The patriarchal aspect of Buddhist doctrine, however limited it may be, needs to be recognized. Interesting question is, what should we do with it?
The progressive in me say that we should start to evict these ideas slowly. I do not want Buddhism to be a refuge for the gross misogynist or sociopath. But these are holy texts we’re talking about…you cannot be cavalier about it. Is disowning parts of Pali canon even the right way to go? Will it tamper with the essence of it?
A purist would say— no there shan’t be any exclusion, Buddhism is what it is and one must accept Buddhist ethics as part of the formal system. If we are to hold onto the original form, we will be practicing fundamentalism. Are we okay with that?
Of course I’m in favor of the former. But this can be a dilemma for the conservative.
The progressive in me say that we should start to evict these ideas slowly. I do not want Buddhism to be a refuge for the gross misogynist or sociopath. But these are holy texts we’re talking about…you cannot be cavalier about it. Is disowning parts of Pali canon even the right way to go? Will it tamper with the essence of it?
A purist would say— no there shan’t be any exclusion, Buddhism is what it is and one must accept Buddhist ethics as part of the formal system. If we are to hold onto the original form, we will be practicing fundamentalism. Are we okay with that?
Of course I’m in favor of the former. But this can be a dilemma for the conservative.
