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).