iMEDITATION

*Bhikkhuni ordination provide women the necessary external conducive conditions .

Piti-sukkha ( joy and happiness) arise when you know how to go within. You can feel so content that you don't feel the need to go into the world for stimulation or to feel alive and happy. Piti-sukkha is way better in comparison to worldly enjoyment. However, a suitable condition need to be in place before we can successfully go within in a way that would yield result. For example, if you can arrange to live a life on retreat similar to that of the monks ( time and space ), and you have the right map/ instructions showing you how to go within. In that case you can go within from wherever you are living. Otherwise, it is best to join a monastery or forest refuge where it is set up in a way that give you enough time and space to be in solitude and stillness. Many people cannot arrange to have this kind of life as a householder or from where they are. It is wonderful that the Lord Buddha established an institution to provide the suitable conditions necessary for anyone and everyone to be able to go within themselves and awaken.

The reason it is important to have adequate time and space to be in solitude and not involving in worldly activity is because any little event would reverberate in the mind when you sit down to meditate. Even reading a little joke, or People magazine would cause them to replay and stir up your mind during meditation. Imagine if you engage in other activities and interactions. It takes a day, or two before these thoughts settle and not come up again. If you discontinue engaging in these activities, then your meditation will likely be peaceful again. But if you stop yet take up other activities and interaction then the mind will continue to be stirred. When it comes to meditation a suitable condition that allow for a lot of time and space to be in solitude and stillness, without a lot of activities or interaction like that of the monk is very important.


* Bhikkhuni ordination is in harmony with the Buddha's vinaya.

When it comes to rules or vinaya, it is not enough to  know what the rule is but also the reason behind it to see the full picture. Otherwise it is easy to follow the rule to the letter yet missing the spirit of the rule. This could render the practice of the rule pointless. Also by not examining or understanding the reason behind a rule we can apply it in the wrong way and can create unnecessary complication for ourselves and others. The Buddha was said to constantly reminds his listeners that it is the spirit that counts.


What is the reason the Buddha said that a female monastic acting as a pavattini is also needed during the bhikkhuni ordination ceremony ?

It is simply because there are certain personal things that the new bhikkhuni needed to recite. Due to the nature of the content of the recitation, it can be uncomfortable to recite it to a male . Therefore it was suggested that the female monastic is also needed so she can recite this to a female instead. Just so it wouldn't be too uncomfortable for the bhikkhuni to be. At first , just the bhikkhu sangha is fine .Other than that minor reason, there is nothing wrong with the original procedure of ordination by bhikkhus only. Therefore, the Buddha didn't revoke it. 

Given the reason, if there are bhikkhunis available then it is best to use the dual ordination procedure to avoid any feelings of awkwardness the new bhikkhuni might experience. If there is no more bhikkhunis to carry out the dual ordination procedure, then simply use the original ordination procedure with bhikkhus only. If the new bhikkhuni is not uncomfortable with it, then ordination by bhikkhu only is faultless. 

* Bhikkhuni ordination give women the religious freedom and equal opportunity to embark on the Middle Way.