Theravada Buddhism: Gender’s Right and Ordination in Thai Society

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to study the gender’s right and ordination in Thai society according to Theravada Buddhism. The qualitative study through documentary study, research works, interview, and phenomena observing in Thai society are used for data collection and compiled as an academic article. The results indicate that knowing and studying Buddhism have endowed with no age and gender as shown in the Tipitaka. The Lord Buddha replied to Bhikkhu Ananda that "female can be achieved in this religion." In Thai society, the issue of ordination among women and gender’s right, it is a matter of debate both in the broader sense of the disciplines and the tradition that has never been accepted. It is also a development that is required in diversity and sexuality overall the male gender’ rights to be ordained as monks. They might be rejected in principle, but it is seen in wide pictures in practice. There will be a review of each sexual offense. The groups of women who want to be ordained are not recognized by Theravada Buddhist principles, but in the individuality of the ordination of women, ordination from Sri Lanka, has improved with increasing numbers. The issue of gender’s right and ordaining in Thai society is still a matter of debate. What has become a new body of knowledge is that a more open gender space has emerged; accepting groups that use sex as a sign of their access to religion and express themselves in the social and inaccessible space.