ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Siladhara Order

Okay kiddo, so you know how there are different groups of people who practice different things? Well, there is a group of people in Buddhism called the Siladhara order. These are women who have made a special commitment to follow the Buddhist teachings and live in a special way.

The Siladhara order was started in Thailand in the year 1984 by a famous Buddhist monk named Ajahn Chah. He believed that women should have the same opportunities as men to practice Buddhism and become leaders in their community.

So, what do Siladhara do? Well, they live in special places called monasteries or nunneries where they follow a set of Buddhist rules called Vinaya. They spend their day meditating, studying scripture, and doing tasks to maintain their monasteries, like cooking and cleaning.

Siladhara wear special clothing that identifies them as part of the order. They wear a brown robe over a white one, which is worn differently than the robes worn by male monks. They also have shaven heads, which means they have no hair on top of their head.

In the Siladhara order, there are rules that are different for men and women. For example, Siladhara cannot touch a male monk or be in a room alone with him. They also cannot leave their monastery without permission from their teacher or a senior nun.

Being a part of the Siladhara order is not easy, but it is a way for women to have a special role in Buddhism and to dedicate their lives to their faith.