece and her husband will take care of the farm while she’s away and also plan to go to the monastery to support her ordination.

10:17

Temple

In Thailand, there are around two hundred and forty thousand male monks, but only a few hundred women. The governing body for monks, the Supreme Sangha Council, refuses to recognise them. It says female monks have never existed in this country. Advocates, though, argue they’re trying to restore a long-lost female monastic order started by the Lord Buddha himself when he ordained his own stepmother.

10:36

Mazoe to camera

The first known attempt to introduce female monks in Thailand was back in the late 1920s when an outspoken critic of the clergy arranged to have his two daughters ordained. The Supreme Sangha Council was infuriated. The two women were arrested and defrocked, and the council made an order banning Thailand's male monks from ordaining women. That ban is still in place today.

11:11

Stupa and statue of Buddha

Music

11:35

Mazoe visits Thamkittimetee

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: The Supreme Sangha Council wouldn’t do an interview, so I've come to meet a former member, senior monk Phra Thamkittimetee.

11:39

"Can you explain why the Supreme Sangha Council here in Thailand does not accept women as monks?"

11:50

Thamkittimetee 100%

PHRA THAMKITTIMETEE:  The monks’ law doesn’t recognise them, so they can’t be ordained. If they are ordained, it is considered an offence, even an offence to Buddha.

11:56

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Didn’t the Lord Buddha himself allow women to be ordained?

12:06

PHRA THAMKITTIMETEE:  Yes, that's right. But Buddha allowed that with conditions. In Thailand it’s considered that there are no Bhikkhuni. With the absence of Bhikkhunis, monks can't ordain women to become Bhikkhunis.

12:09

Nakhom Pathom

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Anne and Achara aren’t discouraged by the ban. They’ll be heading to Nakhom Pathom one of the oldest provinces in Thailand where Theravada Buddhism was introduced from India more than 2,000 years ago.

12:36

Wat Songdhammakalyani,

It’s also home to Wat Songdhammakalyani, Thailand's first all-female monastery. A monastery that’s not recognised by the religious authorities.

12:51

Dhammananda kneels before Buddha statue

The head is the venerable Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, the first Thai woman to take on the powerful all-male clergy and be fully ordained as a Theravada Buddhist monk.

13:06

Dhammananda greets Mazoe

Thailand's clergy refused to ordain her.

13:21

Photos. Dhammananda ordination

Not deterred, she went to Sri Lanka for the ceremony instead, where male monks are willing to ordain women.

DHAMMANANDA: From our side, we are asking for ordination,

13:26

Dhammananda 100%

you are not giving us, that's fine. So we go somewhere else. And then we come back with the lineage.

13:39

Dhammananda and Mazoe in temple

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: You’ve been described as a rebel monk. Are you a rebel?

DHAMMANANDA: The buddha was a rebel. True. if you read the history of Buddhism, Buddha also stood up against many things that he did not agree, you know. He gave up social structure.  That was such a movement, you know, and to allow women to be ordained, such a movement. So that’s the beauty of Buddhism.

13:44

Maze and Dhammananda walk in monastery grounds

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: The idea of becoming ordained didn’t occur to doctor, Chatsumarn Kabilsingh until she was in her 50s.

14:09

Photos. Dhammananda before becoming monk, with family

She was happily married with grown up children, was a professor of religion and philosophy at one of Thailand's top universities, and had even become a TV personality.

14:20

TV excerpt

Chatsumarn Kabilsingh: "Men and women have the ability to reach enlightenment equally."

14:35

Dhammananda 100%

DHAMMANANDA: But then one day when I was putting on makeup, there was inner voice. Like another person ask how long do I have to do this?  That kind of lifestyle, that success in lay life, success in building up wealth and glory in life. Very colourful, very beautiful. Enough.

14:40

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: So you had a husband, three sons, a great career, a house, you had it all. Was there something missing?

15:02

DHAMMANANDA: Yes, something was missing, true.

