Search Buddhist Channel

Book review: Women in Buddhism

by PREMA NANDAKUMAR, The Hindu, July 8, 2008

Kolkatta, India -- Perhaps there was a time long, long ago when all the songs in Theri Gatha were known to the Tamil people.

The land might have drawn comfort and inspiration from women renunciants like Sundari and Chela to produce a sublime epic like Manimekalaiyin Turavu (The Renunciation of Manimekalai). However, though we hail Sathanar’s epic, Theri Gatha, which forms part of the Pali canon, remains a closed book for the contemporary Tamil reader.

A. Mangai has done well to present them in a free translation (with helpful introductory notes), by relying mainly on the English version from Pali by Ms. T.W. Rhys Davids. Mangai’s own Tamil study has done the rest in making a comprehensible recording of the voice of women renunciants who lived 18 centuries ago.

She is right in pleading for space to seek feminist thought in Buddhism instead of reading it only as an alternate religion.

Spirit of democracy

Uma Chakravarti’s critical introduction has subtle reflections on patriarchy. How come the Buddha is eulogised for his act of betraying a wife’s trust? But then, in a society where men do not inform their legally wedded wives of their liaisons and even publicly boast about the chicanery, the Buddha’s going away without telling Yashodhara might have been considered a lesser evil as he renounced material comforts too.

It was only when the Sakyans and Koliyas had a bitter war over building a dam across the River Rohini that Mahaprajapati Gautami compelled the Buddha to allow an order of nuns. She had noticed a real social problem of aimlessness with an increasing number of war-widows, women whose husbands had become monks, and ladies ill-treated by a patriarchal society. Life in a nunnery could help them focus on spiritual enlightenment.

The Buddha imposed “eight disabilities” on the nuns, but the women took up the challenge and succeeded in a remarkable way. Housewife or courtesan, they found a cherished place in the democracy of Nibbana.

Each came up by individual penance and occasionally recorded her feelings. There is spirit in Muddha engaged in domestic drudgery but has her mind established in Nibbana; courage in Sala and Abhaya who reject lust; hope for humanity when a slave-girl Punnika becomes a spiritual instructor; physical daring in Kundalakesa who kills Sadhuka; absolute fearlessness in Subha who plucks out her own eyes; Kissa Gautami, Khema, Vimala, Mahaprajapati Gautami herself: heroines all! There are even Theris who are anonymous.

Mangai’s Theri Gathai also brings the message that Tamil literature is getting back into translation mode; a sure sign of its enrichment in this century.

THERI GATHA - Pauththa Pikkunikalin Padalkal: (Tamil) A. Mangai; Sandhya Publications, Flat A, Nutech Vaibhav, 57-53rd Street, Ashok Nagar, Chennai-600083. Rs. 100.

We Need Your Help to Train the
Buddhist AI Chat Bot NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)

Dear Friends in the Dharma,

We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.

Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:

One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.

How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.

For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.

Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.

Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.

Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.

Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.

Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!

May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,

With deepest gratitude,

Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team

Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau

We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.

If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv

TOP