Contents
· Introduction
· Define the term “Gender”
· The different attitudes relating to
gender in different religious
1. Vedic Period views
2. Brahmanical’s views
3. Jainism’s view
4. Islam’s view
5. Shinto's view
6. Christianity’s view
7. Buddhist’s view
· Conclusion
· Bibliography
Introduction
In this Assignment,
I would like to talk about the different religious attitude relating to gender.
It will help you to understand how the woman was dominated, and suffered since
long periods. I hope you will able to come across with various information
regarding the discrimination against women that prevails in the society.
The position
of women has been a subject of considerable interest in recent decades. In all
societies, particularly in the West, there has been a rethinking of the
position accorded to women in all spheres of activity. This has resulted in a
significant change in the role played by women in social, economic, and
political life. This reappraisal has also touched the question of the position
accorded to women in the main religious traditions of the world. In Christian
countries, the issue of the ordination of women has become a controversial
topic, and some Churches are facing the prospect of dissension, and even
schism, on this question. The position of women in Islam has been the subject
of considerable discussion and controversy.
This
assignment will be the best effort to emphasize that the Buddhist attitude
relating to the gender is the best than other religious traditions.
Definition
of gender
The gender can be define as following;
The state of being male or
female. (typically used with reference to social and cultural differences
rather than biological ones).
The members of one or
other sex.
(Oxford Dictionary)
According to general
knowledge, gender can divide into two main parts.
The
different attitudes relating to gender in different religious
The main purpose to
talk on this topic is not hitting down other religions and highlight the
Buddhism but to the give clear views on their different attitudes relating
gender.
First, I would to
discuss about Vedic period views and attitude towards gender.
Vedic
Period views
In Vedic period people used to worship
to Mother goddess and they consider womanhood as a sign of prosperity. They
understood survival of the human generation accomplish based on womanhood,
therefore they respect to the women.
In Vedic texts, we can
find some hymns, which has made by women. In Vedic period they had right to
learn and perform religious activities. Men allowed to women to do those kind
of things.
Therefore, the Vedic
period can be consider as the equal and good period for the both male and
female. They do not discrimination women low. I have drawn one diagram to
indicate the importance of Vedic period about the gender.
The opposite views of
Vedic can be seen in the law of Manu
Brahmanical’s
views
The second point, I hope to discuss
about the Brahmin views on gender. The Brahmin described woman as sinful
character and they put woman in lowest place of the society. The Brahmin
changed completely reflects of the woman through the Brahmin period.
The honorable, divine states of a woman,
which was in Vedic period, the Brahmin destroyed gradually.
Finally, they defined
women hood as follows,
Darsanam
citta vaikalyam----sparse dhana nasanam
sayanam
maranam kuryat-----stri pratyaksa raksasi[1]
“The meaning of this
stanza is looking the women form makes crazy, touching the women body is
destroy of wealth, if you sleep with women death is sure therefore women is
similar to the devil.”
The Brahmin taught
woman as unintelligent group of people. They did not care about ideas of the
woman. They taught that the woman could not develop their intelligent. Brahmin
wanted to protect their androcentric society.
Atma Buddhir sukam seti--Guru
bhuddhir visesta
Stri
bhiddhi vinasaya--bahu buddhir maranam bavet[2]
In this period woman
was considered as slave who used satisfaction of the men. Especially sexual
satisfaction Brahmin gave only women that kind of value.
Gagane ravi ratnantu --Gruhe
ratnani balakah
Shayane stri ratnam vai--sabha
ratnani panditah
Sughandan vanita
vastram --Gitam tambula bhojanam
Shayam mandiram caia - -Ashta bhoga prakirtita[3]
These stanzas indicated
the only importance of sexuality of women.
Women’s
status in Islam
The attitude relating to gender mention in Quran as
following:
“Husbands are the protectors and maintainers
of their wives, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other,
and because they support them from their means. Therefore, the righteous women
are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband’s) absence what Allah would
have them guard. As to those women on whose part you fear disloyalty and
ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and
last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them
means (of annoyance); for Allah is Most High, Great (above you all)”(92).[4]
1.
Separate prayer place for women in the
Mosque.
2.
Women are deprived from right of
education.
Christianity’s
view about gender
The Christianity attitude
relating to gender can be describe as following;
1.
According to Roman Catholicism, women
are allowed to become nun.
