Eduqas A level R.S. Component 1D Knowledge Organiser: Theme 3F: The relationship between religion and society: religion, equality and discrimination

Key concepts

• The basis of different views about women can be • The last evidence of the bhikkhuni in dates to • Debates on the Dragon King’s daughter focus on her changing gender , is found in the Pitaka in the Cullavaga. the 11th century CE whilst it continued to varying degrees within the and what this implies in terms of the perception of . Views differ depending on the authority given to the and Tibetan schools. The Theravada approach is that the Is gender a conventional truth to be ignored or can only a male become a Vinaya and to the Cullavaga. If seen as a ‘frozen text’ bhikkhuni ended in the 11th century and cannot be restored ? with absolute authority, it cannot be modernised/ because the legitimate ordination of a bhikkhuni requires there to be • The Therigatha in the Canon presents poems written by bhikkhunis on updated. a bhikkhuni involved. Mahayana and Tibetan schools take a different how they attained enlightenment. • Maha-Pajapati Gotami (the Buddha’s aunt and foster- approach as does the Theravada sangha in Sri Lanka. Many convert bhikkus and bhikkunis in the West support and carry out ordination of • Rita Gross argued for a feminist revalorisation of Buddhism to challenge mother) asks the Buddha three times to be ordained a the four levels of androcentrism: preservation of male texts and stories, bhikkhuni and each time he refuses. women as nuns. prioritising of male texts and stories, preserving this male bias in Western • She then seeks the support of Ananda who urges the • The twelfth chapter of the Lotus addresses the question of scholarship, practising this male bias in Asian and Western Buddhism. Buddha to accept her request. The Buddha agrees who attain enlightenment and thus have the potential to attain • The revalorisation of Buddhism requires the removal of androcentrism provided that the eight Garudhammas (heavy rules) . explains that by teaching the Lotus Sutra in and the patriarchal approach of and the practice. are accepted. These set out the lower status to be the Dragon King’s realm, innumerable beings have been inspired and given to a bhikkhuni as opposed to a and that have become . • Gross argues that compassion in being, relating and caring is emphasised a woman can only be ordained by a mixed sangha of • The eight-year-old daughter of the Dragon King declares she is in Mahayana and in the concept of the bodhisattva Kuan-Yin – Buddhism and bhikkhunis. enlightened and demonstrates this despite the questions of some should extend this insight in what it teaches and practices. • The Buddha tells Ananda that accepting women as present by becoming a bodhisattva and a Buddha. In the process of bhikkhunis would have a negative impact on the true doing so she becomes a man. dhamma which would have lasted for 1000 years, but would now only last 500 years.

Canon Suttavibhanga ‘But since, Ananda, women have now received that permission, the Paravira pure religion, Ananda, will not now last so long, the good law will now stand fast for only five hundred years.’(The Buddha) Key words Keyparajikas arguments/debates Tipitaka Some focus on Buddhism and the Vinaya requiring ‘Discussion of women in early Buddhism mirrored old cultural modernisingUpaya and updating.suttas dham- stereotypes that collided with Buddhist principles of liberation for all Cullavagga mas Patimokka Bud- beings.’ (Schireson) Others focus on the authority of the Vinaya against Key Garudhammas so-called ‘Western’ feminism. Issues for dha vacana Theravadin Dasa ‘The question, the issue, is always what to do about women, what Key questions quotes special rules they would have to observe, whether or not they can lineage sila analysis and become enlightened, whether they could progress as far as men on Are androcentrism and a patriarchal approach Therigatha rootedsima in the approach of the Buddha or are they the Buddhist path.’ (Gross) evaluation simply limited reflections of his time and culture? androcentrism ‘The single biggest difference between Asian and Western Buddhism Is attempting the feminist revalorisation of is the active and equal involvement of women in all aspects of Kuan-yin Buddhism a legitimate quest or only the concern of Buddhist practice.’ (Gross) Western Buddhists engaged with feminism? patriarchy