[Buddha-l] Contemporary issues of monastic Buddhism.

[C S]

Yesterday, a three day International Conference on Sexualities, Genders and 
Rights ended here in Bangkok. Normally, such an event would warrant little 
mention in a forum such as this, save for one paper presented at this 
conference on the legality of gays in the (Thai) monkhood. The paper, 
written by Ven Phra Woratham - a 15 year veteran in robes, raises the issue 
of the arbitrary and discriminatory interpretation of the Sanskrit term 
<i>pandaka</i> in disqualifying prospective gay and transgendered men from 
becoming monks. His position is that this term, which is a bit of a basket 
term for all who are barred from the monkhood as a result of failing to meet 
some canonical requirement, in this context applies only to "those lacking 
male genitalia", but that it is being used arbitrarily and without Tripitaka 
validity, to filter out gays and effeminate candidates from entering the 
monkhood. 
 I wonder how gender issues were handled within the Sangha in the Buddha's 
time.
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