The Buddha founded Buddhism in the 6th century BC. He was a high caste Hindu and some of his thoughts and philosophies were influenced by Hinduism. However, he did break from the caste system and allowing women to become nuns. He allowed women to become nuns but put stringent condition which effectively reduced their status in relation to male monks
The Buddha, the founder of Buddhism was born in a high caste Hindu princely family. When Buddha was born the caste system had taken deep roots in Hindu society and the Brahmin cult ruled supreme. Another aspect of Hindu society at that time was the low status of women.
Buddha did not accept both these aspects of Hindu society. But in the 6th century BC when Buddha spread his message it was mostly by word and mouth. The Sutras which are supposed to bring out what the Buddha said were compiled 200 years after the death of Buddha
Mahapajapati however was allowed entry to the Sangha by Buddha and she along with 500 high caste women shaved of their hair and became monks. This was a break from Hindu tradition where women were not allowed to become monks.
The Buddha now laid down some rules for admitting women as monks. These are known as the 8 rules of Buddha. A reading of the rules however brings out a bias against women which has not been explained by Buddhist theologians. Briefly ,Buddha stated the following rules
.a) He laid down that each and every nun would be junior to a male monk even she had been ordained for 100 years.
b) Women monks must not accept any food, seats and resting place in front of any male monk
c) No woman monk can find fault with a male monk
d) The Buddha affixed an age of 18 for a woman to be ordained as a nun He also laid down that a period of 2years was necessary for preliminary course of training in the precepts. Her full ordination has got to be received from the groups of both monks and nuns.
e). Any nun who violates any rule of conduct must do penance for 15 days. During this period she is to be resituated only after approval from the communities of both nuns and monks.
f) Every woman Nun must seek instructions from male monks once in 15 days.
Buddha
The Buddha, the founder of Buddhism was born in a high caste Hindu princely family. When Buddha was born the caste system had taken deep roots in Hindu society and the Brahmin cult ruled supreme. Another aspect of Hindu society at that time was the low status of women.
Buddha did not accept both these aspects of Hindu society. But in the 6th century BC when Buddha spread his message it was mostly by word and mouth. The Sutras which are supposed to bring out what the Buddha said were compiled 200 years after the death of Buddha
Buddha and Mahapajapati
When Buddha was an infant his mother died and he was brought up by his mother’s sister, Mahapajapati. When Buddha grew up and attained enlightenment Mahapajapati also was deeply influenced by Buddha , requested that she be allowed to join the ‘sangha’. The negative aspect of Buddhism comes out as she was denied 3 times by Buddha to join the ‘Sangha’. Perhaps it was a part of Hindu influence that Buddha still carried.
Buddha and Status of Women
Mahapajapati however was allowed entry to the Sangha by Buddha and she along with 500 high caste women shaved of their hair and became monks. This was a break from Hindu tradition where women were not allowed to become monks.
The Buddha now laid down some rules for admitting women as monks. These are known as the 8 rules of Buddha. A reading of the rules however brings out a bias against women which has not been explained by Buddhist theologians. Briefly ,Buddha stated the following rules
Rules for Women Nuns: A Bias
.a) He laid down that each and every nun would be junior to a male monk even she had been ordained for 100 years.
b) Women monks must not accept any food, seats and resting place in front of any male monk
c) No woman monk can find fault with a male monk
d) The Buddha affixed an age of 18 for a woman to be ordained as a nun He also laid down that a period of 2years was necessary for preliminary course of training in the precepts. Her full ordination has got to be received from the groups of both monks and nuns.
e). Any nun who violates any rule of conduct must do penance for 15 days. During this period she is to be resituated only after approval from the communities of both nuns and monks.
f) Every woman Nun must seek instructions from male monks once in 15 days.
Last Word
There is no doubt that gender bias did exist in Buddhism and had the approval of the Buddha. This gender bias was a carry forward of the era the Buddha was born. This was an era when the Brahmin cult ruled supreme and Buddha had a hard time countering it. But the gender bias of Buddha needs a better explanation. One has to accept the fact that there is some inequality in the role of women in Buddhism
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