Status of women from Buddhist's perspective – Part 1

Thangjam Sanjoo Singh *

A Buddhist temple at Tamu in India-Myanmar border in August 2014

It is one of the world's great puzzles that women, who make up half the world's population, have been so much discriminated that against throughout country. Many factors have contributed to this state of affairs. Men in the past assumed a dominant position and relegated women to an inferior position.

They also invented religious 'reasons' to explain why women are inferior. However, there have been others who have spoken and acted against this kind of discrimination. The Buddha, for example, was the first religious leader to organise the Order of Nuns. Once the draws were flung open there was an immediate impact for women of all levels of society ostracised, found solace in the Order.

He also declared that spiritually and intellectually women were equal to men and as mothers they had an exalted role of play. As a wife, woman occupies the position of a companion to her husband. Marriage is a relationship of mutual love, respect and understanding, fortified by the discharged of duties towards one another.

The Sigalovada Sutta clearly defines the duties of husband and wife. The wife in such a set-up, has a full active role to play exercising her authority and discretion with prudence and responsibility. She is not only accepted and respected as a person; she is even depended upon as a helpmate who has a unique positive contribution to make.

As a mother, the woman was definitely honoured and revered and her position in society was unassailable. In the next millennium, women will play an increasingly important role in the development of society.

It is necessary for us to prepare them for that role by giving them equal opportunities to participate in every field of human endeavour. At the same time, however, women must not see the bringing up of a family as degrading.

The traditional role of a mother as caregiver must never be abandoned. What we need to do today, is to establish a balance between two sexes, and refrain from the tendency to see them in confrontation with each other.

Woman has an important role to play in the society

The hostile attitude to women both in religion and in society was repeatedly criticised and challenged by the Buddha on numerous occasions. In the Kosala Samyutta, the Buddha challenged the belief that the birth of a daughter was not as much a cause of joy as that of a son.

The Buddha pointed out clearly that woman has a dignified and an important part to play in the society, and he defined it great insight, fitting her harmoniously into the social fabric. She is a lovable member in the household, held in place by numerous relationships, and respected above all, as a mother of worthy children.

Gender did not matter, he argued, and added that in character and in her role in society, she could even rival men.

Spiritual strength of Woman

The strong disbelief held by men in women's spiritual attainments, even after the recognised success of the Nuns' Order, is beautifully illustrated by the statement made by the Buddha to Gotami when she visited him on the eve of her death. "O Gotami, perform a miracle in order to dispel the wrong views of those foolish men who are in doubt with regards to the spiritual potentialities of women."

Women are not inferior

Mara: "No woman with her two finger-wisdom, could ever hope for to reach the heights which are attained only by the sages."

Arahant Bhikkuni Soma: " When one's mind is well concentrated and wisdom never fails, does the fact of being a woman make any difference?"

Women are also wise

The belief that woman was intellectually inferior to man was refuted in Buddhism. Some women are better than man. There are women who are wise and virtuous.

Difficulty of knowing the age of a womam

A woman vegetable seller in Khwairaman Bazaar was caught by the city police for selling illicit liquor when she was taken to the court.

The Judge asked, "How old are you?" She replied, "I am 35 years old."

The Judge on checking her past records noted that she had declared her age as 35, five years ago for another offence. Puzzled, the Judge asked, "How can you be 35 today?" She then said, "My Lord I am a woman of principle. I have no two words. I never change what I have said earlier especially in the court."

Women should not mimic men: I, Thangjam Sanjoo Singh do believe that woman will not make her contribution to the world by mimicking or running a race with man. She can run the race, but she will not rise to the great heights she is capable of by mimicking man. She should recognize and develop her own quality.

Difficulty of handling a fool: The silliest woman can manage a clever man, but it needs a clever woman to manage a fool.

A home in a house:
A home is something that cannot be bought. You can buy a house but only a woman can make it a home.