Tuesday, May 4, 2021

May 4, 2021

Mahapajapati Opens the Door

Mahapajapati was the aunt and foster mother of the buddha and a queen of the Shakyas.  Many women turned to her for counsel when their husbands and sons left home to join the Buddha's order.  She was the first to ask the Buddha if women could also ordain.

The Buddha replied, "Don't set your heart on this."  She asked two more times and received the same answer.  She departed in tears.

Later Mahapajapati and five hundred other women cut off their hair, put on saffron-colored robes, and walked barefoot for hundreds of miles to where the Buddha was teaching.  Weeping, they stood outside the gates. Andanda saw them there and asked Mahapajapati, "Why are you crying/"

"Because the Buddha does not permit women to ordain."

Ananda went to the Buddha and said, "Your aunt is standing outside with swollen feet, covered with dust, crying because you do not permit women to ordain.  It would be good, Lord, if women had permission to ordain." 

The Buddha replied, "Enough, Ananda.  Don't set your heart on this." Ananda asked two more times to no avail.  Then he asked, "Are women able, Lord, to realize the full fruits of the the way, even arahantship?"

"Yes, Ananda, they are."

"Since women are able to realize perfection, and Mahapajapati was so kind to you--caring for you and suckling you at her own breast--surely it would be good if women were allowed to ordain." The Buddha relented, and the sangha of women was born.

From "The Hidden Lamp: Stories from Twenty Five Centuries of Awakened Women" (Edited by Florence Caplow and Susan Moon)

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Special bows for today: 

  • Please offer bows in honor of:
    • Shanti, Steven and Selora Lane's dog who died on May 2, 2021
    • Shirley Snell, Merrill Snell's mother, who died on April 23, 2021
  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Kenny Merrill, Misha's cousin, who died from ALS on March 20, 2021
    • Lally Hass, Kathleen Dickey's aunt, who died 3/7/2021  
    • Jesse Schouboe, dear friend of GJ Scove, who died on 2/27/21 in a car crash
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Marya Shahinian, who has had two outpatient surgeries and is recovering
    • Fritz Hartog, Sue Jensen's brother in law, who had surgery today and is in ICU
    • John Hass, Kathleen Dickey's uncle who has entered hospice
    • Les Kaye, who has begun another round of chemotherapy
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is recovering after finishing a successful round of chemotherapy...his tumors are gone!  
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of recovery from a stroke
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Wonderful links/recommendations shared by sangha members and friends:
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