THE POSITION OF NUNS IN THAI BUDDHISM The Parameters of Religious R ecognition Nerida M. Cook Thesis submitted for the Degree of Master of Arts at the Australian National University May 1981
This thesis is my own w o r k and all reference to the w o r k of others has been duly acknowledged.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I owe a debt of gratitude to m a n y people who assisted me during the course of this work. The A u s t ralian National University not only offered me a scholarship, but provided me with generous funds to carry out my research in the Department of Prehistory and Anthropology. I thank Dr Richard Davis, who helped me to see the possibilities of the topic in the early stages of my work, and Professor Anthony Forge has provided supervision over the duration of my study. Dr Baas Terwiel and Dr Gehan W i j e yewardene have both given me the benefit of their own experience in their patient help with this thesis. I also wish to thank Dr Anthony Diller and Mrs Lek McFadden, who gave me an excellent training in the intricacies of the Thai language before m y trip to the field. Dr Diller has also given his time generously to help with translations. Dr Craig Reynolds of the History Department at Sydney University provided sage advice at several stages of this work. The Thais who gave g enerously of themselves and of their time during my field trip are legion. I am very grateful to my sponsor, Khun La'or Mathyakom, and to Khun Vorachai, who both helped me to find my feet in Bangkok. I also thank the staff of the Department of Anthropology at Sinlapakgn University, e specially Aacaan Srisakara and Aacaan Pranii, who helped me not only with much good advice, but also very practical assistance, and who rallied students to provide me with skilled assistance with the a d m i nistration of the questionnaire used. Students of the Department of Social W o r k at Thammasat University also provided expert help for this questionnaire.
Above all I must thank the monks and maechii at Wat Paaknaam, who tolerated persistent enquiries with genuine enthusiasm, for helping me to understand their religion. The abbot and the head of the maechii both helped to make my visit to the wat informative. M a echii La'ong N uang in particular generously gave me the benefits of her experience mixed with that rare degree of understanding w hich makes the field- w o r ker's task both easier and more enriching. Phra Phichaay generously m ade available to me his excellent collection of historical and recent p h otographs of the wat. Khun T r i i t a a a g r e e d to take on the task of introducing me to the wat. Of course, many maechii at the wat befriended me, and made my visits enjoyable. Maechii at the Nuns' Institute found time to answer endless questions in spite of heavy workloads, and Maechii Sumon Yuuyoot hosted m y stay at the Ratburi school for maechii for which she is partly responsible. These maechii shared with me their u n d erstanding of B u ddhism at a coherent level, while ensuring that they did not belittle the beliefs of others. Many other Buddhists, both lay and ordained, took an interest in my work and were enthusiastic in discussing issues with me. Aacaan Sa'aad of Wat T h a m mamongkhon and Phra Chayaphorn of Wat Khryawan gave me the benefit of their considerable knowledge of Buddhist history and practice. Aacaan Chatsumarn Kabilsingh spent much time explaining more esoteric matters of doctrine. Several officers at the Department of Religious Affairs were amenable to interruptions and provided me with information with courtesy. The National Research Council of Thailand kindly granted me permission to carry out research in Thailand.
Finally, I have to thank my family and friends for the e n c o u r a g e ment and help they have given me at all stages of this thesis. They are too many to mention, but I must thank Diane Smith for her superior skills in producing the map in Figure 1. I am deeply indebted to Mr Sanjay Sircar, who gave unstintingly of his time to help clarify both issues and syntax in this thesis at a late stage. Any errors of style or fact are, of course, my own responsibility. v
CONTENTS A c k n o w ledgements List of Figures and Tables iii vii Chapter One Introduction: Women in Early Buddhism 1 Chapter Two Women and Religion in Thailand 25 Chapter Three The M aking of a M e d i t a t i o n Wat 60 Chapter Four Routine and Interaction at the Wat 93 Chapter Five Ritual Practice and Religious Status 123 Chapter Six Chapter Seven Life as a Maechii: Perceptions and Decisions 158 Maechii and the Polity: the Thai Nuns' Institute 195 Chapter Eight Conclusion 225 A ppendix The Lay Precepts 234 G lossary 236 Bibliography 239 vi
LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES Figure 1 Sketch-map of Wat Paaknaam 91 Table 1 O ccupation of parents of monks, novices and maechii at Wat Paaknaam, July 1979 186 Table 2 Occupation of monks n o vices and maechii 186 Table 3 Secular education of monks, novices and maechii prior to ordination 187 Table A Present age of monks, novices and maechii 188 Table 5 Age at ordination of monks, novices and m a echii 188 Table 6 Buddhist education of monks, novices and m a echii since ordination 189 Table 7 Secular education of monks and novices since o r d i nation 190 Table 8 Length of time ordained for monks, novices and m a echii 191 Table 9 Experience as dekwat and as luuksit of monks, novices and m a e c h i i 192 Table 10 Age at o rdination of m onks and maechii with children 193 vii