[lbo-talk] Re: Buddhism and body parts

[Hari Kumar]

Ken - or is it Doug says: "Second point: (this one is for Doug). For Buddhism, it is the mind that
wields power over physical actions  and it is the intention behind an
action that is the decisive factor determining whether that action is moral
or immoral............
Now this might be all find and well and gender-neutral... but: Regarding the
ordination of nuns: the Buddha was reluctant to ordain women. He eventually
does agree to do so but lists eight conditions, which include placing the
order of nuns under the rule of the order of monks. He also predicts the
decline of his teachings as a consequence of the ordination of women. It is
no small wonder that many of the orders of nuns literally died out.
Similarly, within Mahayana Buddhism the question of whether or not women
could achieve enlightenment was raised. We should not that it was not
self-evident  the fact that the question was raised at all indicates a
sharp distinction between male and female and an implicit account of their
status within Buddhism. The answer is rather ambiguous, leaning toward no 
and the narrative indicates that Sariputra, a Bodhisattva (on the path
toward enlightenment), was magically transformed into a man, and then
achieved enlightenment."

It seems surprising that while socialists in the West would be quite prepared to challenge Christianity's self-proclaimed beliefs about itself, that they do not do so regarding Eastern religions like Bhuddism. [Forgive me if the purpose of both Ken & Doug was purely to explicate the B's stated rationale] Renunication is a part of many religiond but is especially (I think) profound in many Eastern religions - a matter of necessity. I was brought up as a very devout Hindu & I know the toll that this took (& takes) on many, many of my family. Perhaps the Karl Kautsky - demythologising religion of the West - in the East - is Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya, whose works like "Lokayata - a Sutdy in Ancient Indian Materialism" 1959 & "Indian Philosophy a Popular Introduction"; 1964; explain the ruling class need for acceptance & subservience & self-denial. [Both still avaialbe thru' Peoples' Publishing House(s) Delhi, Mumbai). These are useful Marxist- based analsyses of the Way(s). 
Hari K