________________
IV, 4, 44.
ARAHATS.
297
Very good, Nagasena! That is so, and I accept it as you say [Here ends the dilemma as to the wickedness of
women?.]
(ON THE FEARLESSNESS OF THE ARAHATS.] 44. Venerable Nâgasena, it was said by the Blessed One: “ The Arahats have laid aside all fear and trembling?” But on the other hand when, in the city of Ragagaha, they saw Dhana-pâlaka, the man-slaying elephant, bearing down upon the Blessed
1 The position of women in India, at the time when Buddhism arose, was, theoretically, very low. The folk tales are full of stories turning on the wiles of women, and the Hindoo law-books seem never tired of the theme of her uncleanness, her weakness, and her wickedness. But, except in matters of property, the bark was I think worse than the bite. Among the people, in the homes of the peasantry, the philippics of the Brahmin priests were not much regarded, and the women led lives as pleasant as those of their male relations, and shared in such mental and physical advantages as their male relations enjoyed. The influence of Buddhism must have been felt in two directions. In the first place the importance attached to the celibate life must have encouraged the kind of view taken of women among Catholics in mediæval times (the Brahmin view being much akin to those that were promulgated by Luther). On the other hand the fact that women were admitted to the Order, and that the still higher aim of Arahatship was held to be attainable by them, must have helped to encourage a high esteem for women. We have many instances of women who were credited with the insight of Arahatship. A whole treatise in the Buddhist sacred books, the Theri Gatha, is devoted to hymns and poems ascribed to them, and many of these reach a very high level of intelligent and spiritual emotion.
I do not know the exact passage referred to, but there are many of similar tendency in the sacred books. See, for instance, Dhammapada, verses 39, 188, 214, 351, and 385; and Sutta Nipata, verses 15, 70, 212, 621, and 965.
Digitized by
Diglized by Google
