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Thai Maechi Institute
(under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen) |
What is a Maechi?
- Maechi are white robed women who live some form of homeless monastic life in
pursuit of spiritual growth and realization. Due to the limitations of a patriarchal
society and sexist monastic hierarchy, many maechi are given little support and
recognition. Yet they provide many of the services that keep monasteries running:
cleaning, cooking, sewing robes, overseeing nursery schools, advising lay people, and
overseeing various activities. Nonetheless, they are seen as inferior to the monks and not
allowed to teach publicly in many monasteries.
- For these reasons, many maechi are starting nunneries independent of monasteries.
In them, they demonstrate that maechi have all the capabilities of monks: study,
teaching, chanting, and administration.
- Teenage girls can become maechi and are not formally distinguished from their
older sisters (as novices monks are distinguished from their sisters). Some nunneries
provide schools for these young maechi, some of whom come from very poor families
and enter the nunhood in search of an education. In prostitution plagued northern
Thailand, this is an excellent way to protect girls from the flesh trade.
- We have had a few inquiries from foreigners about being a Maechi in Siam. Some of my responses are collected here. Please remember that
these are the views of an American monk and may not reflect the opinions of Thai Maechis.
What is the Thai Maechi Institute?
- The Thai Maechi Institute was formed to provide a forum for Maechi
from all over Thailand to work for their mutual well-being and spiritual growth, as well
as for Buddhism in general. The Institute has an active Secretariat that serves its
sisters in various ways, especially regarding the education of young maechi.
- The Thai Maechi Institute is under the Royal Patronage of Her
Majesty the Queen and has its office in Wat Boworn Niwes, the temple of the current
Supreme Patriarch of Siam.
Some Nunneries of Friends
Please visit
Sathira
Dhamma Comunity, Bangkok
Please visit
Dhammacarini Vidya North
School, Lampoon (North)
Please visit
Khao
Phra Dhamma Center, Supanburi (Central)
Wat Panompanawas,
Chachoengsao (East)
Wat Dhammanimitta,
Cholburi (East)
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Evolution/Liberation