Buddhism Quote by Joel Kramer Diana Astad
““Buddha initially excluded women from his monasteries. When pressed, he made their entry conditional upon perpetual subservience to the lowliest (newest) male monks. Was this an example of unchanging wisdom? Or were some of his ideas not so enlightened, but rather a function of his place in history? His agenda to end suffering has had millennia to test itself and has failed. Are people just not good enough or smart enough? Is there something wrong with people or is something wrong with the agenda? His methodology for ending suffering was tied to the concept of enlightenment, which involves renouncing both the self and self-centeredness. So as an essentially renunciate religion, Buddhism is also essentially authoritarian, with Buddha being the absolute authority on what to renounce and how to go about it. Some modern Buddhists would bristle at calling Buddhism renunciate. They would say that through dis-identifying or detaching from the illusion that there is a self, self-centeredness effortlessly leaves. We view this as their illusion.””
About This Quote
The quote questions Buddha’s historical gender exclusions and suggests that Buddhism’s teachings may reflect cultural biases rather than timeless wisdom, highlighting tensions between renunciation and authority.
In simple terms: Buddha’s rules may be historically biased, not purely enlightened.
Key Takeaway
Critically examine religious teachings against modern values.
Themes
religion
gender
history
authority
philosophy
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- scholarly analysis
- interfaith dialogue
- ethical education
Key Concepts
patriarchy
renunciation
enlightenment
Questions to Reflect On
- How do cultural contexts shape religious doctrines?
- Can Buddhism reconcile renunciation with gender equality?
A Different Perspective
Historical context can limit universal claims.
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