Women in Buddhism

• Contextual Background

  • Teachings traditionally apply to all sentient beings, Buddha taught that all can attain Nirvana.
  • Women can attain Arhatship but not become a full Buddha (Buddha attains enlightenment by himself, Arhat does it by following the teachings of another).
  • All of the stories in the Jakata tales involve male rebirths (>500 stories)
  • While women appear in scripture, it's always concerning men.
  • Trad. Buddhist countries view female rebirths as unfortunate, although rebirth is just a karmic stream.
  • Women = property of men
  • Eightfold path is open to all
• Women in Indian Buddhism

  • Buddha abandoned his wife and child, men had more social freedom.
  • Buddhism was male-dominated, but this reflects society at the time.
  • Female rebirth = unfavourable as women suffer more misfortunes.
  • In the story of King Kosala, who is displeased when he hears his wife is bearing a girl, the Buddha praises women.
• The First Buddhist Nuns:

  • In the 5th year of the Sangha, women were admitted, accredited to Maha Prajaoti Gotama (his aunt).
  • Buddha stated that nuns will always be less senior than monks, irrespective of how long they serve in the order.
  • On the other hand, Buddhism offered many women freedom from the chains of motherhood and hope for widows.
  • The nun's order survived for around 1500 years but was not well supported.
  • When Buddhism spread further in Asia, it faced challenges with the patriarchal society.
• 8 Extra rules for nuns: (Gurudhammas)

  Their lineage died out in the 11th century in Theravada, meaning new Bhikkhuni's cannot be ordained

  • The conditions for the Buddha to allow Prajapati and her followers to become Bhikkhunis:
  • Must respect a male monk even if she has been in the order longer.
  • Should reside within 6 hours of travelling time from the Bhikkus for advice.
  • On observance days, they should consult the Bhikkus
  • Should spend the rains w/ both Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis
  • Should ply her life w/ by both orders
  • Cannot scold a Bhikkhu
  • Cannot advise a monk
• Bikkhunis and the Vinaya Rules

  • They have 311 Vinaya rules, 181 of which are the same as the rules for monks.
  • Some argue the extra 85 are to purposely oppress the nuns, others argue they are in place to protect them from careless monks.
• Three Traditional Lineages of Bikkhunis

  Theravada Lineage (Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka)

  • Very problematic
  • The lineage died out in the 11th century, therefore because of the rules, you need 5 male and 5 female monks that can trace lineage back to the Buddha this is a catch-22 situation. This means women can only receive novice ordination, not a higher ordination
  • Some take the fact that the Buddha initially rejected women as a sign that they should have never been there in the first place.
  • Some Sri Lankan Women travel to become ordained in other countries, reviving the order of Bikkhuni's.
• Three Traditional Lineages of Bikkhunis


  Thailand:

  • A law was passed in 1928 which forbade bhikkhus from ordaining women as novice Bikkhunis.
  • However, women are fighting back. In 2004 Dharmmananda was ordained in Sri Lanka (where the female lineage has been revived) and is now senior in the only Thai Buddhist temple with female monastics.
• Three Traditional Lineages of Bhikkhunis


  Tibetan Buddhism

  • The issue is similar and women can only receive lower ordination. In the Chinese lineage, the Bhikkhuni lineage survived and thrived.
  • Consequently, many Theravada & Tibetan Bikkhunis travel to receive full ordination in the Chinese/ Japanese Schools.
• Women in Buddhism Today


  Many Men do not see women in the same way, because their view on them ordaining themselves is not seen as valid or equal in most cases.

  • No Therevadin lineage of Bhikkhunis exists, so they are not treated legally or religiously as fully ordained.

  Women are seen as exceptions to the norm that need to be regulated, explained and placed in the world.
• Women in Mahayana Buddhism

  Sometimes an advancement of Theravada:

  • Bodhisattva doctrine elevated the position of laity, so one does not need to renounce to become enlightened or a Bodhisattva.
  • The issue is that women cannot attain full Buddhahood. To attain Buddhahood, a male rebirth is necessary.
  • This is expressed in the Lotus Sutra in the Dragon King's Daughter.
  • Celestia Buddhas/Bodhisattvas use female representations eg. Tara
  • Dalai Lama argues that female equality is essential for world peace.
• The Lotus Sutra: The Dragon Kings Daughter


  To become a fully awakened Buddha, the king's daughter has to change sex.

  'In other words, the socially constructed limitations and sufferings of women lead to the belief that women were spiritually inferior to men' - Naomi Appleton (Senior Lecturer in Asian Religions at the University of Edinburgh)
• Feminist Approaches to Buddhism

  Rita Gross:

  • Academic who became a Bikkhuni. In her book, she looks at the stereotypical roles of men and women.
  • She reveals sexism and prejudice against women in Buddhism and suggests how to repair these issues.
  • She suggests 4 levels of 'Andocentrism' in Buddhism
  • Most of the stories in scripture are about men and the stories that are more likely to be preserved are about men
  • Stories about women in the text do not have equal standing and are given second place
  • Western Buddhist scholarship consistently upholds this sexism.
• Dalai Lama Controversy 2015

  For there to be a female Buddhist in the future she would need to be 'very attractive'.
• Family issues in Buddhism


  Buddhism is not doctrinally prescriptive when it comes to advice on family for householders.

  • Family life is respected, but renunciant is ideal as they remove attachments. Families can be an obstacle in attaining g the goal of detachment and Nirvana
  • Marriage is not a religious obligation and monks cannot officially marry people
  • Sexual relationships do not have to be within the framework of a marriage but should bring about a positive state of affairs.
  • Cohabitation and having kids outside of marriage is acceptable.
• Family issues in Buddhism


  (Part 2)

  • Most Buddhist family values are a reflection of the culture and social conditions of the country.
  • In most Asian cultures, the society is set up patriarchally.
  • 5 precepts are recommended for all family members.
  • Family duties should include care for the elderly.
• Advice on the 6 types of relationships

  • Take care of family and obey parents
  • Make a success of your marriage
  • Choose the right friends
  • Good teacher-pupil relationships
  • Good relationships between employers and employees
  • Earn a living in a good way
• Duties of Parents and Children


  Children to Parents

  • Support them in old age
  • Do as they ask
  • Keep family traditions
  • Deserve their inheritance
  • Honour them after death

  Parents to Children

  • Keep them away from evil
  • Encourage them to do good
  • Provide them w/a good education
  • Make suitable arrangements for their marriage
  • Give them inheritance when they need it
• Feminist Approaches to Buddhism


  Rita Gross:

  • She reveals sexism and prejudice against women in Buddhism, suggesting 4 levels of 'Andocentrism' in Buddhism
  • Most of the stories in scripture are about men and the stories that are more likely to be preserved are about men
  • Stories about women in the text do not have equal standing and are given second place
  • Western Buddhist scholarship consistently upholds this sexism.

  'It is not surprising... that the Buddha, in a sex-role-ridden and patriarchal society, did not fully welcome women with their request to undertake a conventional task.'