Ajahn Brahm talks about his excommunication. With an introduction by Dennis Shepard, president of the Buddhist Society of Western Australia.
Artikel getaggt mit Bodhinaya Monastery
Introduction by Dennis Sheppard, President, Buddhist Society of Western Australia (22 min). Dennis gives a personal account of the circumstances of a formal meeting of Ajahn Brahm as Abbot of Bodhinyana monastery, accompanied by himself as President of the BSWA, with senior monks at Wat Pah Pong monastery in Thailand last Sunday 1st November 2009. The outcome was that Bodhinyana is no longer a branch monastery of Wat Pah Pong, as a direct result of Ajahn Brahm’s recent ordination of four Bhikkhunis (fully ordained nuns). Ajahn Brahm gives a spirited talk on how to deal with the difficulties of life, with his ‘excommunication’ as he light-heartedly calls it as an example. This has no effect on ‘business as usual’ for the BSWA. Keeping things in perspective. Zen master Hakuin story ‘Ah so’ on being treated unfairly. Never allow anyone to control your happiness. How big is my hand? Why sacrifice a friendship of years over a disagreement? Simile of the two bad bricks. Love the imperfections of life. Love your own imperfections. They are all features to make life more interesting, more enjoyable. Being kind, being compassionate, being forgiving, this is the teaching of Buddhism. ‘Ajahn excommunication’. Real Buddhists learn from difficulties, embrace them and accept them as great teachers. Buddha didn’t create a hierarchy. Buddha was asked “Who will be your successor?” His answer was “No one. After I pass away your leader is the Dhamma (teaching) and the Vinaya (rules of discipline)”. These take precedence over monastery rules. For the listener: Skiter, skiting: Australian for a boastful person, boasting. WAM: Western Abbots Meeting. An annual meeting of Western abbots in Ajahn Chah’s family within the Theravadin Buddhist tradition. Wat Pah Pong: The monastery of Venerable Ajahn Chah, under whom Ajahn Brahm trained in Thailand.
MP3: Ajahn Brahm – The Excommunication Tape
Quelle: BSWA
Some Key Remarks made by Ven. Somdet Buddhajahn
In a meeting with a delegation from Wat Nong Pah Pong on 17 Nov. 2009
During a meeting between a delegation of monks representing Wat Nong Pah Pong and the Head of the Acting Council of the Supreme Patriarch of the Thai Sangha, Chao Phra Khun Somdet Buddhajahn, the Wat Nong Pah Pong delegation informed the Somdet that Ven. Ajahn Brahmavamso’s membership of the Wat Nong Pah Pong Sangha had recently been revoked, and that his monastery, Bodhinyana Buddhist Monastery in Perth, Australia, has been delisted as a branch monastery of Wat Nong Pah Pong. Regarding this decision, the Somdet expressed his “anumodana” or blessing of approval, to the Wat Nong Pah Pong Sangha for acting in accordance with the Thai Elders Council and the Thai Sangha Laws.
The representatives of Wat Nong Pah Pong met with Ven. Somdet Buddhajahn on 17 November 2552 at 9 a.m. to seek clarification on a number of issues, particularly following Ajahn Brahmavamso’s subsequent public criticisms of the Wat Nong Pah Pong decision, and his misrepresentation of certain facts surrounding it, and also in light of his references to the alleged approval that the Somdet had given him for the Bhikkhuni ordination of 22 October 2552. During this meeting the Somdet made the following remarks:
By Ajahn Brahmali and the Bodhinyana Sangha
It is a good thing that the issue of bhikkhuni ordination, particularly within the Western Sangha connected with Ajahn Chah’s monastery Wat Pah Pong, is finally being discussed openly. I welcome Ajahn Chandako’s contribution, which is clearly well-intended, and I have no doubt that he is telling the truth as he sees it.
Unfortunately, the issues are quite complex, and there is a long historical process that has led to the present developments. It is only by understanding this process that one can fully appreciate why Ajahn Brahm and the Sangha at Bodhinyana Monastery decided to go ahead with bhikkhuni ordination on October 22nd. Below I will directly respond to most of the points raised by Ajahn Chandako and others.