It is very nice to discover pertinent and inspiring things through witnessing the contributions made here by Ajahn @Brahmali and Venerable @acala I won’t go too much into what I’ve found pertinent. But here’s what’s inspiring:
-
Two beautiful monastics that I respect a great deal are giving freely, kindly and clearly of themselves in service of the Dhamma. They are giving of their knowledge and their lived experience. I love how it’s been calm, kind and genuine. Thank you both.
-
There is a deep love for the Dhamma here.
Ajahn, I love your motivation - not just as a friend to Bhikkhunis - but as a guardian of the Buddha’s words. It’s so clear that you really want to discover what our incredible teacher said. The consequences of living what is not Buddhavacana, not just for gender equity, could be - when one truly considers it carefully - potentially catastrophic.
- The sharing of a lived experience, by a Bhikkhuni of some years standing, is truly wonderful to receive.
Venerable, I love that you have chosen to participate in this discussion and have added your voice, your experience and your feelings in service of truth. Truth, so we have been told and so we are all open to learning, is this amazing ultimate thing that sets us free - but it is also the humble act of being open and loving to what each one of us brings to a discussion. I feel that in adding your voice, you are giving us all the opportunity to listen with love and openness - somehow, for me, that is what your voice here inspires. Thank you.
Many things evidence the genius of the Buddha. One is that all monastic communities are independent. So we can honour the actual ‘present moments’ (as it were) and lived experiences of actual breathing, flawed, human and truly genuine truth seekers, however it is they are conditioned to view the Dhamma and monastic life.
This means we can actually discuss things without feeling like anyone is forced or being forced. There is no threat in having a different view.
Not here anyway. It’s just a computer screen you are interacting with - as well as whatever you are currently projecting/perceiving as you read these little characters typed on this blankness.
There is no threat. But if we hold two things gently - the Dhamma (from the EBTs etc.) as well as Metta for each other - we can remain open to learning and growing in both Dhamma and in Metta. Which I feel, knowing what little I can actually claim to know of both these outstanding monastics, is that this is what they both want more than anything else.
If we assume that we all love the Dhamma and want to genuinely practise it, then it’s not hard to have a sincere dialogue - calmly and respectfully and with restraint. So thank you both for the valuable, wonderful contributions here. I feel you are role models for us all; I look forward to reading/hearing more such discussions either here or elsewhere This forum is called Discuss and Discover - it’s a name that sets a high standard and arguably, this is one of the few conversations that, live up to it. It’s a pleasure and inspiration to witness such discussions.
I was going to say ‘debate’, but ‘discussion’ is more accurate. ‘Debate’ implies a vested interest in an outcome, even if just to win the argument - but I don’t believe there is one here, not for me anyway. ‘Discussion’ is open and free, is not so limited by the parameters we set by the ideals we hold dear when we argue, and discussion can potentially lead to the most wonderful and unexpectedly beautiful outcomes. And there’s no rush either. Debates have to be tied up within certain time frames…we ‘want’ and so we are heated and rushed. In an unhurried discussion, things evolve, mature, change and gentleness has a greater chance of influencing the course of things.
At the end of the day, we want happy monastics, practising correctly, for the sake of extinguishment. The form, the container, its various expressions and negotiations are only there in service of what we individuals bring to it - it is a vehicle to be used, to see what we are and what we value and what the Buddha offers to us as we discover these things. So let’s share in good faith. Let’s applaud different communities as they genuinely practise from a place of love for the Triple Gem - even if it might not be how our community does things.
Thank you all for sharing here, particularly I feel personally grateful to Ajahn Brahmali and Venerable Acala. You’re both pretty cool.
With much respect and metta