Indispensable for dispensation: The agency and experience of Buddhist nuns in the early history of the bhikkhunī saṅgha

Abstract

The entry of women into Buddhist monasticism was permitted with great reluctance and a special set of rules. Within the disciplinary framework of institutional subordination, Buddhist nuns created spaces that provided women with spiritual opportunities away from social and domestic ties. Although monks dominated both the Buddhist saṅgha and religious texts, the earliest nuns worked assiduously and creatively to strengthen their practice. This article explores early Buddhist texts to unravel gendered monastic experiences. The nuns could not have registered a vital presence in the history of Buddhism if they had remained passive members. Social relations before they joined the order, as well as the newly forged bonds within, played a significant role in their progress in comprehending and observing spiritual practices. When seen on their own terms, the position and contribution of nuns appear stronger and more agentive than has been usually assumed.