Sakyadhita

An organization founded in 1987 whose name means ‘Daughters of the Buddha’. As the name suggests, the organization exists to improve the status of Buddhist women, which it does through the medium of conferences, seminars, and discussion groups. It also publishes the Sakyadhita Newsletter. Membership is open to both laywomen and nuns from all over the world. Since many of the ordination lineages for nuns died out at various points in history, the organization is keen to develop alternative forms of ordination which will allow greater participation by women. The objectives of Sakyadhita, as expressed at its founding meeting in 1987 in Bodhgayā, India, are: (1) to promote world peace through the practice of the Buddha's teachings; (2) to create a network of communications for Buddhist women throughout the world; (3) to promote harmony and understanding among the various Buddhist traditions; (4) to encourage and help educate women as teachers of Buddha-dharma; (5) to provide improved facilities for women to study and practise the teachings; (6) to help establish the bhikṣunī Saṃgha (community of fully ordained nuns) where it does not currently exist.