Pioneers of the Bhikkhuni Order

[retrofuturist]

Greetings all,

A while ago I reading Radhika Abeysekera's "Relatives and Disciples of the Buddha" and really enjoyed hearing some of the historical stories about what led the Buddha's disciples to go forth into the monastic life, and how the achieved great spiritual feats once joining the order.

It was also good to learn a little more about Khema (the first female chief disciple of the Buddha - female equivalent of Sariputta) and Uppalavanna (the second female chief disciple - female equivalent of Maha Moggallana) and what role they played in the initial successes of the bhikkhuni order.

For anyone interested in learning more about Khema, Uppalavanna and other early prominent female disciples of the Buddha, I recommend the following online resources:

Pt. III - Great Female Disciples (from "Relatives and Disciples of the Buddha") by Radhika Abeysekera
http://www.budsas.org/ebud/rdbud/rdbud-03.htm

Buddhist Women at the Time of The Buddha by Hellmuth Hecker
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... el292.html

Bhikkhuni-samyutta (Discourses of the Ancient Nuns)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... bl143.html

Inspiration from Enlightened Nuns - Susan Elbaum Jootla
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... el349.html

Therigatha · Verses of the Elder Nuns
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... index.html

Metta,
Retro.

[David N. Snyder]

Great links to some info on the Great bhikkhunis of Buddhism.

I especially like the stories of Dhammadinna, a nun who surpassed her (former) husband as she became an arahant. One of the many examples of how Buddhism can be seen as non-sexist.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

One of my favourite suttas features venerable Dhammadinna...

MN 44 - Culavedalla Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

Metta,
Retro.

[David N. Snyder]

Definitely, a good one.

The last part is classic:

Then Visakha the lay follower, delighting & rejoicing in what Dhammadinna the nun had said, bowed down to her and, keeping her to his right, went to the Blessed One. On arrival, having bowed down to the Blessed One, he sat to one side. As he was sitting there he told the Blessed One the full extent of the conversation he had had with Dhammadinna the nun. When this was said, the Blessed One said to him, "Dhammadinna the nun is wise, Visakha, a woman of great discernment. If you had asked me those things, I would have answered you in the same way she did. That is the meaning of those things. That is how you should remember it."

[Ben]

Buddhist Women at the Time of The Buddha by Hellmuth Hecker
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... el292.html

I have read this one and it is excellent. It is also in the book 'Great Disciples of the Buddha'.
Kind regards

Ben