Seeds of Peace Vol. 35 No. 3 (2020)

Page 57

Book Reviews

Gender and the Path to Awakening: Hidden Histories of Nuns in Modern Thai Buddhism Martin Seeger (Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books, 2018) Sulak Sivaraksa

Among Western scholars of Thai

is understudied. His interview a

Thai Buddhism to read this book. It

Buddhism and culture, Martin

long time ago with P.A. Payutto on

is unfortunate that Seeger did not

Seeger is a rare case. Most of them

the bhikkhuni is worth rereading.

include any bhikkhuni, especially

are often arrogant—overconfident in

Gender and the Path to Awak-

their knowledge and understanding.

ening is an impressive and rich

As a result, they tend to make silly

work. An eye-opener, it centers on

Buddhadasa Bhikkhu avoided

and unnecessary mistakes. A case

the lives of six female practitioners:

the controversy surrounding the

in point is Justin McDaniel’s The

1) Khunying Damrongthammasan

revival of bhikkhuni ordination in

Lovelorn Ghost and the Magical

(Yai Wisetsiri); 2) Mae Boonruean

Siam by calling the ordained ladies

Monk: Practicing Buddhism in

Tongbuntoem; 3) Mae Chi Kaew

Dhammamata. Khun Runjuan In-

Modern Thailand. (Please see my

Sianglam; 4) Mae Chi Nari Karun;

drakamhaeng carried on this legacy,

review of this book in Seeds of

5) Mae Chi Phimpha Wongsa-udom;

and her life is also very interesting.

Peace, Vol. 34, No. 1, Jan.-Apr.

and 6) Mae Chi Soda Sosut.

Bhikkhuni Woramai Kabilasingh, whose life is truly admirable.

I was on good terms with Mae

2018.) On the contrary, Seeger is

Before providing individual

Chi Ging, who played a crucial role

humble. He has learned a lot from

portraits of these six practitioners,

in the construction of Wat Pa-Wiwek

P.A. Payutto and Thai kalyanamitta

Seeger gives a good overview of

in Chonburi province. Hopefully,

like Naris Charaschanyawong. The

“the female in Thai Buddhism.”

someone will write about her. It will

latter is an avid reader and collector

Then he discusses “female saint-

be an important piece. Over three

of rare books on Buddhism. Also,

hood” in contemporary Thai Bud-

decades ago, I wrote about one of

he is truly knowledgeable on

dhism after giving the reader the

her disciples, Pa [Auntie] Plaek in one

Buddhism.

biographies and hagiographies of

of my books, Lorg Krab Sangkhom

these six women.

Pueau Kru [Unveiling Society for

Seeger’s book is therefore free from unnecessary errors. More

I strongly encourage anyone

importantly, he is interested in

who is interested in how women

gender and Buddhism, a topic that

have influenced the development of

Vol. 35 No. 3 September - December 2019

57

Teacher] (1985).


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