The idea of becoming ordained happened quite abruptly. I was already in my 50s. I liked putting on make-up in the morning and looking at myself in the mirror. I was wearing lipstick, eye lashes, ...

Rasicot (Finding Venerable Mother) presents a flattering and digressive biography of Bhikkhuni Dhammananda (born Chatsumarn Kabilsingh), who in 2003 became the first modern Thai woman to receive full ...

Stephen Crittenden: Welcome to The Religion Report. Today we ask whether mining, nuclear power, the forest industry and GM foods are compatible with a Christian view of the environment. Ian Hore-Lacy, ...

BANGKOK — Chatsumarn Kabilsingh gave up her husband, family life and a distinguished career to walk the path of the Lord Buddha. It has led her into a sharp conflict over the lowly and unequal status ...

When faced with adversity, Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, formerly Assoc Prof Chartsumarn Kabilsingh, draws her strength and inner peace from the teachings of Lord Buddha. Her parents have also influenced her ...

There are about 200,000 Buddhist monks in Thailand. None are women. Thai Buddhism's governing body says women cannot be ordained. But as Michael Sullivan reports, a growing number of women are hacking ...

Dhammananda, a 72-year-old Thai woman, is forbidden from hugging her sons. She’s never been able to chase her giggling grandchildren around the room. Both acts are forbidden by the strict Buddhist ...

Venerable Dhammananda Thích Phuoc Ngoc Thero, who received the Official state of the Sri Lankan Buddhist Sangha and became the first Vietnamese dignitary of the Sri Lankan Sangha community, and also a ...

In this Aug. 23, 2015, photo, women Buddhist monks stand beneath an image of Buddha at the Songdhammakalyani Monastery in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. The Venerable Dhammananda likes to say that “Buddha ...