Do you feel sad that the Theravada have not ordained any bhikkhuni over the past few centuries? Do you think this will ever change? Have you ever considered following the Mahayana or Vajrayana path instead?
[I am not proselytising for either of the latter, I am just curious as to how Theravadin women feel about this issue.]
I've heard a few ideas as to why such is the case. From not wanting to be distracted by supervising women to not wanting to be accused of gender discrimination with the two sets of rules...one for men one for women.
History tells us the Buddha was not in favor of women nuns.
Ananda, so the story goes, was the one that persuaded the Buddha to accept women into the sangha as nuns.
Also the lobbying of the Buddha's step Mom was mentioned as a factor in persuading the Buddha to change his mind to allow an order of nuns to be organized.
But it was only after the much advocacy and lobbying of the Buddha's that this took place at the first council.
Ananda seemed to appreciate the finer qualities of women and so had a vested interest it seems in offering equal or semi equal opportunity to women.
An interesting story about Ananda and his trials and tribulations with women.
"At that time, because Ánanda was receiving alms in sequential order, he passed by a house of prostitution and was waylaid by a powerful artifice. On the strength of Kapilas mantra, which came from the Brahma Heaven, the daughter of Matangi drew him onto an impure mat. With her licentious body she caressed him until he was on the verge of destroying the precept-substance. The Tathágata, knowing Ananda was being taken advantage of by an impure artifice, finished the meal and immediately returned to the Sublime Abode. The king, great officials, elders, and laypeople followed along after the Buddha desiring to hear the essentials of the Dharma. Then the World Honored One from his crown emitted hundreds of rays of jeweled light, which dispelled all fear. Within the light appeared a thousand-petal jeweled lotus, upon which was seated a transformation-body Buddha in full-lotus posture, proclaiming a spiritual mantra. Shakyamuni Buddha commanded Manjushri to take the mantra and go provide protection, and, when the evil mantra was dispelled, to support Ánanda and Matangis daughter and encourage them to return to where the Buddha was."
From:
http://www.buddhistinformation.com/shurangama_sutra.htm
Take care,
V (Male)
Agnostic Freethinker
Practical Philosopher
AA#2