Buddhism and Gender Flashcards
Explain the historical roots of women’s ordination in Buddhism?
- The Buddha originally refused to ordain women, saying it would cause the teachings to only survive half as long
- Was convinces by Ananda to ordain women as they have the same access to enlightenment as men
- His wife and stepmother were among the first to become ordained
Quote from the Buddha about women and enlightnement?
“Women, Ananda, having gone forth are able to realise the fruit of stream- attainment or the fruit of once-returning or the fruit of non-returning arhatship”
What were women’s duties like at the time of the Buddha?
- not allowed to enter a temple
- not allowed to recite religious scripture
- low position in society
What does Mara say in the Pali Cannnon about the enlightenment of women?
And the Bikkhuni’s reply?
- ‘No woman with the two-finger wisdom (narrow) which is hers, could ever hope to reach those heights which are attained by only the sages’
- ‘When one’s mind is well concentrated and wisdom never fails, does the fact of being a woman make any difference?’
What does the Larger Sukhavativyunha Sutra (Pure Land) say about women?
And where do we see this in the Lotus Sutra?
“women must be reborn as men before they can enter Nirvana”
The daughter in the Dragon King becomes enlightened after the Buddha speaks and becomes a man before becoming enlightened.
What does the Vimalakirti Sutra teach about gender and ordination? (Mahayana Lay text)
An where is this Sutra influential?
The distinctions between maleness and femaleness are not actually real.
“With this in mind in all things it is neither male nor female”
Zen Buddhism
What did Soto Zen Master Dogen say about aquiring the dhamma?
“In acquiring the dhamma, all aquire the dhamma equally. All should pay homage to and hold in esteem one who has acquired the dhamma. Do not make it an issue of whether it is a man or a woman.”
What did the Buddha say initially about women being ordained? (quote)
‘of all the scents that can enslave, none is more lethal than that of a woman’
What are the 6 virtues?
- Generosity2. Morality3. Patience4. Energy5. Meditation6. Wisdomgay men probably eat meaty whales
What is Levering’s and Niwano’s interpretation of the Dragon King?
Levering- she changes gender just as a demonstration of her power
Niwano- the transformation into a man means nothing but the transcendence of the difference between man and woman
What is the term for the 8 additional rules that a nun must follow?
The 8 Gurunhdhammas
What are the 8 Gurundhammas?
(1) A nun who has been ordained even for a hundred years must greet respectfully, rise up from her seat, salute with joined palms, do proper homage to a monk ordained but that day.
(2) A nun must not spend the rains (vassa, 3 months rainy season retreat) in a residence where there are no monks.[20]
(3) Every half month a nun should desire two things from the Order of Monks: the asking as to the date of the Observance (uposatha) day, and the coming for the exhortation [bhikkhunovada].[21]
(4) After the rains a nun must ‘invite’ [pavarana] before both orders in respect of three matters, namely what was seen, what was heard, what was suspected.[22]
(5) A nun, offending against an important rule, must undergo manatta discipline for half a month before both orders. Thanissaro Bhikkhu’s translation varies: “(5) A bhikkhuni who has broken any of the vows of respect must undergo penance for half a month under both Sanghas.”
(6) When, as a probationer, she has trained in the six rules [cha dhamma] for two years, she should seek higher ordination from both orders.
(7) A monk must not be abused or reviled in any way by a nun.
(8) From today, admonition of monks by nuns is forbidden. [Book of the Discipline, V.354-355] [23]
What is the term for a novice woman position in the Therevadan tradition in Myamar?
What is the alternative for Thailand?
For Sri Lanka?
Thilashin
They are Lay renunciants
Maechi
Dasal sil mata
What is the role of a Thilashin?
- They follow the 10 precepts, receive training and have the same exams as monks
- they are not monastics
- often live together in separate quarters, they do not have to look after the monks like other women followers
- they will often wear pink robes
- only collect alms on upostha days (new moon)
- they are subservient to monks
What is the organisation that works to improve the lives of women in Buddhism?
The Sakyadita International Association of Buddhist Women (daughters of the Buddha)
1987
campaigns for gender equality across race, culture and religion
Who was the first Buddhist nun?
Prajapati (Buddha’s aunt/stepmother)
How was the Buddha convinced to allow women to become ordained?
- once the Buddha became enlightened Prajapati approached the Buddha and asked to be ordained
- initially, he refused
- so she, along with 500 women, cut off their hair and began practising as monks would
- they later followed after the monks, Ananda saw her frustration and volunteered to speak to the Buddha
- in the end, the Buddha realized that there was no reason women could not reach enlightenment and ordained them
What is the difference in the number of rules for nuns to the number of rules for monks?
227 for monks
311 for nuns
seems strict but in general, the monks stayed separate from the nuns and they ran their own monasteries successfully
Rita Gross quote
“Androcentrism and male-dominance are almost unrelieved throughout Buddhist history”
Lorna Devaraja quote
The Buddha did not distinguish between male and female…he presupposes their spiritual
equality”
Holm & Bowker,
Women in Religion quote
“The Buddha’s teachings apply, without exception, to all sentient beings”
Holm & Bowker, Women in Religion 2
“The core teachings of this 2,500 year old tradition are gender-neutral and gender-free”
What are the 10 precepts of novice ordination?
- Refrain from killing living creatures
- Refrain from stealing
- Refrain from unchastity
- Refrain from incorrect speech
- Refrain from intoxicants
- Refrain from eating food at inappropriate times
- Refraining from singing, dancing, playing music or attending entertainment programmes
- Refrain from wearing perfumes, cosmetics and garlands
- Refrain from high chairs and sleeping on luxurious, soft beds
- Refrain from accepting money
Kangaroos Spank Unicorns Instead of Filing Eviction Papers Monthly
What is the issue for ordaining women in Thailand?
The scripture states that there must be nuns and monks present at ordination, there are no longer any nuns in Thailand. Therefore there can be no new monks ordained.
(this is a traditionalist perspective)
The Dailai Lama agrees with this, concluding at a conference that was held that women could not be ordained because of this - unless the whole sangha agreed
What is the text that says women can only be ordained by monks and nuns?
Mulasarvastivada Vinyana
Where was Female ordination reinstated in 2002? What happened?
Sri Lanka
Essentially the research of women wanting to be ordained found that there were lineage links between them and the Taiwan and Korean Bikkhunis and they could therefore ordain them.
