Becoming a Monk: Are Transgender People Welcome?

Discussion of ordination, the Vinaya and monastic life. How and where to ordain? Bhikkhuni ordination etc.
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manas
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Re: Becoming a Monk: Are Transgender People Welcome?

Post by manas »

Ryan wrote:
gavesako wrote:Amazing Thailand!
Indeed! Perhaps, weird Thailand!
Ryan,

a culture that treats transgender folk with more equity than it would appear ours does, isn't what I would call 'weird', but rather, fair-minded and decent.

kind regards
manas
To the Buddha-refuge i go; to the Dhamma-refuge i go; to the Sangha-refuge i go.
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Ryan
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manas
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Re: Becoming a Monk: Are Transgender People Welcome?

Post by manas »

Ryan wrote:
manas wrote:Ryan,

a culture that treats transgender folk with more equity than it would appear ours does, isn't what I would call 'weird', but rather, fair-minded and decent.

kind regards
manas
I found it weird for having serious issues when a few normal females were given ordination and not so in a case of a transgender. Wonder where was the fair-minded decency. :thinking:

Thai alternative for a bhikkhuni: plus and minus few things to and from the female body and those who oppose bhikkhunis might ordain them, of course, as bhikkhus!!! :D

kind regards :)
Ah I see, I misunderstood your intent with that jibe. Anyway I was just referring to this that Bhante wrote, that the Thai Sangha might actually be more easygoing about TG folk ordaining, than the Western offshoots:
Bhante wrote:This is a bit of a controversial topic for the Vinaya experts, and I don't think that we would allow such a person to become a monk in the Western Sangha. But in Thailand there are always more options... Amazing Thailand!
kind regards
manas
To the Buddha-refuge i go; to the Dhamma-refuge i go; to the Sangha-refuge i go.
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Mr Man
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Re: Becoming a Monk: Are Transgender People Welcome?

Post by Mr Man »

manas wrote:
Ryan wrote:
gavesako wrote:Amazing Thailand!
Indeed! Perhaps, weird Thailand!
Ryan,

a culture that treats transgender folk with more equity than it would appear ours does, isn't what I would call 'weird', but rather, fair-minded and decent.

kind regards
manas
Transgender are treated as a third gender by Thai society. The gender of birth is upheld by law in Thailand so there would be no possibility of a female to male being allowed to ordain as a Bhikkhu. From a legal prospective there is no Bhikkuni Sangha in Thailand so there would not be a possibility of a male to female ordaining as a nun.

From a legal perspective transgender folk would have more rights and acceptance in the UK. Possibly socially there would also be more acceptance of a woman living as a man (or vice versa) rather than as a separate "third" gender.
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Sokehi
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Re: Becoming a Monk: Are Transgender People Welcome?

Post by Sokehi »

It's a pity that we have to rely on conventions in some way that prohibit certain sexual orientations or genders from ordaining at various places and under differing circumstances. Ah samsara... :(
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