In the Buddhist religion, men can become monks but women are not allowed to convert as monks. There was a provision for women to convert as monks even at the time of Lord Gautam Buddha. But, it is strange that the same provision has been overshadowed and now women are not allowed to become monks. After 100 years of the death of Lord Buddha, this tradition has elapsed in the Therwadi Buddha Community. In the present context of eradicating all gender discriminations from the society, the question of whether women can or cannot become monks arises vividly.
At present, although there are no women monks in Therwadi Buddhism, there is a term known as ‘Anagarika’ which refers to women who leave their homes and exercise the religion in a ‘Bihar’, temple of Buddha. Anagarikas can also be found in Nepal as well as other Buddhist countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar and Taiwan. They are given the same respect as other monks. Anagarika Dhammawati is one woman monk among other Nepali individuals struggling for the recognition of women monks. Some Angarikas have gone abroad to become monks after the association of monks did not recognize women monks in Nepal. According to Anagarika Dhammawati, the patriarchal society is the main obstruction in accepting women as monks. The Angarikas are not recognized as Therwadi -monks since they became monks through the ‘Mahayani’ tradition in the United States.
There were no women monks in the initial stages of Buddhism. The tradition of establishing women monks came into practice after much pressure from the society on Lord Gautam Buddha. But, this practice was not given continuity since there were no women who wanted to convert as monks. It is believed that Buddha himself said that the Buddhist religion would run five thousand years with only men monks and it would run half of that time with the inclusion of women monks since Buddha felt that there would be conflict after women became monks. The men monks did not give much attention to women converting to monks since there were not many women who wanted to become monks. But, Prof. Dr. Naresh Man Vajracharya, the head of department of Buddhist Studies in Tribhuvan University expresses his doubts on this theory. The sayings of Lord Buddha were only recorded later. He thinks that the desire of Lord Buddha on converting women into monks was not based on reality but was added later. He adds that what Lord Buddha expressed on women becoming monks does not match with his preaching. Therefore, the non-recognition of women monks is only the result of the Therwadi tradition. The Therwadi community believes that the sayings of Lord Buddha cannot be modified and due to this belief, women are banned from becoming monks. Otherwise, women have been given roles and rights to use the Buddhist religion.
It is believed that Buddha first started the tradition of women monks in India after which it spread to Sri Lanka and then to China. This tradition faded in Sri Lanka but it has been given continuity in China. According to Kumar Kashyap Mahasthabir, former Chairperson of All Nepal Monk Association who conducted a research on women monks, the rules and regulations to become women monks are different and harsher than the ones outlined before. Therefore, it can be said that the tradition has not been given continuity.A few years back, women monks from Sri Lanka identified themselves as women monks in an interview in Sarana, India. But, the elder monks of Sri Lanka did not recognize them as monks. Only the younger generations of monks have recognized them and this has become one of the issues for debate in Sri Lanka.
Monk Aswaghosh Mahasthabir is not satisfied with the present beliefs. His argument is that the provision of Anagarika was set up separately for women so that women could not become monks and this practice was not prevalent when Lord Buddha was alive. Kumar Kashyap Mahasthabir has no objection to women becoming monks. He feels that this will further strengthen the religion. But, it is a difficult decision since the history of the particular community does not go back too far and the numbers of devotees are also less in Nepal. He feels that it would be better if countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar were included for discussion the issue.In order to become a monk, permission has to be taken from the association of monks. Gyanpurnik Mahasthabir, Secretary of the association feels that women cannot become monks since association of women monks does not exist. Lord Buddha had given the monks themselves the responsibility of accepting women monks and the same could be done in the present context. The newer generations of monks feel that a women monk association could be established.