Buddhism... I am very interested in Buddhism after learning about various other religions and ways of life...?

Question

However, on learning about the buddhist attitude towards women regarding the traditional teaching which states women can't reach the same point as men. What do you think if this?
I am reluctant to go any further with pursuing the buddhist lifestyle on principle. I am more thn willing to comply with Buddha's teachings, including abstaining from alcohol, meat, drugs etc(which i mainly already do)But this part really bothers me. I am not a feminist but i truly believe in equality, be it sex, race, background etc
I would like some more views on this. Maybe I need to pursue further and then decide.
Any comments would be appreciated!
Thanks

I do consider myself an atheist who could also be a buddhist because it would add a structure to my life which i think i need!

Answer 1

"Many women must have completed their studies and some must have started temples, but we know very little about the history of women in the Dharma because the translators and historians were mostly men."

The Vimalakirti Sutra and the Srimala Sutra belong to this category. In these two sutras the position of the female reaches its hightest peak. The doctrinal basis for this culmination lies in the Mahayana doctrines of Sunyata (emptiness), "Tathagatagarbha" , non-duality, etc. Instead of attempting to identify maleness with Bodhisattvahood and Buddhahood, the sutras in this category claim that notions of duality--either male or female, subject or object, etc.--are merely mental attachments contradicting the teaching of emptiness. The characteristics of "maleness" and "femaleness" are simply illusory and irrelevant. On this basis, the female bodhisattva refuses to undergo sexual change. When asked by Sariputra to transform herself, the Goddess in the Vimalakirti Sutra said, "I have been here for twelve years and have looked for the innate characteristics of femaleness but have not been able to find them. How can I change them?" Then the Goddess changed Sariputra into a female. This is to reinforce her assertion that every one and every thing transcends gender distinctions when one views the world as empty. This Viewpoint is concretely illustrated by Sariputra's transformation. See as well The Lotus Sutra, in Buddhism considered revolutionary in its approach to the equality of the sexes and equality amongst all people generally.

female teachers of buddhism:

http://www.thubtenchodron.org/

http://www.gatsal.org/

http://www.vkr.org/index.cfm

http://www.tzuchi.org/global/inspiration/teachings/index.html

http://www.ayyakhemamandir.org/index.htm

http://members.tripod.com/~Lhamo/

http://www.ascentmagazine.com/articles.aspx?articleID=114&page=read&subpage=past&issueID=4 <<< this article by tenzin palmo maybe of an interest to you, in relation to your question.

Answer 2

Hi. I am a Buddhist too. I want share what I learned through my practice and study.
Shakyamuni Buddha, also known as Gautama Buddha, is the founder of Buddhism. He made it his life's purpose to find solutions to the inescapable sufferings of life---sufferings of birth, old age, sickness, and death. Finally he came to know that truth about life,the truth to overcoming sufferings and become happy in other words,attained enlightenment. And Shakyamuni began to explain that truth to other people.His teachings are called sutras.
Most people couldn't understand easily.
So he had to teach that according to the understanding of the people by using parables and everyday analogies to make people understand. During the final eight years of his life, he expounded his ultimate complete teachings called " the Lotus Sutra"
This is the highest teaching among all sutras.Many other sutra say that women can't become Buddha . The Lotus Sutra makes it clear that everyone, without distinction of sex, race, social status,background, have a Buddha nature.
Everyone can live a happy life, just like Shakyamuni.
And Nichiren Daishonin in Japan transform the profound Shakyamuni's teaching into a simple practice so that all people can bring out our potential
in day-to-day realities. Please check this website for more information.

Answer 3

If you want to become Buddhist, but are a bit concerned of the 'Equality', then just ignore it. It doesn't make you less of a Buddhist, you are merely standing up for your beliefs.
There are some important Buddhist 'people' who are women, such as Amnoritas, who are shown with many arms, symbolises are willingness to help people.
Traditions change. I believe that the main parts of Buddhism isn't based on your gender - such as the 4 noble truths, the eightfold path and 5 rules you should keep.

Answer 4

It is just like how the Christians have perverted a lot of the Lord Jesus' teachings. The Lord Buddha taught that women were equal and had his step-Mother and wife as two of his first converts. Later women were made to be less than. Don't judge the wisdom of Buddha by the adherents behavior and bad attitudes!

Answer 5

Read Dogen (his masterpeice is "Treasury of the Right Eye Dharma"). He rallied against the rampant sexism within the Buddhist tradition, and now his thought is one of the leading ideas in Zen Buddhism. Look into it, Buddha would never condone discrimination, that would be an extreme view against the Middle way.

