Q.5. What were the key differences between Buddhist and Jain views on women?

The key differences between Buddhist and Jain views on women primarily revolve around their religious roles and the opportunities for spiritual advancement within each tradition:

Views on women in Buddhism:

• Monastic Life: Buddhism allowed women to become nuns (bhikkhunis), although they were subject to more rules than their male counterparts (bhikkhus) and often held a secondary status within the monastic hierarchy.
• Enlightenment: While early Buddhist texts suggest that women can achieve enlightenment, there was a prevailing view that being born as a woman was a result of bad karma.
• Variation Among Sects: Different Buddhist traditions have varied in their approach to women’s spiritual roles. For example, Vajrayana Buddhism, particularly in Tibet, recognizes female Buddhas and places high importance on women.

Views on women in Jainism:

• Spiritual Equality: Jainism generally provides more equality to women, allowing them to take on significant roles within the religious community as nuns and lay followers.
• Path to Liberation: The Śvetāmbara sect believes that women can achieve liberation (moksha) directly, while the Digambara sect holds that women must first be reborn as men to attain liberation.
• Religious Practices: Women in Jainism are actively involved in religious practices, such as fasting and worship, and are often the most enthusiastic participants in religious festivals.

In summary, while both Buddhism and Jainism have provided pathways for women to engage in religious life, they have done so with differing degrees of freedom and recognition. Jainism tends to offer more liberality and equality to women compared to Buddhism, which has historically been more conservative in its approach to women’s spiritual roles.