15:10

Dhammananda in monastery grounds

And I spent more than two decades feeling this strange loneliness, not fitting in the world until the time when I was ordained.

15:14

Dhammananda 100%

That’s it. This is what I was seeking for. This is the most meaningful part of my life.

15:28

GFX: Newspaper headlines

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: But Thailand's first fully ordained female monk returned home to a storm of criticism.

SANITSUDA EKACHAI: When she came back, she was fiercely attacked by the clergy and people who didn’t really understand what she’s trying to do. The clergy saw her move as a challenge

15:35

Sanitsuda 100%

of their power. And they couldn’t accept women, you know, as equals.

15:55

Sanitsuda and Mazoe in garden

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Sanitsuda Ekachai is a journalist who writes extensively about Thai Buddhism.

16:00

Sanitsuda 100%

SANITSUDA EKACHAI:  Sexism is very deep rooted in our culture. And organised religion in Thailand, organised Buddhism in Thailand, is not free from that sexism. It is a totally male dominated system. Buddhism in Thailand is tainted by this cultural belief that women are lower than men, socially and spiritually.

16:06

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: You often hear this term "a boys club". Is the monkhood a boys club?

16:35

SANITSUDA EKACHAI:   All boys club, yes. Run by old boys who live in the past and want to maintain it that way, because it’s the system that maintains their power.

16:39

Temple complex. Monks in training

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Temples for male monks are given substantial funds by the Thai government. Boys who enter the monkhood receive a free education, making it a path out of poverty for many.

16:59

Thai nuns

Thai women can become nuns, known as maechi, but they’re not held in the same esteem as monks, receive no financial assistance and cannot be fully ordained.

17:14

Wat Songdhammakalyani

DHAMMANANDA: Wat Songdhammakalyani. Kalyani means women, women who uphold dharma, women who uphold the teaching of the Buddha.

17:34

Novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Anne and Achara are joining eleven other novice candidates at Dhammanada Bhikkhuni’s monastery for three days of study and rehearsals before ordination day.

17:44

There are chants to memorise and precepts to learn. There’s a strict routine around eating, monks aren’t allowed meals after midday.

17:58

And there are chores to do, everyone pitches in.

18:26

Anne and Achara

There’s also time for contemplation.

ANNE LERTPANYAWAI: We have learnt a lot. We are getting into the process of self-transformations; that’s what we learned from Dhammananda.

18:34

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Dhammananda is leading by example - standing up against sexism and showing that women can also be spiritual leaders.

ACHARA: A woman can do it too.

18:48

Men can say anything they want, but if someone, some woman decide to do it, just go for it. Nothing going to stop you, right? Nothing going to stop you and nothing should stop you.

19:01

Male monks

MAZOE FORD, Reporter:  Phra Thamkittimetee says the monkhood isn’t sexist, but he worries about the temptations that might arise if women come into the fold.

19:21

Thamkittimetee 100%

PHRA THAMKITTIMETEE: Even though it’s completely forbidden, there are still many bad incidents of monks being involved with women.  If they were to be in the same temple, could they be prevented from being together?

19:36

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Why couldn’t male monks just behave, as opposed to women being banned?

19:49

PHRA THAMKITTIMETEE: It’s for both sides. Sometimes women can’t suppress temptation and are in search of sex. If male monks can’t get rid of their lust and forget the monastic disciplines, they’ll eventually end up having sex. That will taint the religion’s image.

19:53

GFX: Newspaper headlines

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: That’s already happening. There have been a number of recent saffron scandals, with sex or temple fraud at the centre of most.

20:25

Male monks

Monk numbers have dropped by around 50,000 in recent years, too. Dhammananda believes the way to restore public faith in Buddhism and grow the religion is to work together, but she says the Sangha Council won’t engage with her.

20:36

Dhammananda 100%

DHAMMANANDA: They should appreciate what I do, but I'm afraid from a distance, you know, looking from a distance they might see me as this outspoken nun, you know, this very strong character, that kind of thing. Because in our culture, we are very quiet and we are very tame. And I'm also sweet, but I'm not tame

20:55

Achara and Anne studying

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: It’s the eve of ordination for Achara and Anne.

