Hang Chansophea
Independent Researcher
After the Paris Peace Agreement on 23 October 1991, Cambodian nuns and laywomen participated and facilitated in the Buddhist peace march lead by Moha Ghosananda. The purpose was to chant for the Buddha and world peace, lead Cambodians to peace, and an end to the civil war. Buddhist monks are leaders or offer advice on Buddhism, but Cambodian nuns and laywomen are the ones who organize events, do fundraising and promote people’s participation. Sometimes when discussing Buddhism in Cambodia reference is only made the role of Buddhist monks. But in practice, there are many Buddhism women who have done more work to help society, committing their life to follow the Buddha’s advice, especially to help vulnerable women to have a better life by performing fundraising activities for public buildings, such as community bridges, schools, wells and fundraising for Buddhist building such as vihears (Buddhist monastery) and other buildings.
In 1995, Queen Mother, Norodom Monineath Sihanouk organized the “Cambodian Nuns and Laywomen Association”, a non-profit, non-political organization to build the capacity of Cambodian women in social humanities and dharma, help reduce social stress for all Cambodians, build kindness, and support Buddhism for peace and a better society. After training, nuns and laywomen can became members in associations, and can become peer educators in their communities. The Center has three sites, the largest and the first in Oudong, the second in Siem Reap and the third in Battambong.
This study included an exploration of the interplay between religion, trauma and healing, and the working of gender in the realm of religion, and consisted of two questions:
1. What is the purpose of becoming a Buddhist woman in Cambodia?
2. What have Buddhist women done to participate in sustainable social development in Cambodia?
This study selected the nun center located in Siem Reap Province as a case study and focused on social humanities work that Buddhist women have performed in Cambodia for social movements.
(Presented in the 2013 Chulalongkorn Asian Heritage Forum: The Emergence and Heritage of Asian Women Intellectuals, 10-11 September 2013, Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel, Bangkok, organized by Institute of Thai Studies, Institute of Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts and Indian Studies Center, Chulalongkorn University)