Women As Buddhists Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Women As Buddhists - Essay ExampleLegends around Shakamuni Buddha abound one of them tells of the ending of his mother, Maya when Shakamuni was an infant. His aunt, Prajapati, took over the raising of him and later asked to join his sangha. She was refused. It was only after Shakamunis cousin Ananda has requested terzetto times that Prajapati amd her 500 followers were allowed to design Buddhism outdoor(a) of the home, as nuns.Legends around Shakamuni Buddha abound one of them tells of the death of his mother, Maya when Shakamuni was an infant. His aunt, Prajapati, took over the raising of him and later asked to join his sangha. She was refused. It was only after Shakamunis cousin Ananda has requested three times that Prajapati amd her 500 followers were allowed to practice Buddhism outside of the home, as nuns. This story has been denied as even existing by some scholars, who simplyify their denial by pointing out that it was invented to restore societal norms after the death o f the Buddha Much debate has been engaged over this story, citing Buddhism as sexist from the very beginning. But let us look at the society of the times, for it is society that inspires and also creates rules and mores and acts as the impetus behind changing laws and constitutional amendments in every country. Firstly, Indian society was (and quench is, in many places) a khast system which follows strict social mores concerning ones circumstances of birth, familial status and gender.... A woman conducting the same practice was subject to rape, robbery, and other heinous crimes against women, which still occur today.Scholars state that it is very likely that Shakamuni refused to let his beloved aunt and caretaker be an active nun collectable to the dangers to women who were emancipated during his time. Since the Buddhist faith is centered on compassion and enlightenment attainable by anyone who can adhere to the practices and guidelines, it is more likely that Shakamuni was attem pting to protect women kind of than subdue them.3It also makes sense that in his compassion, the Buddha placed nuns under the Eight Strict Rules and under the subordinance of the monks in order to preserve his teachings by not impetuous Indian society into anarchy by giving women too much freedom too soon. This certainly would have been the wisdom of one so enlightened, wise to(p) the impermanence of the world and knowing that with time and changes to society through continued enlightenment, the rules could be relaxed. He never said that women could not achieve enlightenment just as men could in fact he said the opposite Straight is the name that Road is called, and Free From Fear the Quarter whither thou art bound. Thy Chariot is the Silent Runner named, With Wheels of Righteous elbow grease fitted well. Conscience the Leaning-board the Drapery Is Heedfulness the Driver is the Dharma, I say, and Right Views, they that run before. And be it woman, or be it man for whom Such a c hariot doth wait, by that same car into Nirvanas presence shall they come.4As to the eight rules, they are basically thus1. A bhikkuni (nun), even if in the order for 100