Landmark Supreme Court Ruling Affirms Equal Rights for Buddhist Bhikkhunis in Sri Lanka

https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/special-report-landmark-supreme-court-ruling-affirms-equal-rights-for-buddhist-bhikkhunis-in-sri-lanka/

“It is obvious that if the first petitioner (the bhikkhuni) had been male, she would not have encountered these difficulties,” Justice Amarasekera observed. “She has been denied recognition as a bhikkhuni, despite being acknowledged as such by the Rangiri Dambulu Buddhist Chapter to which she belongs, an order recognized by the government. Hence, it is clear that her rights under Article 12(1) of the Constitution have been violated by the actions and conduct of the first respondent.”

42 Likes

Finally! Those are really great news!

11 Likes

I just came here to share this too.

It’s great to see this if finally happening

15 Likes

Amazing! :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

Oh! Apparently I have to say more than just “amazing” in order for this post to be more than 20 characters. But it is truly wonderful news.

With Much Metta & Mudita,
Acalā Bhikkhunī

12 Likes

Woo Hoo!!!

Acknowledging imperfection, our Path calls us to focus on and grow what is good. Looking carefully at our texts, it is obvious, the Lord Buddha wanted the other 3 assemblies (monks, laywomen and laymen) to promote and support the assembly of Bhikkhunīs. I for one, wouldn’t want to feel I was on the other side of the Lord Buddha’s guidelines. Here, just and good laws of the laity, are supportive of the monks of the Rangiri Dambulu Buddhist Chapter - the 3 assemblies, following the Buddha’s guidelines.

With gratitude and respect
Bhikkhunī Vimutti

12 Likes

Isnt that monastic administration or affairs should be resolved within the monastic community or the sangha themselves (ie : monks or nuns) . Now with the involvement of secular laws taking part intervening in it that is agaisnt the setting of the vinaya .

This allows for bhikkhuni’s to have access to things like free public transport and other government services, previously only available to bhikkhus.

This is not something that can be just resolved within the sangha.

11 Likes

The government is already involved. The protection of Buddhism is written into the constitution.

If you read the article you can see that the decision is based on the Sangha’s recognition of bhikkhunis.

3 Likes

Ah this is not related to the problem of vinaya or monastics . This is the issue due to the ordinances of government .

Does it force monasteries to recognise her as such? We should always be careful of the state interfering in religions. I mean, even here in the U.K. the state hasn’t forced the Catholic Church to ordain women.

I don’t know the answer to your question, but you may be comparing two different things here? In the UK we have two state religions as far as I know, the Church of England and the Church of Scotland, but neither of these are the Roman Catholic Church, whereas I think that the state religion in Sri Lanka may be referred to as ‘Theravada’, but I don’t know which sects that covers. Because of the close connection in the UK between the UK parliament and the Church of England we do see some laws that compel the CoE to behave in certain ways that are not imposed on other churches.

1 Like

Did you have anything specific in mind?

1 Like

This topic is to celebrate the equal rights for Sri Lankan Buddhist Bhikkhunis. Please stay on THIS topic. Thank you :slight_smile:

8 Likes

Sanghamitta, daughter of Ashoka brought Buddhism and the bhikkhuni order to Sri Lanka, so this is good in many ways, in my opinion.

:sri_lanka:

1 Like

Presumably this is still just some Sanghas, since he article states:

Although the bhikkhuni lineage has since been reestablished in modern Sri Lanka, it is still not officially recognized by the country’s dominant monastic institutions.