The Role of Women in Tibetan Buddhism Essay - 4445 Words

The Role of Women in Tibetan Buddhism â€Å"In Tantric Buddhism, we are dealing with a misogynist, destructive, masculine philosophy and religion which is hostile to life – i.e. the precise opposite of that for which it is trustingly and magnanimously welcomed in the figure of the Dalai Lama.†[1] Within Tibetan Buddhism, there is an inherent contradiction regarding the status of women. Although in many aspects women are seen and treated as inferior to men, several of the ancient and fundamental values of Tibetan Buddhism, and more specifically Tantric Buddhism, emphasize equality of the sexes, universal compassion, and most importantly the significant and essential role of the woman. Tibetan Buddhist nuns have been trying to†¦show more content†¦This portrays an early form of sexism, and a highly negative attitude toward the woman, showing that fundamental female qualities such as pregnancy and childbirth are irrelevant and not things to be highly valued. In the Buddha legend and du ring his life in general, the Buddha showed several contradictions concerning the status of women. He was said to be â€Å"torn between the culture and social system, and the conviction that women are as capable as men.†[3] Firstly, Maya, the name of his mother, means illusion in Sanskrit. However, in ancient Indian beliefs from which Tibetan Buddhism emerged, Maya was the name of the most powerful goddess who represented all material things in the universe. The Buddha also believed that the woman’s body was something impure and dirty, which then manifested itself into impure and evil personality characteristics. â€Å"The female’s defects – greed, hate, delusion, and other defilements – are greater than the male’s†¦Because I wish to be freed from the impurities of the woman’s body, I will acquire the beautiful and fresh body of a man.†[4] Women were believed to have uncontrolled sexuality, which was greatly frowned upon by men. The Buddha comments that â€Å"it were better that your sex enter the mouth of a poisonous snake than that it enter a woman.†[5] This rather harsh statement about male disgust toward sexual intercourse with women is the foundation of one of the biggest contradictions found in Tibetan Buddhism. Not only didShow MoreRelatedHinduism And Taoism802 Words   |  4 PagesCompare and Contrast: Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism. Both Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism in religious context compare through origin, philosophy, and their social structures including their outlook on women. These three religious show south east Asian roots, cultural beliefs, and social conflicts and solutions. 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The essay will first delve into the gender roles, which refers to roles assigned by culture to the biological differentiation of the sexes, performed in family and economic aspects, followed by some major restrictions imposed on women in order to show that male and female are both equally important in this society. Men and women perform their own duties, which are organized