Archive Result

Women and Buddhism : Equality and Equanimity

Note : Gelek Rimpoche as invited speaker at the Global Buddhist Conference in Delhi, on 29th Dec 2011. Rimpoche was the only male speaker amongst a host of female speakers which also included Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo from UK, Ven Sang-Won from South Korea, Dr. Renukha Singh (Professor of Sociology, Jawarhalal Nehru University, New Delhi), Rev Myosei Midorikawa from Japan).

Chair: Professor Anne Klein, Dept of Religious Studies, Rice University, USA.

I don't know why they chose me to speak. They asked me in Nepal and I said I am not prepared. But what I saw and did I was fortunate enough to be born in Tibet and educated in the old Tibetan way in the monastery so I don't have much awareness of difficulties about women in Buddhism. In the mid 80s there are challenges.

In our general society, as a woman you see how much they have to struggle to be equal to their male counterpart, in the fields of business, journalism etc. They work much harder and paid lesser. That is reality of our society today. In the religion tradition, you began to see a mail hierarchy there. Buddhism has developed in this great land at that great time. But greatness and great time has advantage and disadvantage. Disadvantage is male hierarchy. Thats why there is difficulty. Madam chairman said that Buddha hesitated in giving audience to lady. Also gave few more commitments to women because of the culture, terms and conditions.

Practically when I began to have western friends in the feminist movement. I began to see their difficulties. I thought Buddhism is such. Purpose of Buddhism is to help and serve living beings, particularly human beings. Purpose of buddha is to serve and Help. So as much as we can, we have to serve and we have to help.

We came on dharma for the sake of development. In Theravedan tradition, we want to be free from samsara. In addition the rules and culture are additional burden. Actually be able to change and remove as much as possible. At the same time we are not here to revolutionize what the buddhas said. Before Buddha passed away he said, you have to make the judgement on how you are going to manage. Even if it suits what I said or not. Fully ordained bhikshunis are rare. We are here not to revolutioinaise Buddhism.

I introduced Tara as a female Buddha. Tara is such an example. She chose remain in physical form. About the time she was about to be fully enlightened, some suggested that she may take male form. She said thank you but no thank you. I hope you will bring in the female aspects..

Note :- End of speech before other speakers gave theirs. This was to precede a forum, which Jewel Heart people did not attend because all of us followed Rimpoche as he left. Rimpoche excused himself and we all headed elsewhere for Samdhong Rimpoche's teachings which had been arranged for us.