Buddhist Buddhist Scripture

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Buddhist scripture can also provide insight into the inconsistencies found during the past time periods. For example, found in the Sagatha Vagga Samyutta Pali, in 6th century BCE King Pasenadi of Kosala received news his wife, Queen Mallika, a Dharma follower, had given birth to a daughter. The King was upset, and discussed this with Gotama during one of their meetings. The Buddha replied, "Some women are indeed better (than men). Bring her up, O Lord of men. There are women who are wise, virtuous, who have high regard for mothers-in-law, and who are chaste. To such a noble wife may be born a valiant son, a Lord of Realms, who will rule a kingdom" (Washington Buddhist Vihara). This can be seen in both a positive and negative light, because …show more content…
A Naga King, or dragon king who protects Buddhist scripture, has an eight-year old daughter who is able to gain deep insight into the teachings of the Buddha. According to Jennifer Watts, author of Women in Buddhism, she is able to awaken to the thought of enlightenment, worship many Buddhas, and teach and respect the Dharma. She is doubted in the beginning, because she is a woman, but when she changes into the male form, in order to become a bodhisattva, and then attains enlightenment in front of the amazed monks, she gains their acceptance. In a perfect sutra, she would not have had to change into the body of a man in order to become a bodhisattva, but due to the longstanding association of lust and evil with the female form, that was not an option. One can see, in this quote from the Buddha, just why the female form will always be associated with greed: "The female’s defects- greed, hate, and delusion and other defilements- are greater than the male’s...You (women) should have such an intention... 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" (Watts). The Buddha said this in the 5th century BCE, and it was still affecting scripture four centuries …show more content…
Sunyata translates to emptiness, or lack of essential nature in all things (Vorenkamp). Because nothing has essential nature, there is no gender: no difference between a man and a woman. This is a concept found in The Diamond Sutra and The Sutra of the Buddha Teaching the Seven Daughters. The Diamond Sutra preaches that to be enlightened, “one must dispel all notions of sexuality” (Watts), while The Sutra of the Buddha Teaching the Seven Daughters tells a story of “the illusion of existence itself” (Paul 15). The story involves the lives of King Kiki’s seven daughters, who all attained enlightenment during their lifetime. As Paul writes towards the end of the story, “The emphasis shifts from sexual desires and attachments associated with the feminine to the attachment to the transitoriness… “The citizens of Kapilavastu, not as male or female, were ecstatic. With harmonious hearts they entered meditation” (15). In one lifetime, a being of no gender can break the cycle of Samsara, or
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