Buddhism

Lesson 16
I.  Several possible reasons Buddha hesitated to allow Mahapajapiti, his maternal aunt, into the sangha may be:

    A.  Buddha was raised and lived in a society that was male dominated/paternalistic.

    B.  Buddha's teachings were written, 200 years after he died, by men who were also raised in a male dominated society.

    C.  Buddha may have thought women would be a distraction to the monks who he was trying to teach them to override their lust, and that women might deteriorate their practice on the path to enlightenment.

II.  The Thai sangha does not benefit by keeping women out.  Buddha said that both men and women are capable of enlightenment   Why would a Buddhist institution deny people of one sex and not another the opportunity to practice and become enlightened.  Where is the compassion in sexist institutions?

III.  If Buddha could reappear today he would notice that in different countries there are different practices.  In Thailand, for example, women are not allowed to become nuns or members of the sangha.  To the Thais, he would probably advise them to allow women.  If he were in America where there are monasteries with both monks and nuns, laywomen and laymen, he would probably discern their degree of spiritual evolution and condition of practice, and advise accordingly.

Nancy Anderson

aka "Lotus"

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