Answer 6

I am a Buddhist of the Theravada Tradition sometimes called Southern Buddhism. I am appalled that someone has spoken to you thus regarding the sacred texts, it is a completely Wrong View to suggest such a thing.

The Suttas mention many women attaining enlightenment. One such is the SN 5-2 which speaks of Sister Soma, it is known as the Sona Sutta, it is referenced as "The idea that women cannot be awakened is not to be believed"..as she drives away an "Evil One", this is in reference to an Evil Demon named Mara...it is a metaphor...she not only outwits this demon, but drives him away dejected by her wonderful insight into self. A wonderful example of the Wisdom of women.She herself wrote this poem on "Self" and there are many other examples of Wisdom specifically from a woman's perspective and a woman's insight.

The Lord Buddha founded the Order of Bhikkhunis. This is the Order of Buddhist Nuns. The term Bhikkhu is Pali for teacher, therefore Bhikkhunis are female teachers on equal par with Monks.

There is no distinction in the Suttas between male and female. In fact, the Dharma teaches specifically to release the "Self" in the Consciousness, this "Self" can include gender if there is any selfish Clinging to this Skandha..(Part of the conglomerate of Parts which make up a person)..this can in effect make us all genderless which is one of the characteristics of the Unconscious Life Stream.

Women have an equal place in Buddhism and this is as it should be, there are many enlightened Nuns...I prefer the wonderful term Bhikkhunis... mentioned in the Therigatha, which is a small section of the vast Pali Canon dedicated exclusively for the poetic Wisdom of women. These pages contain much insight and is very useful as it gives a female perspective on attaining enlightenment from females who were having the same problems as today.

It appalles and saddens me that you have been treated thus and told that women are unable to reach enlightenment, this is balderdash, utter untruth and completely against not only the Suttas and the Dharma, but it is plainly against common sense. Of course women can reach enlightenment and of course they are equal in all respects. Women are welcome in Buddhism. It is completely false to consider otherwise.

Peace from a Buddhist....

Answer 7

All religion discriminates against women. That's why God was invented. Other than paganism which of course is denounced by all religions. Religion will never equal, Equality and if it does the bases of it changes for ever. No your not a feminist, your a humanitarian that's why Buddhism appeals to you. Good luck with your choice of belief system. :-)

Answer 8

There was once a Young Woman went to the Jetta Grove, and wanted to learn the path to enlightenment. On arriving there, the disciples of Buddha told her to rejoice and practice to gain a rebirth into a man's body in her next life. The young lady, was aghast at such a concept. She demanded to see the Buddha to get clarification.

When she met the Buddha, awe by his aura of Compassion she immediately took a her most precious Jewel from her hair and offered to the Buddha, and she said, " I vow to attain the state of a Buddha in the form of woman, if what I say can have a ring of truth, may it happen as quickly as my act of offering this jewel to the Tathagatha".

On seeing that, the Buddha saw that this Young lady's Wisdom was way beyond that of the Arhats, and he smiled. Just as that happened, the truth in the young lady's words fruitioned and at that moment she was enlightened to the stage of a Great Bodhisattva equal in attainments to a Buddha. Where she made a vow, " May I in each and every incarnation until I attain the state of Buddhahood, be reborn and practice in the form of a female. May I liberate all sentient beings from Samsara in the form of a female"

The Buddha was extremely pleased with her vows, and proclaimed, " That will be so, that will be so"

This young Lady was eventually enlightened and beaome known as the Female Buddha Tara ( Drolma in Tibet ) who is very well loved by Tibetans, Indians and Mongolians. Her form as White Tara was incorporated into Chinese Buddhism as the Lady Kuan Yin, goddess of Mercy ( whom many scholars claim to be a gestation of Avalokitesvara and White Tara ) . In the Higher practices of Tibetan Buddhism, for a practitioner to debase a woman, is considered a very grave infraction of vows, for women in Tibetan Buddhism are seen as a source of all Wisdom. Without Wisdom, enlightenment is not possible.

Answer 9

I dont think that all forms of Buddhism have this same attitude towards women. I myself was interested in Buddhism and Jainism, and found that there were branches that had slightly different attitudes. Look again!

Peace+

Answer 10

Keep it simple.
The most important message is:
Live without want. Kick out things and longings you do no really need.
Do as you please in a moderate way and do not hurt others.
Do not become a fanatic.
Watch out for buddhist groups who are in it for the money.