公元67年，正统佛教传入中国；公元250年，比丘戒传入中国；公元434年，斯里兰卡比丘尼僧团入中国，中国佛教开始两部僧团传授比丘尼戒传承。公元四世纪末，印度大乘学派编集出「菩萨戒」；公元421年，「菩萨戒」传入中国。
公元519年，中国梁武帝受「菩萨戒」，自称「菩萨皇帝」，全力支持大乘学派，排斥正统佛教。自此，印度正统佛教的教法及比丘、比丘尼僧团逐渐退出中国社会。
中道僧团（Sambodhi Saṅgha）由随佛长老（Ven. Vūpasama Thero）创办于1995年，是奉行 释迦佛陀教导的十二缘起、四圣谛，遵奉比丘、比丘尼僧律的僧团。中道僧团的僧人，皆遵守不接受、不积蓄、不使用金钱，无有私人的护法，倾力维护僧团的团结与统一。
中道僧团以复兴原始佛教为目标，信仰「第一次经典结集」的原始佛法，坚定守护佛教分裂以前的经典传诵，守护原始佛教的僧律传承。中道僧团以华人为主，倾力在华人社会推展原始佛教与僧团传承，目前发展于台湾、中国大陆、马来西亚、新加坡、美国的华人社会。
人类有两种性别，佛教徒也有男、女二众，这是事实，无法否认与拒绝。拒绝女性参与佛教的僧团，不是佛教僧团拒绝了女性，是僧团失去女性的品德、能力与智慧的功德。
当世界主要宗教皆有男、女神职僚员时，上座部佛教拒绝比丘尼必定受到现代社会的质疑与拒绝。特别是，华人的大乘学派具有尼僧的传承，华人上座部佛教具有比丘尼传承，必定有利于上座部佛教发展于华人社会。
中道僧团坚持五项原则下，恢复华人社会的原始佛教比丘尼传承：
1. 在华人社会恢复原始佛教比丘尼僧团。
2. 尊崇斯里兰卡的比丘、比丘尼僧团，建立诚信、紧密的合作关系。
3. 尊重上座部各国比丘僧团的决定，不涉入其他国家的佛教事务。
4. 避免大乘学派、男性主义、女性主义、基督文化的涉入。
5. 团结各方的上座部佛教比丘尼，促进彼此的交流与发展。
由于华人社会以大乘佛教为主，大多数的上座部比丘僧不支持恢复上座部比丘尼传承，加上中道僧团不支持「年岁老迈、身心失衡、学习紊杂、贡高难调」的女性出家或受比丘尼戒，使得中道僧团受到众多的恶意污蔑、毁谤、攻讦。虽然如此，中道比丘僧团依然坚定的推展原始佛教，支持恢复华人上座部比丘尼传承。
Origin
In 67 A.D., the traditional Buddhism was introduced into China. In 250 A.D., the Bhikkhu Precepts were firstly translated into Chinese. In 434 A.D., Sri Lankan Bhikkhunī Saṅgha came into China, and from then on, the Bhikkhunī precepts were conferred by two Saṅghas in Chinese Buddhism. At the end of the 4th century, the Bodhisattva precepts were compiled by Indian Mahayana Buddhism. In 421 A.D., the Bodhisattva precepts were introduced into China.
In 519 A.D., Emperor Liang Wu accepted the Bodhisattva precepts, and claimed himself to be a “Bodhisattva emperor”. He fully supported the Mahayana Buddhism, and repelled the traditional Buddhism. Since then, the Dharma and Saṅgha of Indian traditional Buddhism were exiting China gradually.
Sambodhi Saṅgha were established by Ven. Vūpasama Thero in 1995. The Saṅgha follow the original teachings of Buddha Śākyamuni, namely Twelve Nidānas and Four Noble Truths, and observe the Bhikkhu and Bhikkhunī precepts. They do not accept, accumulate, or use money, and also, they do not have private supporters, in order to maintain the unity and solidarity of the Saṅgha.
The principle of Sambodhi Saṅgha is to revive the Original Buddhism, believe and practice the Original Dharma collected in the first Buddhist council, protect the scriptures prior to the division of Buddhism, and preserve the Vinaya lineage of Original Buddhism. Sambodhi Saṅgha mainly consist of Chinese, and are committed to promoting the Original Buddhism and the inheritance of Saṅgha in the Chinese community. Currently, Sambodhi Saṅgha have spread throughout the Chinese communities in Taiwan, mainland China, Malaysia, Singapore and the United States.
The human beings have two genders, and the Buddhists consist of males and females. This is an undeniable fact. Refusing females to participate in the Saṅgha, does not mean that the Saṅgha reject the females, but it is the Sangha that lose the virtues, competence and wisdom of females.
When the major religions in the world have both male and female clergies, rejecting Bhikkhunīs will definitely put the Theravada Buddhism to be questioned and rejected by the modern society, especially the Chinese Mahayana Buddhism has the inheritance of Bhikkhunīs. Thus, it will certainly help the development of the Theravada Buddhism in the Chinese community, if the Chinese Theravada Buddhism equips with Bhikkhunī inheritance.
For reestablishing the Bhikkhunī inheritance of the Original Buddhism in the Chinese community, Sambodhi Saṅgha insist on the following five principles:
1.Reestablish the Original Buddhism Bhikkhunī Saṅgha in the Chinese community.
2.Respect the Bhikkhu and Bhikkhunī Saṅghas of Sri Lanka, and establish a close and faithful collaboration relationship.
3.Respect the decisions made by the Theravada Saṅghas in different countries, and never involve the Buddhism affairs of any other countries.
4. Avoid the interference of Mahayana Buddhism, Masculism, Feminism and Christian culture.
5. Unite all the Theravada Bhikkhunī Saṅghas, and encourage their communication and development.
Because most Chinese Buddhists believe in Mahayana Buddhism, and most Theravada Buddhism Saṅghas do not support to reestablish the inheritance of Bhikkhunīs, and also because Sambodhi Saṅgha do not support or agree with the inappropriate females, (who are over the age, or Buddhists with mess understanding about Buddha’s teaching, or unteachably arrogant, or have physical and mental imbalance and illness) to get ordained or receive Bhikkhunī high ordination, Sambodhi Saṅgha often get defamed and slander. Although in this situation, Sambodhi Saṅgha still insist on promoting the Original Buddhism and support to reestablish the inheritance of the Theravada Bhikkhunīs in the Chinese world.