When Feminism Came To The Buddha
By: Nicole Chardenet
Tags: Buddhism, Religion, Spirituality, Feminism, Womens Rights

The Buddha was silent for a long moment before he

said, “It is not possible.” — Thich Nhat Hanh, Old Path, White Clouds

Oh yes, it was possible. It was time for The Buddha, the Awakened One, to accept female disciples, or bhikkunis. He just didn’t know it yet.

To be fair, he knew it would create a spitstorm with non-monastic society. It was, after all, 2,500 years ago, and Indian women lived in a highly patriarchal society. There were other details to consider: How would they live with the thousands of existing bhikkus, male disciples? Buddhism pledged sexual chastity for monks, and the Buddha knew human beings were all-too-subject to temptation.

When Queen Gotami, the Buddha’s stepmother, visited and asked to become his first nun, it wasn’t the first time he’d been thus petitioned, but the Buddha had always responded, “This isn’t the right time.”

Sort of sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

Equality, or at least rights closer to equality, are never ‘the right time’ for those in power.

The Buddha had much respect for women and understood they shared capable intellects for understanding and following The Dharma as men had. He had already made exceptions for those otherwise rejected from other contemporary spiritual traditions. The Buddha had begun allowing underage novices — starting with his son Rahula — but scandalously, he also accepted those from the Untouchable caste where, in the sangha, or community of disciples, they were regarded as the equals of all other bhikkus, including former princes and kings.

Queen Gotami acknowledged that the notion of female and male disciples would create drama with the rest of the world. But she also noted The Buddha had been unafraid of the public opinion’s before. He never ignored it, but he always responded in accordance with The Dharma.

He acknowledged in return there were other women who had requested to be ordained. He still didn’t think the time was right. His stepmother, the woman who’d raised him as though he was her own son pleaded, but he was resolute. She went away.

But the disagreement wasn’t over for the Buddha. Never underestimate the power of a determined woman.

Or a small army of them!

Queen Gotami returned to the palace and gathered fifty women who wanted to become ordained. She observed that in Buddhism, all were equal, and that if The Buddha could accept Untouchables into discipleship, he could certainly accept women, fully capable of achieving enlightenment and liberation.

It was time to show him they were as serious as any aspiring monk.

So they shaved their heads in accordance with the practice, discarded their lovely clothes and jewels for simple robes, and took begging bowls to the streets to feed themselves en route to their return to the Buddha’s sangha. This was how monks supported themselves; through begging for food, often in exchange for imparting Buddhist wisdom.

The walk was hundreds of miles for the determined ladies. They proved they were ready to give up their lives as every monk including the Buddha had done and demonstrate that women were as rugged as men — that they could handle and love the life of simplicity and hardship, measured by their previous standards, that was the Buddhist seeker’s way of life.