21:20

ANNE LERTPANYAWAI: A new chapter is about to begin. The day comes, we made it, my journey will be happening tomorrow. 

21:26

ACHARA: This is something I've been waiting for a long time, and I feel good.

21:37

Sunrise

Music

21:48

Friends and family arrive at monastery for ordination ceremony

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Early the next morning, friends and families arrive at the monastery. They’ll play a special role throughout the ordination ceremony. It starts with the women seeking forgiveness from those closest to them.

22:04

Anne with mother

ANNE LERTPANYAWAI: Thank you. if I have done anything bad to you with or without intention, in the present or in the past, please forgive me.

22:27

Novices have hair cut

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: The women’s hair is cut and their heads are shaved to symbolise their rejection of ego and possessions.

22:50

ANNE LERTPANYAWAI: Two months ago I started to think, 'Oh my god, I need to shave my hair. What will I look like?' I kind of get worried about my beauty.  And then I'm just like, beauty is nothing for me anymore.

22:59

Anne has head shaved

Music

23:17

Ordination ceremony

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Ordination ceremonies happen regularly for men in Thailand, and are usually far more elaborate. What’s happening here is understated, but significant.

23:46

DHAMMANANDA: Each step you are certain, you are aware, you are aware that you are making a history. I keep telling them, you know,

24:00

Dhammananda

that, do you realise that you are part of this movement that is going to be written down in the history. We are on the right side of history.

24:10

Novices with saffron robes

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: In Thailand, Buddhist women are told to wear white, never saffron.  But these women are reclaiming the saffron robe. It’s the most important day of their spiritual journey so far.

24:31

Women dressed in saffron robes

The women take their final vows committing to uphold the teachings of the Lord Buddha.

ANNE LERTPANYAWAI: I have changed,

25:15

Anne 100% dressed in saffron robe

and I am now become a daughter of Lord Buddha. Every single moment after this, I need to be careful the way I think, the way I say, the way I act. I need to be a good representative of Buddhism. 

25:28

Anne and others at ceremony, receive alms dishes

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: She’ll stay at the monastery for another week before returning home.

ANNE LERTPANYAWAI: I promised to myself, my family, and my husband, I can't just leave them now, but in the future we never knows, because the futures haven't come yet.

25:49

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Achara is clear about what she wants for her future to travel – to Sri Lanka for full ordination like Dhammananda did.

26:07

Achara 100%

ACHARA: I think I got to go. Whatever it takes, I will do it. Yeah, I will do it. 

26:15

Sunrise

Music

26:21

Women collect alms from community

Music

26:33

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: The community around Dhammananda’s monastery has embraced the women in saffron robes. The morning after ordination locals are waiting to offer the new novices food and other essentials for simple blessings.

26:39

VILLAGE MAN: Generally, they do the same activities as monks. They uphold the precepts and do alms as well. They should be recognised. 

26:57

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Do you feel more comfortable talking to a Bhikkhuni?

VILLAGE WOMAN: Yes, because we're woman, we're the same gender. With monks, we must keep our distance. It’s more difficult to approach them. 

27:12

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: These women are determined to walk their own spiritual paths and they’re not waiting for permission from anyone in the clergy to do it. Instead, they hope the Thai people will recognise them as they devote their lives to their faith. 

27:24

DHAMMANANDA: Things will change. In the teaching of Buddhism, also nothing remains, so it will also change.

MAZOE FORD, Reporter: Do you think you'll see that change in your lifetime?

DHAMMANANDA:  I didn't think that I would see Bhikkhuni in my lifetime. So, yes, it might happen in my lifetime.

27:49

Dhammananda 100%

I need to live long.

28:08

Anne bows to camera

28:11

Achara looks to camera.
Credits [see below]

28:19

Outpoint:

28:42