Choosing Simplicity: A Commentary on the Bhikshuni Pratimoksha

This book is a series of talks given at "Life as a Western Buddhist Nun" conference in Bodhgaya 1996. p. 15: "This volume explains the purpose of monastic ordination & the relationship of an individual nun to the monastic community of monks & of nuns, to lay Buddhists, & to society in general." p. 16: "With increased inter-religious dialog, people realize that knowledge of others' traditions enriches their own spiritual practice" & p. 312: "Study, reflection, & mindfulness of the precepts are helpful for monastics & laypeople alike." More specifically, p. 16: "Knowing the precepts can make us more mindful of our behavior." This book is entertaining due to its many stories of the origins of the precepts as well as the author's convincing presentations on their whys & wherefores. Per p. 17: "Although the social environment has changed since the Buddha's time, basic human nature has not" & p. 305: "The Buddha's advice is not rigid dogma, but has various meanings & methods of implementation according to the person & the circumstances." Ven. Wu Yin provides numerous examples relating directly to the precepts, reminiscent of Knowledge Management's dictum that knowledge = information in context. Indeed, she categorizes & summarizes the precepts, converting the data into information that can be readily assimilated. Further, she identifies precepts whose wording may be confusing--p. 292: "In this precept & the precept prohibiting Bhikshunis from eating garlic, the linguistic formulation of the precept does not express its meaning directly" & those that have been adapted to social contexts (pp. 172-9: living alone; swimming, sleeveless shirts, robe colors, etc.). The historical context pp. 190, 284, & 291 demonstrates that precepts respond to the law of the land. While only one difference between Theravada & Mahayana is given (p. 294: "learner in prajika" is Mahayana Only), the book is not meant to be all inclusive. She does demonstrate how advanced the Buddha's thinking was (e.g. pp. 308-10: disputes/conflict resolution-even including arbitration). While there are precepts that differ for men & women (e.g. p. 144: Bhikshus can be ordained 7 times, but Bhikshunis only once), the Buddha advanced gender equality overall, saying p. 312 of the 1st Bhikshuni upon her death: "This Bhikshuni has fulfilled the meaning of being a great human being." As Ven. Wu Yin ably points out, "Being a great human being is not related to gender; it depends on caring about the well-being of all our fellow sentient beings."

In Choosing Simplicity: Commentary On The Bhikshuni Pratimoksha, Venerable Bhikshuni Wu Yin discusses the precepts and lifestyle of fully ordained nuns within the Buddhist tradition. Translated for an English readership by Bhikshuni Jendy Shih, and ably edited by Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron, Choosing Simplicity offers students of Buddhism guidelines for the conduct of daily life with a more mindful orientation. Residents within a Buddhist religious community will become clear about boundaries, motivations, and how their actions may be interpreted by others. Choosing Simplicity is an impressive and valued addition to any Buddhist studies reference collection or reading list.