No. 1221 (Minh Chau dich)

First International Congress of Buddhist Women’s Role in the Sangha to be held in Hamburg

The Buddhist Channel, Nov 8, 2006

Dalai Lama supports the Re-establishment of Full-Ordination for Nuns in Tibetan Buddhist Tradition.

Hamburg, Germany -- The Foundation for Buddhist Studies, Hamburg is holding an International Congress with H. H. XIVth Dalai Lama on July 18/19/20 2007 in Hamburg.

The main theme will be the rights of Buddhists Women within the Sangha and the Re-establishment of full ordination for nuns, as per the tradition of Buddhism in Tibet. This congress will be held in close cooperation with the Asia-Africa-Institute (AAI) of the University of Hamburg.

The Mulasarvastivada transmission line of ordination for nuns in Tibet has been broken for many centuries. The only transmission line of ordination that still exists is the Dharmagupta transmission line, which allows the ordination of nuns in China, Taiwan, Korea and Vietnam. In 1987 H. H. XIVth Dalai Lama demanded the re-establishment of full ordination for nuns in Tibet, as was the previous tradition in the times of the historical Buddha (around 500BC). For many years Buddhist women from around the world have been involved in reviving the ordination for nuns of the Tibetan Sangha, so that they can live and act as fully ordained nuns. There are 130.000 nuns living in various nunneries worldwide.

There have been many discussions over the last years on re-establishing the nuns’ ordination in Tibet, but so far no decision has been reached. On an international level there are many leading scientists, monks, nuns and Buddhists debating the future of nun ordination in Tibet. The objective of this congress is to bring the views and positions of monks and nuns of the Tibetan tradition together with other Buddhist groups, to finally achieve a consensus on the issue. This will then lead to a declaration of the reintroduction of ordination for nuns in Tibet through H. H. XIVth Dalai Lama at the Hamburg congress in 2007.

The re-establishment of nuns’ ordination in Tibet via H. H. XIVth Dalai Lama and the international monks and nuns sanghas will lead to further equality and liberation of Buddhist women. This is a congress of historical significance which will give women the possibility to teach Buddha’s doctrines worldwide.

Confirmed notable speakers include:

• H. H. XIVth Dalai Lama from Tibet
• Maria Jepsen, Evangelic-Lutheric Bishop, Hamburg,
• Ven. Dr. Karma Lekshe Tsomo, President of „Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women“, USA,

Prof. Dr. Peter Skilling, Thailand