Foreign Correspondent: Aug 4

Foreign Correspondent’s Mazoe Ford reports from Thailand on  two women as they embark on a deeply spiritual quest to reclaim the saffron robe.

Across Thailand a quiet revolution is underway.

Hundreds of women are defying generations of Thai tradition and ordaining as Theravada Buddhist monks.

‘Woman can do it too, not only man. Men can say anything they want, but if woman decide to do it, just go for it. Nothing going to stop you.’ Achara Ratanakasin, novice monk candidate.

Under the current rules in Thailand, only men are officially able to be ordained as monks. For women, it’s forbidden.

The governing body for monks, the Supreme Sangha Council, maintains that women can’t be ordained because female monks never existed in Thailand.

‘The monk’s law doesn’t endorse them. Therefore, they can’t be ordained. If they are ordained, it is considered an offense to Buddha.’ Phra Thamkittimetee, Buddhist Protection Society of Thailand.

At the forefront of this growing movement in Thailand is the Venerable Dhammananda. In 2003, the former academic became the country’s first Theravada Buddhist female monk but to be ordained, she had to travel to Sri Lanka.

‘We are asking for ordination, you are not giving it to us, that’s fine. So we go somewhere else.’ Venerable Dhammananda Bhikkhuni.

As the Abbess of Thailand’s first all-female monastery, she’s now offering temporary ordination to other women.

In this moving episode of Foreign Correspondent, Southeast Asia correspondent Mazoe Ford follows two Thai women as they embark on a deeply spiritual quest to reclaim the saffron robe.

‘A new chapter is about to begin … it’s probably the only thing that I believe that can make me a better person.’ Wanida ‘Anne’ Lertpanyawai, novice monk candidate.

‘I keep telling them, you are part of this movement that is going to be written down in history… we are on the right side of history.’ Venerable Dhammananda Bhikkhuni.

Producer: Anne Worthington

8pm Thursday on ABC.