" Gautama Buddha first ordained women as nuns five years after his enlightenment and five years after first ordaining men into the sangha. The first Buddhist nun was his aunt and foster mother Mahapajapati Gotami. Bhikkhunis have to follow the eight rules of respect, which are vows called The Eight Garudhammas. According to Peter Harvey âThe Buddhaâs apparent hesitation on this matter is reminiscent of his hesitation on whether to teach at all,â something he only does after persuasion from various devas.[99] The ordination of women in Buddhism is and has always been practiced in some Buddhist regions, such as East Asia, is being revived in some countries such as Sri Lanka, and is newly beginning in some Western countries to which Buddhism has recently spread, such as the United States. As Buddhism spreads, its prevalence in Mahayana countries grows in popularity as well despite the decrease in Theravada Buddhist nuns. As William Nadeau explains in his book Asian Religions a Cultural Perspective, âIn the Mahayana countries, however, the nunsâ order remains strong, particularly in Tibet and in Chinese speaking communities.â[100]"
Women in Buddhism - Wikipedia.
" The 14th Dalai Lama
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The Dalai Lama spoke at a conference on Women in Buddhism at the University of Hamburg in 2007:
Warfare has traditionally been carried out primarily by men since they seem better physically equipped for aggressive behavior. Women, on the other hand, tend to be more caring and more sensitive to othersâ discomfort and pain. Although men and women have the same potentials for aggression and warm-heartedness, they differ in which of the two more easily manifests. Thus, if the majority of world leaders were women, perhaps there would be less danger of war and more cooperation on the basis of global concern. I sympathize with feminists, but they must not merely shout. They must exert efforts to make positive contributions to society.[108]
In 2009, at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, he said: âI call myself a feminist. Isnât that what you call someone who fights for womenâs rights?â[109]
He also said that by nature, women are more compassionate âbased on their biology and ability to nurture and birth children.â He called on women to âlead and create a more compassionate world,â citing the good works of nurses and mothers.[110]
In 2007 he said that the next Dalai Lama could possibly be a woman, remarking âIf a woman reveals herself as more useful the lama could very well be reincarnated in this formâ.[111]
In 2010 he stated that âtwenty or thirty years agoâ, when discussing whether a woman could be a Dalai Lama in the future, he said yes but âI also said half-jokingly that if the Dalai Lamaâs reincarnation is female, she must be very attractive. The reason is so that she will have more influence on others. If she is an ugly female, she wonât be very effective, will she?â[112]
During a 2014 interview with Larry King when asked if he thought we will ever see a female Dalai Lama he stated âYes! Thatâs very possible.â he recalled telling a reporter in Paris many years ago that it is possible mentioning that there are some female Lamaâs in history dating ââŚsix or seven centuries ago, so it is nothing new.â He then recalled joking with the reporter, âIf female Dalai Lama come, that female must be very, very attractive. [Itâs] More usefulâ[113][114]
In 2015 he repeated this anecdote during an interview with the BBC on refugees. When asked if the Dalai Lama could be a woman he answered âYesâ. Recalling again an interview in Paris the possibility he said, âI mentioned, Why not? The female biologically [has] more potential to show affection and compassionâŚtherefore I think female[s] should take more important role and thenâI told the reporterâif a female does come her face should be very, very attractive.â The interviewer Clive Myrie then asked if a female Dalai Lama must be attractive, he followed up, âI mean. If female Dalai Lama come, then that female must be attractive. Otherwise not much use.â Myrie replied âYouâre joking, Iâm assuming. Or youâre not joking?â to which The Dalai Lama insisted âNo. True!â. The Dalai Lama then pointed to his own face, stating that some people think he is very attractive and continued to laugh.[115][116]"
