Women in Buddhism
"When it comes to enlightenment, there is no male and female, there is only the truth." Buddhism is a faith which preaches the "awakening from ignorance", that is, freeing oneself and reaching liberation is the utmost goal. While the teachings and values of Buddhism have attracted an immensity of believers (both men and women alike), the religion 's embedded patriarchal views has affected the status of women in both a historical and present-day viewpoint. Having said that, using a broad range of research sources, this paper will discuss the position of women in Buddhism, and in particular will consider perspectives regarding women in Buddhist holy writ, the role of women in monastics and lay life, and will also examine the modern development of women.
Textual reference of women in Buddhism can be viewed as generally negative in the Cullavaga, Pali Canon, and the Lotus Sutra doctrines, and thus is the basis for the subordination of women. Although this holds true, it is first important to understand that Buddhism was intended as an egalitarian religion from its very beginnings. As per Buddhist doctrine, "whoever has such a vehicle, whether a woman or man, shall indeed by means of that vehicle, come to nirvana." Buddhism thus accepted the fact that both men and women were equal in undergoing the path to achieve the goal of liberation or nirvana. Upon further speculation of the holy writ however, the ideology of women was undermined. Specifically, the role of women was subordinated upon the creation of the Order of Nuns by the Buddha. In the Cullavaga text, Mahaprajapati (the aunt and mother-figure of the Buddha) asked the Buddha to create an Order of Nuns (bhikkhuni) after he had created an Order of Monks (bhikku). She asked three times, with his answer being no upon each request. Finally, upon the intervention of his male cousin and attendant, the Buddha agreed to allow an Order of Nuns to be founded. Nevertheless, in doing so, he stated that women must agree
Textual reference of women in Buddhism can be viewed as generally negative in the Cullavaga, Pali Canon, and the Lotus Sutra doctrines, and thus is the basis for the subordination of women. Although this holds true, it is first important to understand that Buddhism was intended as an egalitarian religion from its very beginnings. As per Buddhist doctrine, "whoever has such a vehicle, whether a woman or man, shall indeed by means of that vehicle, come to nirvana." Buddhism thus accepted the fact that both men and women were equal in undergoing the path to achieve the goal of liberation or nirvana. Upon further speculation of the holy writ however, the ideology of women was undermined. Specifically, the role of women was subordinated upon the creation of the Order of Nuns by the Buddha. In the Cullavaga text, Mahaprajapati (the aunt and mother-figure of the Buddha) asked the Buddha to create an Order of Nuns (bhikkhuni) after he had created an Order of Monks (bhikku). She asked three times, with his answer being no upon each request. Finally, upon the intervention of his male cousin and attendant, the Buddha agreed to allow an Order of Nuns to be founded. Nevertheless, in doing so, he stated that women must agree
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