Bhikkhuni Samgha and Community

On the basis of presentations at a seminar, the volume presents articles on the bhikkuni samgha in Buddhism: the bhikkuni samgha in the past in India and bhikkuni samgha of different communities. The thirty-one articles view the concept of bhikkuni in Buddhism and bhikkuni samgha as an organisation of Buddhist women for socio-spiritual service. They discuss the eight chief rules for the bhikkuni in Buddhism and precepts of social intercourse for a bhikkuni in the Pali Bhikkuni Pacittiya Rules. With notes and references to Buddhist texts as well as modern scholarly works on the subject, they look into the development of bhikkuni samgha and its expansion in North-west Himalayan regions of India, status and position of women at the time of the bhikkuni samgha and women’s spiritual capability.