Gender and Salvation: Jaina Debates on the Spiritual Liberation of WomenIs a total renunciation of clothing a prerequisite to attaining salvation? In Gender and Salvation, P. S. Jaini brings to light heretofore untranslated texts centering on a centuries-old debate between the two principal Jaina sects, the Digambaras and the Svetambaras. At the core of the debate is the question: should gender-based differences of biology and life experience condition or limit an individual's ability to accomplish the ultimate religious goal? For the Digambaras, the example of total nudity set by Mahavira (599-527 B.C.), the central spiritual figure of Jainism, mandates an identical practice for all who aspire to the highest levels of religious attainment. For the Svetambaras, the renunciation necessary occurs purely on an internal level and is neither affected nor confirmed by the absence of clothes. Both sects agree, however, that nudity is not permitted for women under any circumstances. The Digambaras, therefore, believe that a woman cannot attain salvation, while the Svetambaras believe they can. Through their analysis of this dilemma, the Jaina thinkers whose texts are translated here demonstrate a level of insight into the material and spiritual constraints on women that transcends the particular question of salvation and relates directly to current debates on the effects of gender in our own society. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
The Sūtraprabhṛta Suttapāhuḍa | 31 |
The Strīnirvāṇaprakarana with the Svopajñavṛtti | 41 |
The Nyāyakumudacandra of the Digambara | 48 |
Acārya Prabhācandra c 9801065 | 109 |
The Tātparyavṛtti of the Digambara Ācārya | 139 |
The Tarkarahasyadīpikāvṛtti of the Svetambara | 148 |
The Yuktiprabodha with the Svopajñavṛtti | 159 |
Sanskrit Text of the Strīmokṣa Section | 195 |
Words | 205 |
225 | |
Other editions - View all
Gender and Salvation: Jaina Debates on the Spiritual Liberation of Women Padmanabh S. Jaini No preview available - 1991 |
Common terms and phrases
absence ācārya accept admit argument Arhat attain mokṣa attain nirvāņa attainment of mokṣa biological gender birth born Buddhist called cause Chapter claim commentary conduct considered darśana debate Digambara Digambara monk doctrine endowed example female body female libido female sexual feeling fourteen guṇasthānas gaṇadharas Haribhadra hence hermaphrodite household human inferior Intro Jaina Jaina mendicant Jaina sects Jina jinakalpa karmas karmic kevalajñāna Kevalin Kundakunda libido Mahāvīra mahāvratas male Malli māyā Meghavijaya mendicant order mendicant restraint mendicant vows mokṣa for women monks Moreover naked nirvāṇa nudity nuns Nyāyakumudacandra Opponent parigraha passions path perfection person possessions possible Prabhācandra Prakrit primary meaning rebirth reborn reference renounce renunciation reverentially greeted right view rule Śākaṭāyana samhanana Sanskrit sattva scriptures secondary meaning seventh hell sexual desire Siddha Siddhahood soul spiritual stage status sthavirakalpa strīmokṣa Strīnirvāṇaprakaraṇa strīveda sūtra Śvetāmbara Svopajñavṛtti Three Jewels Tīrthankara tradition veda verse wear clothes whisk broom wrong views Yapanīya