Names of Famous Buddhist Women

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Buddhism is a religion that has spread to the four corners of the world for more than a decade. In the Western world, this belief enjoys a reputation for openness and tolerance. But does this also apply to positions performed by women?

The most common female Buddhist names

Thousands of children are born every day around the world, the majority of them girls. As Buddhist belief now occupies an important place in some communities, Buddhist female names are increasingly chosen by parents. Here are some of them with their meaning:

Bhasundara which refers to the Tibetan goddess of prosperity;
Amala which means Honorable Mother;
Ceba which means to cherish;
Chesa which represents greatness;
Chewa which represents strength and power;
A diet that means eternity;
Choden which means sincerity;
Denchen, which refers to health and happiness;
Gawa means joy.

Indeed, each first name corresponds to a positive emotion or designates a goddess.

Missions in Buddhism for women

As in other religions, the structures as well as the designations of functions are varied in Buddhism. This variation is usually due to differences in the traditions and cultures of the host countries. This tradition gives a horizontal figure to the organizational structures of monasteries.

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However, in some countries, Buddhists break away from tradition and act autonomously in monasteries. In other countries, the state appoints officials to control monastic life and sometimes they participate in the appointment of high dignitaries. This is the case of Thailand and China. Note that Buddhist spiritual leaders are lay people and monks. In the case of the Tibet region, monks are sometimes civil servants.

The meaning of Buddhist monastic life for women

In a religious context, the average age to enter the monastery is seven years old and to enter ordination, one must be twenty years old. This age group is valid for men, but for Buddhist women, two years of training followed by a trial period is necessary before reaching the order of ordination. Ordination in Buddhism refers to the liturgical act conferred on a monk or nun. The person undergoing ordination is usually motivated by a desire to be free from birth and death.

There are two types of ordination in Buddhism, full ordination and novitiate ordination. Both are distinguished by their welcome within the monasteries or the monastic community known as “pravrajya”. Indeed, monks and nuns are distinguished from laity by their clothing, their robes draped over their shoulders and left arms, and their completely shaved heads.

Rules to be respected by monks and nuns

Ten rules apply to novices, they are valid for Buddhist men and women. Violation of any of these rules could result in serious consequences, either through temporary suspension or exclusion from the order. There are still some errors considered minor, which can be purified by a fortnightly confession ceremony during the full moon or new moon.

But for full ordination the rules are different, monks must follow 227 to 253 rules, and for nuns it is 311 to 364 rules. The four common prohibitions are murder, robbery, sex, and supernatural abilities. For nuns, they must obey the following rules: tolerance of promiscuity for sexual relations, tolerance of close physical contact, ignorance of the main fault of another nun and respect for a monk suspended by order of monks.

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Order of nuns, like that of monks

Unlike a monk, a nun does not have the possibility of re-entering the order for any reason, whether through fault or of her own free will. Ordained nuns must lead a life of chastity, that is, a pure life. Buddha belonged to the Sakya clan and the five hundred women from the same clan were the first women who achieved full ordination. Like monks, nuns must be patient and respect non-violence. This instruction is structured as follows:

“From today, this applies to you:

If you are insulted, do not insult him.

If someone is angry with you, don't react with anger.

If someone hits you, don't hit back.

If someone makes fun of you, don't react by making fun of them."

When the ordained take their vows, it means they have achieved ordination. It should be noted that this ordination requires compliance with the rules until the end of their life.

Tara, the benevolent Buddhist woman

Tara is a female Bodhisattva, that is to say a wise Buddhist who has reached all the degrees of perfection except the last which will make her a Buddha. In the 10th century, this Buddhist woman became a deity for many Buddhists. Native to Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism, she is considered the protective and caring Buddhist mother. His first name was given to him by Buddha himself.

As a liberating being, she assists Bodhisattva with Compassion. It is therefore an embodiment of compassion. The goddess promised to devote her life to the welfare of humanity. She protects people from dangers, guides them, accompanies them and encourages them throughout their lives. Tara is also proof that women and men can achieve enlightenment.