Posted on 08/14/2016 7:39:27 PM PDT by Rebelbase
For centuries, Buddhist nuns have been banned from practicing the deadly martial art of kung fu, but a few years ago the Druk Amitabha Mountain nunnery in Nepal became the home of the worlds first first order of kung fu nuns.
Traditionally, the inherently patriarchal Buddhist monastic system has nuns performing only the most meanial of domestic tasks, while the monks can lead prayers and occupy powerful positions. Nuns are perceived as inferior to monks and usually spend their time working in the kitchens and gardens of Buddhist monasteries. Learning ancient martial arts is definitely off limits for them, so how did the nuns of Druk Amitabha Mountain nunnery come to practice kung fu up to two hours every day?
Roughly 26 years ago, members of the of the 800-year-old Drukpa order rebelled and formed the Druk Amitabha Mountain nunnery, a place where women are treated with the same respect as men. When I was very small, I was already thinking that it was not right to suppress women in our society, His Holiness The Gyalwang Drukpa, leader of the Buddhist sect, says. But then when I grew up, I started to think what can I do for them? Then I thought what I can do is to build a nunnery and then give them an opportunity to study and practice spiritually.
(Excerpt) Read more at odditycentral.com ...
:shrug:
What can I say? I’ve both read this and heard it myself from teachers. Long ago, though. If I can find it online I’ll post it.
It’s not that important but thanks for offering. It’s just that I’ve heard those accusations yet have seen none of it nor had it confirmed by those Tibetans I know in the 18 years I’ve been a Buddhist. Actually 22 years that I’ve been listening to my teacher’s stories.
So when you put it all together, it's not a reach to have Americans get freaked out of their mellow when they come face to face with themselves and their teacher gives them nowhere to hide. I've been there myself, many times. I'm just not surprised about it anymore when it happens. But I was quite impressed that the Dalai Lama cared enough about the problem to address it with so much compassion.
That was a fascinating comment, thanks.
Did you ever meet his mamalama?
Folks think it competes against Christianity. I disagree. I have met several Baptists who are also Buddhists.
I understand. My clumsiness for calling them accusations. I would agree with your points.
I heard a similar story about the Dalai Lama’s first encounter with westerner’s low self-esteem. I don’t recall details of the discussion now but he was speaking with some western students and teachers and someone asked him about self-esteem in some way. He was perplexed, an eye-blinking wtf moment. They had to explain low self-esteem to him and he then explained that Tibetans don’t feel sorry for themselves and he had never heard of such a thing. At least not as a widespread cultural phenomenon.
I don’t see a conflict either but some do. That is their choice.
Long before I became a Buddhist I believed in employing whatever helped. Which is not to say that I haven’t rejected a lot of good advice and still do sometimes but I’ve always tried to find better ways to do things.
Nuns are perceived as inferior to monks and usually spend their time working in the kitchens and gardens of Buddhist monasteries.
Not sure where they got this but food prep and service
have always been a part of Buddhist learning for nuns
and monks.
Interesting that they are allowed to date from time to time, as long as no one gets in the habit.
That would make a bad habit.
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