Question 5
QUESTIONER: THERE IS TRUTH IN THIS STATEMENT.
This is not the question. This is not the question at all. There is a relative truth in this statement; it is true from the side of Buddha. It is true from his side, because his path -- or for that matter, Mahavira's path -- is not meant for women. Women don't have much scope on Buddha's path, which is male-oriented. Nonetheless women rush to them because they are so charismatic. So Buddha's statement is relatively true in the context of his path, but it is not an absolute truth.
There is no difficulty for women in achieving moksha; they can achieve it as much as men can, but certainly their path will be different. They cannot make it on the path of the Jaina tirthankara. It is like there are two pathways for going to a mountain, one of which is straight, steep and short with a sign on the entrance: Not For Women. And another is long, circular and flat with a sign at the beginning: For Women. This much is the difference.
So the statement that women cannot achieve liberation is true in the context of Mahavira's path or Buddha's for that matter. If some woman insists on treading these male-oriented paths, she will surely have to wait for another incarnation as a man.
Mahavira's path is particularly steep and precipitous and hard, and there are good reasons for it. One important reason is that you have to go it alone, there is neither God nor any companion to lean on in times of difficulty. And the psychological make-up of a woman is such that she needs someone's shoulder -- even a false shoulder -- to lean on when in difficulty. She has a sense of assurance when a shoulder is available to lean on, a hand to hold. This is the way she is.
But man's way is different; he loves to be on his own. Dependence on others is alien to his nature; it fills him with self-pity. When a woman puts her hand in the hand of a man she feels assurance, strength, and dignity. Left alone she pities herself and feels forlorn and miserable.
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Next: Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 6
Energy Enhancement Enlightened Texts Krishna Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy
Chapter 20
- Krishna, Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 1
Krishna, Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 1, WHAT IS THE SUBTLE DIFFERENCE, IF ANY, BETWEEN MAHAVIRA'S TRANSCENDENCE OF ATTACHMENT, CHRIST'S HOLY INDIFFERENCE, BUDDHA'S INDIFFERENCE AND KRISHNA'S NON-ATTACHMENT? AND IN WHAT WAY ARE THEY THE SAME? at energyenhancement.org
- Krishna, Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 2
Krishna, Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 2, YOU EXPLAINED TO US KRISHNA'S CHOICELESSNESS. THE GEETA, HOWEVER, SAYS THAT ONE WHO DEPARTS FROM THIS WORLD WHEN THE SUN IS ON HIS NORTHWARD PATH ATTAINS TO LIBERATION. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE ONE WHO DIES WHEN THE SUN IS ON HIS SOUTHWARD PATH? AND HOW DOES KRISHNA'S STHITAPRAJNA, ONE WHO IS SETTLED IN HIS INTELLIGENCE, COMPARE WITH HIS DEVOTEE WHO IS ON THE PATH OF LOVE? KRISHNA DEFINES STHITAPRAJNA AS ONE WHO REMAINS UNPERTURBED AND STEADY IN THE MIDST OF BOTH HAPPINESS AND PAIN. BUT THIS STATE CAN ALSO LEAD TO UTTER INSENSITIVITY. AND WILL YOU CALL IT HUMAN IF SOMEBODY DOES NOT TAKE PLEASURE AS PLEASURE AND PAIN AS PAIN? at energyenhancement.org
- Krishna, Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 3
Krishna, Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 3, A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF A STHITAPRAJNA, ONE SETTLED IN HIS INTELLIGENCE, AND A DEVOTEE, REMAINS TO BE MADE BY YOU at energyenhancement.org
- Krishna, Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 4
Krishna, Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 4, PLEASE EXPLAIN FULLY KRISHNA'S REVOLUTIONARY CONCEPT OF SEX. WHAT WAS THE SECRET OF HIS TREMENDOUS SEX APPEAL FOR WOMEN THAT THOUSANDS OF THEM WERE MAD AFTER HIM AND FELT SATIATED AND FULFILLED BY HIM? BESIDES, YOU SAID THAT FULLNESS OF LOVE LEADS TO CESSATION OF SEX. IF SO, HOW IS IT THEN POSSIBLE FOR ONE TO ENTER INTO SEX AFTER ACHIEVING FULLNESS OF LOVE AND THE HIGHEST STATE OF SAMADHI OR ECSTASY? at energyenhancement.org
- Krishna, Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 5
Krishna, Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 5, THERE IS TRUTH IN THIS STATEMENT at energyenhancement.org
- Krishna, Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 6
Krishna, Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 6, GANDHI USED TO WALK LEANING ON TWO WOMEN -- ONE ON EACH SIDE at energyenhancement.org
- Krishna, Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 7
Krishna, Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 7, WAS IT BECAUSE HE WAS OLD? at energyenhancement.org
- Krishna, Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 8
Krishna, Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 8, WHY CAN'T MAHAVIRA TOLERATE IT? at energyenhancement.org
- Krishna, Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 9
Krishna, Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy Chapter 20: Base your Rule on the Rule, Question 9, LIKE CLEOPATRA? at energyenhancement.org
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