Re-Establishing The Cambodian Monkhood

Abstract

The article describes the processes, at the grassroots and national level, whereby a Buddhist monastic lineage was re-established in Cambodia following a brief period, from 1975 to 1979, in which the monkhood was abolished. The article takes exception with the normal account of events, which commonly describes a series of irregular ordinations followed by the more regular ordination of September, 1979, which finally established a clear monastic lineage. The article argues that the early ordinations were more serious than is usually acknowledged. It also provides new information about the September ceremony.