2.
Christ had many disciples during his
lifetime, including many women, but when it came time to choose his twelve
apostles, he chose only men.
Jainism’s view
The Jainism attitude relating gender can be describe as following
I.
Women are treated within the same code of ethics as
that is prescribed for men.
II.
The status of women in Jainism differs between the two
main sects, Digambara sect, and Swetambara sect.
III.
Jainism prohibits women from appearing naked.
IV.
Some Jains consider women to be inherently inferior.
The diagram mentions the clear views on the attitude relating
to the gender.
Shinto's
view
According to the Shinto it mention regarding to gender as
following
·
Women generally have the same rights as men do.
·
Shintoism allows women priestess to lead in prayer in
ritual in the Shinto shrines. In fact, the most revered Shinto goddess is
Amaterasu, the sun goddess.
· Women
generally hold the same positions and roles as men do in this religion.
Buddhist’s
attitude relating in gender
Finally,
the last point that I would like to discuss about Buddhism and its attitude
relating in gender. There are number of facts and sutta which relating gender
Such as Dhitu Sutta of Samyutta Nikaya,
Kundala kesi Jataka ,SaptaBhariya Sutta Itthi Bandhana Sutta etc.
The Buddhist attitude towards Women has mention in Dhitu
Sutta of Samyutta Nikaya:
“Itthī
pi hi ekacuyā seyyā posa janādhipa
Medhāvini
silavatī sassudevā patibbatā
Tassā
yo jāyali poso suro note disampati
Evam
subhagiyā putto rajjam pi anusāsatī”[5]
A woman child, O lord of Men
may prove even a better offspring than a male for she may grow up wise and
virtuous, respects husbands’ mother and father and be a true wife. The son that
she may bear may do great deeds and rule great realms, yes such a son of noble
wife become his country’s noble guide.
Second
instance:
When king Pasenadi of
kosala came grieving that his queen Mallika had given birth to a daughter the
Buddha said, “A female offspring, O king may prove even nobler than a male”
The second facts
can be seen in the Kundala kesi Jata story. The Buddha has mentioned this
stanza when Kudala kesi entered to the Sasana.
Naso
sabbesu thanesu - Puriso hoti pandito
Itthipi
pandita honti – tattha tattha vicakkana[6]
Moreover, the Buddha
said that there are women regarded as intelligent, virtuous and good wives in
Sattabhariya sutta such as;
1) Matubhariya, wife
like mother
2) Bhaginibhariya, wife
like younger sister
3) Sakhibhariya, wife
like friend
4) Dasibhariya, wife
like servant, [7]
It proves that the
Buddha gives equal rights to women; they are protected, looked after, and
praised in Indian society.
After the considering
all these facts, we get the clear knowledge about the importance of gender in
Buddhism.
Conclusion
To
conclude, I would like to say that since the world originated the different
attitude relating gender can be seen in the Human history. Those periods can be
divided into main two periods such as
1. Golden period
2. Dark period
Buddhism
can be consider as the golden period of women because the Nibbana can achieve
by both men and women without any discrimination. Buddha was the first
religious leader who gave women equal and unfettered opportunities in the field
of spiritual development.
Although He had pointed out on several
occasions the natural tendencies and weakness of women, He had also given due
credit to their abilities and capabilities. He truly paved the way for women to
lead a full religious life. They were able to develop and purify their minds
and realize the bliss of Nibbana just as men were.
Bibliography
Primary
Resource
1. Samyutta
Nikaya Kosala samyutta Dhitu sutta
3. Sattabhariya
sutta, Angutara Nikaya PTS: D ii 137. Chapters 5-6.
4. Kundala
kesi Jataka
5. Samyutta
Nikaya, Veeragoda Amaramoli nayaka thero, 1959 Dehiwala, Buddhist cultural
center
Secondary
Resource
1. The
Holy Qur’ān by Abdullah Yūsuf ‘Alī
2. Geroge
Buhler, Law of Manu,Vol.25 (Oxford,1866)
3. Prof.
Gamlat, Sucarita. Pratyasataka, 2007, Sahasra printers.
6. http://newlotus.buddhistdoor.com ,8.15 pm, 10.01.2014
7. Dhama
Pasal Avasana book, Sri Lanka government, 2011
8. Dharmacariya
texts book, Sri Lanka government, 2011
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