Síladhará: A Theravádin Nun in the West

Abstract

The objective of “Síladhará: A Theravádin Nun in the West” is to present a practical way of Síladhará which have been established firstly in England in 1983 by Ajahn Sumedho, the founder of Chithurst Monastery and the first western disciple of Ajahn Chah, Wat Nong Pah Pong. The process of Síladhará training aimed to develop the internal structure of a western nun community in the way that dhamma and vinaya could be pin Theravádin tradition way, and also they could support Buddhism as one part of the fourfold assembly (the catuparisá). This presentation shows that the potential of Síladhará as an alternative way of ordained women in crossing the gendered boundary and being trained themselves to be the field of merit for lay people. With impeccable virtue conduct, Buddhist knowledge and religious performances, Síladhará have proved themselves to achieve religious legitimacy as one part of the fourfold assemblies of The Lord Buddha.