In Buddhism can women gain enlightenment?
2007-03-12 04:22:11 · 16 answers · asked by Angulimala 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
What achieves enlightenment is ones mind essence.
When one is only mind then mind is without a sexual identity since mind is without body or form.
Therefore if the pure mind essence is without sexual identity it does not matter whether a person is male or female their mind can attain enlightenment if they take refuge in the Dharma and put into practise the teachings of Buddha, to awaken to their true nature, Buddha-nature.
2007-03-12 08:35:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kuan Yin (or also spelled Quan Yin among other spellings) is a female many branches of Buddhism believe reached enlightment.
The answer however, is not entirely straight forward and I will give you a link to read through if you are interested. To me Buddhism at times suffers from culturally imposed beliefs that are not necessarily true or organic to the belief system. All of the older religious traditions come to us from times that were much more strictly patriarchial. Thus, discrimination and rigid ideas about women's place and capabilities infiltrate the religions. This doesn't mean that we should believe that these are immutable and true aspects of the religion, I think anyway.
I would add that I am not Buddhist myself. Just someone who has started reading about it and likes some of their philosophy. So my understanding and interpretation may be off.
2007-03-12 04:32:41 · answer #2 · answered by Zen Pirate 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes women can gain enlightenment. however to buddhists apart from the buddha, enlightenment has never been proven in todays society, even though some monks say that they have encountered buddhists that seem to be an enlightened being. Although women are not as common in the monastries as men.
2007-03-12 04:31:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
first tell me whats the meaning of enlightenment.... if u really know the meaning then you wouldn't ask this question...coz enlightenment is a inner knowledge and a purity that is in everybody nomatter he or she.... Buddha got it through long long meditation and selflessness.... but ordinary people like you and me can also achieve this through step by step or gradual selflessness.... example : Mother Teresa, Ghandi and so on...they could have only acted through selflessness, makin others their focal point of their life with no inerest in material gain or fame. Mother teresa went to the poor...poor didn't came to her. I don't know how you define Enlightenment....but to me no matter where you go or what you do if you want to climb the spiritual ladder you have to be selfless and that will lead you to enlightenment.... ENLIGHTENMENT IS NOT A POWER OR FEELING IT'S A TRUE REALIZATION...A REALIZATION OF TRUTH...
2007-03-12 04:50:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Women can gain enlightenment. The mind is essentially gender-less.
2007-03-12 04:31:30 · answer #5 · answered by shrill alarmist, I'm sure 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't see what gender has to do with gaining enlightenment, so of course you can gain enlightenment. Everyone is different.
2007-03-12 04:28:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
All men used to be women, remember that all embrio`s are female and that the male hormone is introduced by the host. Its why we have nipples! and also why most transvestites/transexuals are men, Yes women can gain enlightenment.
2007-03-12 04:34:45 · answer #7 · answered by carswoody 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have yet to meet an enlightened woman. ( They all ignored me. ROFLMAO)
Why would you care? If any religion has the audacity to say that women are less, then ignore them.
Where are we? In the dark ages?
2007-03-12 04:33:45 · answer #8 · answered by Wonka 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Woman are already enlightened
2007-03-12 04:24:47 · answer #9 · answered by Brainiac 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Buddhism is a philosophy not a religion.
2007-03-12 04:35:13 · answer #10 · answered by Marg 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