It was no less than a feminist protest to break the existing patriarchy that even Buddha was not immune to.
Buddha admitted everyone with an open arm in his sangha. However, there was one group Buddha had special reservations against, it was the women. When Buddha’s aunt and foster mother Queen Mahaprajapati aspired to be part of the Sangha after her husband died, Buddha refused. He declined even when the person who brought him up as her own son begged repeatedly. But Mahaprajapati was adamant too. She chopped off her hair, put on the yellow robes and walked for almost 250 km barefooted with 500 Sakyan ladies to meet Buddha again. It was no less than a feminist protest to break the existing patriarchy that even Buddha was not immune to. That’s when she met Ananda, who was shocked to see her in such a terrible condition. Ananda decided to convince Buddha. But every time Ananda tried to reason with Buddha, the latter refused.
“Was women not capable of attaining the bliss of sainthood?”
Buddha has so far claimed that Dhamma was for everyone irrespective of their caste, trade or past actions. Then why should half of the human race be left out? Ananda interrogated Buddha again, “Was women not capable of attaining the bliss of sainthood?” Buddha had no answer to that direct question. He had to accept that they were as capable as the men. Probably even Buddha knew that it was not women who were the problem, but his men who were vulnerable. He believed that a sangha where there were many women would be weak and not last long.
It was possibly the first time any religious leader allowed women in their fold. The ordinance or women was no less than a radical act over 2500 years ago.
So Buddha laid down eight rules for women to get ordained into the order of Nuns. The rules did give men more authority over women as per the order of the times, but it was a start. Mahaprajapati accepted the offer and soon thousands of women started joining the sangha. It was possibly the first time any religious leader allowed women in their fold. The ordinance or women was no less than a radical act over 2500 years ago. While Buddha had the final say, it was possible only because of the determination of Mahaprajapati and wisdom of Ananda.
