Dr. Rajkumar Singh
The role and status of women in Buddhism have been a subject of discussion since the time of the Buddha. Initially, women were not allowed to join the monastic community (Sangha). However, after being persuaded by his stepmother Mahapajapati Gotami and his disciple Ananda, the Buddha allowed women to become nuns, establishing the Bhikkhuni Sangha: Bhikkhuni Sangha:The Bhikkhuni Sangha was formed approximately five years after the Bhikkhu Sangha (order of monks). It provided a path for women to pursue spiritual liberation on equal footing with men, though with more rules to follow (311 rules for nuns compared to 227 for monks).After its formation, the Bhikkhuni Sangha faced challenges, including stricter rules and societal resistance. Over time, the Bhikkhuni Sangha declined in many parts of Asia, though it continues in some traditions, especially in Therav?da Buddhism in countries like Sri Lanka and recently in Thailand. a. Women in Therav?da Buddhism: In Therav?da Buddhism, which is practiced in countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar, women historically faced restrictions. The Bhikkhuni Sangha died out for centuries in these regions, and efforts to revive it have faced resistance.Modern Revivals: In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, there have been efforts to revive the Bhikkhuni Sangha. In Sri Lanka, the order of nuns was revived in 1998. In Thailand, there is a growing movement to ordain women, though it remains controversial.b. Women in Mahayana Buddhism: Equality in the Bodhisattva Path: Mahayana Buddhism, practiced in countries like China, Japan, and Korea, generally emphasizes the equality of men and women in pursuing the Bodhisattva path. Some Mahayana texts, such as the “Vimalakirti Sutra,” highlight the non-dual nature of gender.Female Bodhisattvas: Female figures like Guanyin (Avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit) play a prominent role, often embodying compassion and being revered as Bodhisattvas.c.Women in Vajrayana Buddhism: Tantric Practices: Vajrayana Buddhism, practiced in Tibet, Bhutan, and Mongolia, includes esoteric practices where women can be seen as equals to men in spiritual attainment. Some female practitioners, known as yoginis or dakinis, are highly respected.Prominent Female Figures: Historical figures such as Yeshe Tsogyal, the consort of Guru Rinpoche, are venerated as enlightened beings.Thus, the role of women in Buddhism has evolved over time, with increasing recognition of their potential for spiritual attainment and leadership. Minimal role of women:
Generally, it appears that sometimes Buddhism has ignored or marginalised women. In the context there are several considerable factors which include: a. Cultural Context: Patriarchal Society: Buddhism emerged in ancient India, a society that was predominantly patriarchal. Cultural norms of the time influenced how women were viewed and treated, both in society and within religious practices.Social Roles: Women were often expected to fulfil domestic roles, and their spiritual pursuits were sometimes seen as secondary to those of men. This cultural backdrop influenced early Buddhist practices and the establishment of the monastic community. b. The Initial Exclusion of Women: Reluctance of the Buddha: Initially, the Buddha was reluctant to allow women into the monastic order. This was partly due to concerns about the challenges women might face in monastic life and the potential societal backlash.Mahapajapati Gotami’s Request: It was only after repeated requests from his stepmother, Mahapajapati Gotami, and the intervention of his disciple Ananda, that the Buddha agreed to establish the Bhikkhuni Sangha (order of nuns), albeit with more rules than those imposed on monks. c.Stricter Rules for Women: The Eight Garudhammas: When the Bhikkhuni Sangha was established, the Buddha instituted the “Eight Garudhammas” (heavy rules) that subordinated nuns to monks, regardless of seniority. This included rules that required nuns to always defer to monks and restricted their independence.Reasoning: These rules were likely influenced by societal norms of the time, aiming to maintain harmony within the Sangha and to make the monastic community more acceptable to the broader society. d. Decline of the Bhikkhuni Sangha: Loss of Ordination Lineage: In many parts of Asia, the lineage of fully ordained nuns (Bhikkhunis) died out. This was due to various factors, including wars, societal changes, and the lack of support for women’s ordination.Continued Marginalization: Without the Bhikkhuni Sangha, women in these regions often faced limited opportunities for spiritual advancement compared to men. They could still become novices or lay practitioners, but full ordination was not available to them. Thus, Buddhism’s historical marginalization of women was influenced by the cultural and social norms of the time. Over the centuries, these norms were often reinforced by religious practices and interpretations.Today, there is an ongoing effort within many Buddhist communities to address these historical inequalities and to ensure that women have equal opportunities for spiritual practice and leadership within the tradition. Women and Buddhism worldwide: Women’s roles in Buddhism today vary significantly depending on the region, tradition, and cultural context. However, across the world, women are increasingly taking on leadership roles, advocating for gender equality, and reviving ancient practices that empower them within the Buddhist tradition. Sri Lanka: In 1998, the Bhikkhuni ordination was revived in Sri Lanka. Today, there is a growing number of fully ordained nuns, and they are gaining increasing recognition and support.Thailand: Thailand has been more resistant to the revival of Bhikkhuni ordination, with the official Sangha not recognizing fully ordained nuns. Myanmar: Similarly, in Myanmar, there is resistance to the ordination of women as Bhikkhunis, but there are efforts by some women to gain recognition and ordination outside the country.Challenges: Despite these advancements, many Bhikkhunis face challenges, including lack of recognition, limited resources, and social opposition.b.Mahayana Buddhism: Equality in Ordination: In Mahayana Buddhism, practiced in countries like China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, women have generally had more opportunities for ordination.China: The Bhikkhuni lineage has been continuous in China, and nuns play significant roles in monastic and lay communities. Japan: In Japan, the role of women in Buddhism has been complex. While there is a long tradition of female monastics, in some sects, nuns have faced challenges in being recognized as equals to monks. However, there are many prominent female Buddhist leaders and teachers.Korea: Korea has a strong tradition of Bhikkhunis, and Korean nuns are well-respected and often involved in education, social work, and spiritual teaching.c. Vajrayana Buddhism: Tantric Traditions: In Vajrayana Buddhism, practiced in Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, and Mongolia, women can be seen as spiritual equals to men, especially within certain tantric practices In conclusion, progress has been made, but still there are many challenges to overcome, particularly in regions where traditional views continue to limit the roles of women.
(The writer is a youth motivator).
