Compass – Buddha Realms, Part 1

Clip 2: Women and Buddhism

1 min 47 sec

Taken from the TV program Compass – Buddha Realms, Part 1 (2001)

Original title classification PG – this clip chosen to be PG

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Availability of the complete title

Curator’s clip description

Traditionally women are seen as unclean and an obstacle to a monk’s development as a Buddhist. This is the story of Thailand’s first female monk who fights for the rights of women Buddhists, against the old system.

Curator’s notes

All the world’s great religions have a paternalistic view of women. Buddhism, sadly, seems to be no exception. The clip neatly contrasts the impressive, intelligent and articulate female monk with some less impressive male monks. Thailand’s first female monk, who had to travel to Sri Lanka to be ordained, speaks with passion about leading the life of an ordained person, a life she’d encourage other women to take up. But a Thai Buddhist monk says that ordaining women is against the laws of nature. Now where have we heard that argument before?

Janet Bell, curator

australian screen