The Buddha made the revolutionary move of establishing an organization, the Bhikshuni Sangha, for women who wanted to devote themselves exclusively to the Dharma. In doing so he recognized the inherent spiritual worthiness of women and indicated that they too could become enlightened. Later, as recorded in the Dharma Flower Sutra, the Buddha predicted that particular Bhikshunis would eventually become Buddhas.

比丘尼 [ bǐqiūní] ; Bhikshuni ; bhikkhuni