Research Of Early Indian Buddhist View Of Women

Early Buddhist canon showed a view of women, had been judged to Buddhism or Buddha is discriminating against women. Although women being allowed to be a nun, a filthy reputation of causing the Proper Dharma’s failure of being long established residence is bored. But we also can see many enlightened nuns in early Buddhism, such as "Therigatha, Verses of the Elder Nuns"、"Samyutta Nikaya’(Sanskrit:Samyuktagama)、"Ekottara Agama"(Sanskrit:Ekottarikagama), it indicated that the Buddha actually held the view of equality between men and women, and women could obtain total enlightenment as well as the men. The male’s superior statue seemed to be reflected in the monk orders and systems, but the discourse concerned the female’s inferior, should not be viewed or judged through simple interpretation.This article attempts to study the status of women in Indian society and religious, and how did the thoughts affect Buddhism as the time went by. Setting in the background of ancient India’s secular norms and social culture, Buddhism monk orders and systems could not avoid or escape from them. Moreover, Buddhist teachings embodied the point of view of discriminating against women inevitably. In fact, the Buddha was in order to ease the external attacks and take a gradual approach to enhance equal learning opportunities of Buddhist teachings for both gender. Before the establishment of the Buddhism, the status of women was undergoing changes in the Indian society. We can find women enjoy a high position during the ancient Vedic period (1500BC-500years), and they had much more free action will. Women could enter the temples and participate in rituals and festivals freely. Although during this period, Indians prayed for have more baby boys, they did not feel unfortunate or disappointed to have daughters. Obviously, women were well-educated. Distinguished women had been worshiped. During the Brahmana period (1000BC to500years), women suffered a lot, their status class inferior to Sudras, dogs and crows. Sacrifice was sacred and monopolized by men. Women were regarded as the incarnation of evil. During the Book era (500BC to250years), the status of women declined. The steadier the caste system was established, the poorer the women were became."Manu" was the most important code of laws in ancient India. In the name of religion it regulated many life aspects of castes, and it also set women’s inferior status in the form of law. Codex reflected the overall attitude toward the Hindu women. Changes in religious thought and the establishment of the caste system showed a decline in the status of women. Facing the constraints of the traditional customs and culture, Buddha developed "Attha Garudhamma" to allow women to enter the Sangha and practice the Dharma. Considering the possible frequent contacts between bhikkhus and bhiksunis, it may harm the purity of the Sangha, cause the disdain from social, and jeopardize Dhamma, thus the Buddha stressed the religious practices of samvega. And that also partly explained why extreme misogynistic attitude can be found in the Theravada Buddhist scriptures. Due to the teachings are mainly for bhikkhus, it emphasized womens’ body and mind are full of dirt to improved the bhikkhus’ holy practice. Bhikkhus using misogynistic view to practice holy life. Bhiksunis should instead using the misogynistic to spur and remind themselves, taming their cavalier hearts, making progress to achieve total enlightenment equally to bhikkus. Bhiksunis should not limited themselves in the patriarchal culture, wallow in the low abased and tie themselves up.Discrimination against women in the early Buddhism can be understood in two different ways. One is that it was indeed said by the Buddha, but the Buddha did not despise women, he was effected by the culture of the Indian society. Due to the considerations of the establishment of both gender Sangha organization and concern about the religious practice of both parties,therefore misogynist view are seen in the Buddhist texts to promote their holy life. The other is that it actually reflected the thoughts of the conservative bhikkhus, because Tripitaka/Sanzo were compiled by them. Their attitude to women are more samvega,therefore compilation of Sanzo cannot remain objective.In summary, the patriarchal are practice at the secular level due to the Indian society culture. Finally, it should transition to the real meaning of Buddhism which mean the equality between men and women.