‘Gender no bar to Buddhahood’ - Ven. Ajahn Brahmavamso
In a
special Dhamma discussion with the Sunday Observer,
Venerable Ajahn Brahmavamso, abbot of the Bodhinyana
Monastery, Perth, Australia who is well-known for his
ability to explain serious Dhamma topics comprehensively
with his usual wit and humour, elaborated on the teachings
of the Buddha, focusing on intricate issues and dispelling
certain misconceptions.
The renowned meditation guru
was in Sri Lanka last week enabling thousands of people to
listen to his Dhamma talks. The Thera’s visit was organised
by the Buddhist Society of Western Australia Inc. and
sponsored by Mr. Premalal Mirihagalla. |
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by Samangie WETTIMUNY
Excerpts:
Q: Is it a sin to convert a person to some other religion?
A: It really depends on what your intention is and how you do that.
After listening to my teachings, many Christians had converted to
Buddhism. That is not with coercion, or with any unethical means.

Dhamma hall of the Bodhinyana Monastery, Perth, Australia |
Such conversions which are just done on reasons, on encouragements,
without any force are ethical. But if you are converting someone by
prophesying them with monetary awards, or with things which would not
happen that is unethical.
Sometimes people are forced to convert for they are given monetary
incentives. It also shows that such a religion is sort of a product, to
keep popularizing the product they entice them free gifts to discover
the product. Similarly there are countries where people are bought by
politicians. Politicians give people money to join their parties. That
is unethical.
If any person gives someone money or prophesys them free medical care
or similar incentives to convert them to some other religion that is
unethical and that is a sin.
Q: But some are forced to convert to Christianity because of their
marriage to a Christian. Does the converter commit a sin even though no
monetary incentives are involved in such conversions?
A: It is unethical. If you get married, you are marrying a person for
who he is. So if a Buddhist marries a Christian, the Buddhist has to
accept that his/her partner as a Christian and love that person for who
she/he is. And the Christian has to love the Buddhist in turn on the
same grounds.
If anyone is getting married and if your partner insists that you be
converted you should call off the marriage as it shows that the partner
does not love you!
Buddhists are sometimes very weak. Sometimes they would say “No, I
have to convert because he/she wants me to”. No, this should not be. A
Buddhist would never insist anybody else to convert and people of other
religions should not insist a Buddhist to convert!
Q: The Buddha was said to have imposed eight major conditions on
Bhikkunis before giving permission to establish the Order of Nuns (Bhikkuni
Sasana). Under such conditions can we really say that the Buddha has
given women full freedom to participate in a religious life?
A: First of all, I have to mention that other religions do not allow
women even that much of freedom. But Buddhism, more than 2550 years ago
was allowing women to become nuns and practise it faithfully in a
religious atmosphere. Those conditions were not supposed to hinder a
female’s practising a religious life. Remember, in a monastic life we
are supposed to be lessening our conceit and ego.
This is one of those practices, when instead of wanting to be on top,
to be proud, we are trying to lessen our pride, to lessen our ego, to
have more on self. And I feel Bhikkunis too are very advanced in
religious practices. They look upon their state as something which helps
them achieve Nibbana.
Status should be the last reason you become a nun or a monk.
Unfortunately in countries like Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand
many monks are attached to the status.
Q: So could imposing eight major conditions be justified? There is
one condition which says that a even a Bhikkuni who has been ordained
even for a century must respectfully rise up from her seat ,salute with
joined palms, do proper homage to a monk ordained but that day. In which
discourse do we come across those conditions?
A: Eight major conditions are in the Bhikkuni Vagga of the Chulla
Vagga. It is also mentioned individually in the Bhikkuni Patimokkha. It
could be justified and there can be a reason for that. The reason
actually is to assist your practice - to achieve Nibbana.
That is actually bad news for the monks (laughs), because it is more
likely to make a monk proud. It is wonderful for the Bhikkuni for she
has a higher chance of lessening her defilements and become enlightened.
It is a higher practice.
If you are a monk or a nun the sole purpose of it, is to achieve
Nibbana. Shedding pride and ego, in fact, assists you to attain Nibbana.
Q: Should a Buddhist stick to a vegetarian diet? If killing
animals is a sin, can we justify Buddhists consuming meat?
A: I’ll give you an example. A few days ago, while travelling in the
upcountry in Sri Lanka, I saw people ploughing in the fields. As they
were ploughing there were lots of birds following the plough and picking
out insects and worms which have been either killed by the plough, or
injured by the plough or brought up to the surface by the plough. So
even eating rice is at the expense of many animals lives.
Whatever you do, wherever you go, you may come across similar
incidents. Even if you are just driving your car, you may find an insect
on your windscreen or even some animals caught under the wheels of the
car.
Whatever you do in life are at the expense of others. So you cannot
be strict. All you can do is to avoid getting involved in any sort of
killing, try to lessen the destruction you cause on others.
It is very much better if you can be a vegetarian. But also remember
to pay attention to what comes out from the mouth (your utterances) more
than what you put inside the mouth!
Back to the topic, Some people can live long very well being
vegetarians. Other human beings can’t. It is actually bad for their
health. So one’s job should be to limit the destruction.
But if you are responsible for killing an animal yourself, the
consequences are heavy as your intention and proximity for killing is
far closer. So if a person is a butcher who kills animals day in and day
out he would fear lots of consequences for what he does. He cannot avoid
it.
Q: A woman can become an Arhat, but not a Buddha?
A: That is what it is said.
Q: Is it because of their physical vulnerability?
A: No, I have gone on record in many instances where I have said that
a woman can become a Buddha. In other words a person in a female body
can become a Buddha. The explanation is this. If a Bodisatta is going to
take rebirth to become a Buddha and to spread the Sasana once more, he
would choose a country, a race, a caste and a gender which is the best
for his purpose.
That is why when the Gautama Bodisatta came into the world, he chose
India as the country, he chose Kshatriya as the caste and also chose the
form of man. He did not choose Brahmin caste or Vaishya caste, but
Kshatriya because that was the best vehicle for his purpose - for
spreading the Dhamma. India at that time was a patriarchal society as
Sri Lanka is now. So he chose to be a man.
But there had been matriarchal societies in the history where females
have been the dominant gender. In such a society if a person is going to
become a Buddha, that person would take on the female form as she would
get more authority and power to spread the Dhamma.
In fact it does not really depend upon your gender. It is actually
how a Buddha is going to use the gender, use the rights, use the social
position for the purposes of spreading the Dhamma.
So a female can be a Buddha if there is a feminine society
(matriarchal society) where the female is respected more than the man.
Then when a Buddha is going to take birth in that society he would
choose the female form.
Q: What would be the most appropriate type of meditation for a
beginner?
A: R-E-L-A-X. Relaxation meditation- any method which makes your body
relax and mind less tense. Method of meditation is not as important as
how you meditate.
Whether you are watching the breath, whether you are taking the
breath, or whether you are focusing on the Buddha, or whether you are
focusing a method, the most important thing is not what you meditate on,
but how you are meditating.
So when you are meditating, please do not try to attain things, but
try to simplify things.
Do not control things, but try to make peace with things. Meditate
with kindness, with gentleness and most importantly with patience.
When you meditate remember these five things. Let things go, let in
peace, be kind, ...be gentle and be patient.
Q: Is it a must to go to a monastery to practise this?
A: No, go to a ‘nice’ room in your house. Keep a cushion or two and
sit down and meditate.In a monastery there are so many rituals. In your
house you can practise the above mentioned simple meditation. Stay in
your room... relax and meditate and have a wonderful time!
(Next week: ‘Learn to forgive’)
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