The Equality of the Sexes: Journal of the O.B.C.

The Equality of the Sexes: Part 12


Rev. Koten Benson


And be it a woman or be it a man for whom
Such a chariot 1 awaits, by that same vehicle
Into Nirvana's presence shall they come.
Samyutta-nikaya of the Pali Canon


The following is the twelfth in a series of articles of research information on the equality of the sexes and the status of women in Buddhism.

The Vow of Achalanatha Concerning Women

One way of regarding a Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism is as the embodiment of the Bodhisattva Vows to help all beings realize Enlightenment. These vows take various forms depending on the form of the Bodhisattva. Thus, Avalokiteshwara is the embodiment of Great Compassion and the vow to respond to the cries of the world without discrimination. Each Bodhisattva has a number of vows expressed in various ways.

Achalanatha, the Great Fierce One, who is enshrined on the left side of the main altar at Shasta Abbey and the various priories of the Order, embodies sitting still amid the three fires of greed, hate and delusion. 2 His vow is to subdue all disturbances that might distract trainees from their meditation. His especial concern is to protect the training of women against those who would disparage their spiritual ability and to dispel all obstacles to their training whether internal in the form of doubts or external in the form of men or women who denigrate the capacity of women to become Buddha. 3 In Buddhism the attitude of mind that denigrates the spiritual ability of women is regarded as a serious obstacle in training. 4 Indeed in some Buddhist texts this attitude is called a "root cause of spiritual downfall." 5 In the earliest Buddhist scriptures it is the voice of Mara that tries to cause doubt by saying that the highest stages of realization are closed to women. 6 This is a very important point to bear in mind!

Your sword of Wisdom cuts through all delusion,
showing us the truth of Nothing Matters.
Born of constant meditation, O Great Achalanatha,
we take refuge in your Eternal Peace. 7


Notes

1. The chariot of training, the Noble Eightfold Path.

2. See "Homage to Achalanatha Bodhisattva" by Katie F. Mueller in The Journal of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives, Vol. 8, No. 3, Autumn 2537 B.E. (1993) as well as other articles that have appeared in the Journal.

3. This Vow of Achalanatha is found in the ChandaMahaRoshana-Tantra. MahaRoshana, the Great Fierce One, is one of the titles of Achalanatha.

4. See "The Equality of the Sexes," Part 2, Journal of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives, Vol. 7, No. 1, Spring 1992, for a list of great masters who have taught clearly on this point; see especially Great Master Dogen's "Raihaitokuzui" in the Shobogenzo.

5. This is found in the Vajrayana Mula-patti, a text on the root and branch causes of spiritual downfall.

6. This is found in the Bhikkuni Sayutta of the Pali Canon in the story of the arahant bhikkuni Soma and her temptation by and defeat of Mara.

7. See Mueller, "Homage to Achalanatha Bodhisattva."


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