Non-Self, Agency, and Women: Buddhism’s Modern Transformation

In Bloomsbury Research Handbook of Chinese Philosophy and Gender. New York: Bloomsbury Academic. pp. 331-356 (2016)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

In “Non-self, Agency, and Women: Buddhism’s Modern Transformation,” Ann A. Pang-White argues that “non-self (anātman 無我)” and “emptiness (śūnyatā 空)” necessarily entail nonduality. Buddha nature is neither male nor female. Nonetheless, conflicting teachings are found in various Theravada and Mahayana texts. The more conservative texts have historically resulted in long-standing patriarchal practices: Buddhist nuns receive much less respect and financial support than monks, often facing the possibility of extinction. In Taiwan, however, in a complete reversal, Buddhist nuns outnumber male monks in an astonishing 75 percent to 25 percent ratio, with the largest number of Buddhist nuns in the world. Many Taiwanese nuns are highly educated and socially engaged activists. Nonetheless, to assert one’s autonomy to become a nun is extremely difficult in a Confucian society. How do Taiwanese women, society, and Buddhism mutually transform each other? In addition to an analysis of selected essential Buddhist texts, Pang-White investigates two Buddhist communities of women to shed light on Buddhism’s modern transformation. She concludes that to reform Buddhism from within is not only theoretically possible but also practically achievable.

Other Versions

No versions found

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 100,925

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Buddhist Women and Interfaith Work in the United States.Kate Dugan - 2007 - Buddhist-Christian Studies 27 (1):31-50.
Buddhist Perspectives on Gender Issues.Rita M. Gross - 2013 - In Steven M. Emmanuel (ed.), A Companion to Buddhist Philosophy. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 663–674.
Kim Ir-yŏp, han yŏsŏng ŭi silchonjŏk sam kwa Pulgyo ch'ŏrhak =.Jin Y. Park - 2023 - Kyŏnggi-do P'aju-si: Kimyŏngsa. Edited by Hun Kim.
War and Peace in Buddhist Philosophy.Sallie B. King - 2013 - In Steven M. Emmanuel (ed.), A Companion to Buddhist Philosophy. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 631–650.
Women and Buddhist Philosophy: Engaging Zen Master Kim Iryŏp.Jin Y. Park - 2017 - Honolulu, HI, USA: University of Hawaii Press.
The Agency of Buddhist Nuns.Carol S. Anderson - 2010 - Buddhist Studies Review 27 (1):41-60.

Analytics

Added to PP
2016-05-16

Downloads
102 (#202,094)

6 months
3 (#1,487,585)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Ann A. Pang-White
University of Scranton

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references