old-path-white-clouds-thich-nhat-hanh

Chapter Forty-Five
Opening the Door
Early one morning on his way to the lake to get some water, Ananda met Gotami and fifty other women standing not far from the Buddha’s
hut. Every woman had shaved her head and was wearing a yellow robe. Their feet were swollen and bloody. At first glance, Ananda
thought it was a delegation of monks, but suddenly he recognized Lady Gotami. Hardly able to believe his eyes, he blurted, “Good
heavens, Lady Gotami! Where have you come from? Why are your feet so bloody? Why have you and all the ladies come here like this?”
Gotami answered, “Venerable Ananda, we have shaved our heads and given away all our fine clothes and jewels. We no longer have
any possessions in this world. We left Kapilavatthu and have walked for fifteen days, sleeping by the roadsides and begging for our food in
small villages along the way. We wish to show that we are capable of living like bhikkhus. I beseech you, Ananda. Please speak to the
Buddha on our behalf. We wish to be ordained as nuns.”
Ananda said, “Wait here. I will speak to the Buddha at once. I promise to do all I can.”
Ananda entered the Buddha’s hut just as the Buddha was putting on his robe. Nagita, the Buddha’s assistant at that time, was also
present. Ananda told the Buddha all he had just seen and heard. The Buddha did not say anything.
Ananda then asked, “Lord, is it possible for a woman to attain the Fruits of Stream Enterer, Once-Returner, Never-Returner, and
Arhatship?”
The Buddha answered, “Beyond a doubt.”
“Then why won’t you accept women into the sangha? Lady Gotami nurtured and cared for you from the time you were an infant. She
has loved you like a son. Now she has shaved her head and renounced all her possessions. She has walked all the way from Kapilavatthu
to prove that women can endure anything that men can. Please have compassion and allow her to be ordained.”
The Buddha was silent for a long moment. He then asked Nagita to summon Venerables Sariputta, Moggallana, Anuruddha, Bhaddiya,
Kimbila, and Mahakassapa. When they arrived, he discussed the situation with them at length. He explained that it was not discrimination
against women which made him hesitant to ordain them. He was unsure how to open the sangha to women without creating harmful conflict
both within and outside of the sangha.
After a lengthy exchange of ideas, Sariputta said, “It would be wise to create statutes which define the roles of nuns within the sangha.
Such statutes would diminish public opposition which is certain to erupt, since there has been discrimination against women for thousands of
years. Please consider the following eight rules:
“First, a nun, or bhikkhuni, will always defer to a bhikkhu, even if she is older or has practiced longer than he has.
“Second, all bhikkhunis must spend the retreat season at a center within reach of a center of bhikkhus in order to receive spiritual
support and further study.
“Third, twice a month, the bhikkhunis should delegate someone to invite the bhikkhus to decide on a date for uposatha, the special day
of observance. A bhikkhu should visit the nuns, teach them, and encourage them in their practice.
“Fourth, after the rainy season retreat, nuns must attend the Pavarana ceremony and present an account of their practice, not only before
other nuns, but before the monks.
“Fifth, whenever a bhikkhuni breaks a precept, she must confess before both the bhikkhunis and the bhikkhus.
“Sixth, after a period of practice as a novice, a bhikkhuni will take full vows before the communities of both monks and nuns.
“Seventh, a bhikkhuni should not criticize or censure a bhikkhu.
“Eighth, a bhikkhuni will not give Dharma instruction to a community of bhikkhus.”
Moggallana laughed. “These eight rules are clearly discriminatory. How can you pretend otherwise?”
Sariputta replied, “The purpose of these rules is to open the door for women to join the sangha. They are not intended to discriminate
but to help end discrimination. Don’t you see?”
Moggallana nodded, acknowledging the merit of Sariputta’s statement.
Bhaddiya said, “These eight rules are necessary. Lady Gotami has commanded much authority. She is the Lord’s mother. Without rules
such as these, it would be difficult for anyone except the Buddha himself to guide her in her practice.”