[Buddha-l] Re: Gender on Buddha-l

[jkirk]

Come on, Richard. The evidence is so mammoth, in print and otherwise, that 
it's up to you to do the requisite research. But I don't think you are 
serious. However, if you insist on evidence, it would be spiritually of 
great benefit to you if you looked it up, since you claim not to know about 
any of this (which I doubt).
But we could start with the prevailing cultural views of the female gender 
that caused the bhikkunis of yore to be obliged to take a much longer list 
of vows than the bhikkus, and also to bow down to any male monk no matter 
what his age or accomplishments relative to those of the Bhikkuni. These 
basically negative views of women in that age were probably what inclined 
the Buddha to make these monastic rule distinctions. He had to preserve the 
sangha's reputation in a culture that suspected all women of being sexually 
voracious-- 
a perfect example of male projection, actually.  There is of course 
more--much more in some of the literature on Buddhism. I have already cited 
(in previous fairly recent posts on the economy of merit)  aspects of 
Ladakhi cultural views on women that prevent even nuns from practicing 
important aspects of their calling.  So, to offer just one source, please 
read Kim Gutschow, _Being a Buddhist Nun._
I think this will do for now. You are possibly just baiting me anyway.
No, evidence is distinctly not a guy thing, as women (and some men) have 
been marshalling it for centuries. It's only been in the 20th century that 
they were finally able to get it all into print, more than just a book or a 
poem here or there.
Joanna
====================
From: "Richard P. Hayes" <rhayes at unm.edu>
>
>> Sorry but that's wrong----if you hold to that view, then you have no 
>> concept
>> of culture whatsoever, thanks to an apparent decision to disregard some 
>> very
>> huge social realities.
>
> Sorry, but that's not an argument. If you'd like to convince me, you'll
> have to provide some evidence. Or is evidence a guy thing?
>
>
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