Cultures and Religions of the Himalayan Region

Denise M. Simone
Susan E. Wagner High School English Department
A Literary View of Himalayan Women Through Religious and Cultural Texts

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Buddhist Writings

Buddhism states that demeaning and degrading a woman because she is a woman is forbidden and a male is not superior to a female. In Dharma practice, Acarya Padmasambhava has said:

"In the attainment of Buddhahood,

See no difference in male and femal forms.

Like a real trantric yogin,

If endown with a pure bodhicitta,

Women can by far surpass."

There are other Buddhist texts which offer a different view:

The Seven Faults of a Woman

1-Unable to bear a son/unable to bear a male child to continue the family lineage
2-Woman's indulgence in sexual misconduct
3-Incompatibility with her father and mother-in-laws
4-Talkativeness
5-stealing from her in-laws' household
6-Feelings of hatred and jealousy towards her husband's sexual misconduct
7-Sickness: a woman's poor state of health

The Three Compliances

1-Compliance to her father's wishes before marriage
2-Compliance to her husband's wishes after marriage
3-Compliance with her son after her husband's death

The Four Behaviors

Feminine Actions

Feminine Speeches

Feminine Outlook

Feminine Rigor

The Eight Strict Codes for the Fully Ordained Nun

1-To receive ordination of a novice nun or a fully ordained nun from specific numbers of fully ordained monks.
2-To receive teachings from fully ordained monk/s every fortnight.
3-To avoid residing during summer in a place void of fully ordained monks.
4-To practice the "Saving and Distributing Observances" with specific numbers of fully ordained monks.
5-To abstain from the act of reminding the fully ordained monks of their faults and downfalls.
6-To refrain from using abusive and harsh words to the fully ordained monks.
7-To please a set of fully ordained persons (five fully ordained monks and four fully ordained nuns) for a fortnight duration on one's breach or violation of these Eight Strict Codes.
8-To feel obliged for a hundred-year-old fully ordained nun to prostrate and revere a newly ordained monk.

• How do these tennents dispute the notion of equality?
• How can these codes be abused?
• How might these codes help the societies of The Himalayas?

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