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\*I don't want to spread propaganda or anything, I just wanted to say something\*
I was born in a Buddhist country, and I'm not usually very devout, but someone told me that my religion is misogynistic, which isn't true at all, and I want to explain that.
Compared to some religions or sects worldwide that have a supreme leader who dictates what is allowed and what is not, Theravada Buddhism in my country and my region is very flexible in practice and way of life. You can go to any temple, you can follow forest-based practices, urban practices, or even the superstitious belief in amulets and talismans—it's all mixed together. No one will arrest you if you don't follow the rules strictly. It all depends on your "willingness and faith."
The essence of Buddhism is guidance, not control. The Buddha laid down the principles, and the rest is up to you to manage your own life. What level do you want to reach?
Want to be an ordinary, chill person = Observe the Five Precepts (which is challenging even just swatting a mosquito).
Want to be a bit more advanced = Observe the Eight Precepts on Buddhist holy days.
Want to cut off worldly desires = Become a monk and observe the 227 precepts.
It has become a very open and liberal society. You can worship a Buddha statue, then go to a shrine to ask for lottery numbers, followed by offering alms in the morning, and society won't stigmatize you as an outcast who can't live in the same world. Everything is flexible and adapts to different lifestyles.
And then someone told me that my religion is misogynistic. The claims by Westerners that Buddhism forbids women from being leaders or is sexist are completely historical. Think about it: in ancient India (during the time of Buddha), Brahmin-Hindu society severely devalued women. They viewed women as mere property of men, with no right to education or anything else.
But Buddha was one of the first in the world to "unlock" this by accepting the existence of "bhikkhunis" (female monks), allowing them to be ordained, practice Dharma, and attain enlightenment equally with men! In a world that was still so barbaric, granting women the right to be leading figures in religious organizations was considered incredibly progressive and liberal for that era
What foreigners criticize is mostly not the teachings of Buddha, but rather "local culture or structural regulations" passed down through generations. For example, the practice of some temples in Thailand prohibiting women from entering certain ordination halls (due to ancient beliefs about sacred things or clever stratagems), or the discontinuity of the Buddhist nun order in Thailand due to monastic laws.
Foreigners only see this surface and immediately start headlines online criticizing Buddhism as "misleading," even though, in terms of teachings and spirituality, Buddhism views the "mind" as genderless. Everyone has the equal potential to access the truth and attain enlightenment, regardless of whether they are male or female
.In Islam or Christianity, their scriptures or religious laws may play a clearer and stricter role in defining the roles of women in the family and society (which is a matter of their respective social and political contexts that needs to be understood separately). However, Buddhism is much more flexible. You'll see women as major pillars supporting temples, nuns practicing meditation, and revered Vipassana teachers throughout the country. Especially in Theravada Buddhism, women are the true driving force behind the Buddhist faith.
Nowhere in Buddhist scriptures does it state that being attracted to the same sex or having any particular gender identity is a grave sin that will lead to eternal damnation. In Buddhism, "lust, desire, and love" are natural aspects of ordinary human beings. Whether it's the opposite sex or the same sex, if it remains within the framework of the third precept—not committing adultery, lying, deceiving, or murdering—it's simply normal human love and affection.
In contrast, the West or Abrahamic religions (Christianity/Islam) have ancient precepts that clearly define sexual orientation according to their ancient social contexts (which modern generations in those countries are trying to adapt and be more flexible with). But Buddhism has been detached from this issue for 2,500 years because the core of Buddhism focuses on "karma (actions)," not on your gender identity
.Regarding the issue of pregnancy and abortion, conservative Christians (pro-life) take it very seriously because they believe life belongs to God and humans have no right to destroy it. However, for Buddhism, the dimension is about "intention and karmic consequences." Of course, morally, taking a life (killing) has its own karmic consequences according to the natural law.
But the point of freedom and flexibility is that Buddhism doesn't have a judgmental punishment that dictates expulsion from the religion or labeling someone as a heretic. Buddhism views everything realistically. If a woman has an unavoidable need (such as health issues, readiness, or current legal constraints) to have an abortion, Buddhism emphasizes understanding, accepting the consequences of the action, and focusing on healing the mind through merit-making to mitigate karmic consequences. It doesn't resort to mob justice, condemning and trampling on her until she has no place in society
.Importantly, in Buddhism, we don't have a God. We only have a teacher, the Buddha, who attained enlightenment. People don't worship the Buddha in a devout way; they respect him, more like, "He's the best, the very best in my heart, I admire him greatly." But it's not like Christianity worshipping Jesus or Islam worshipping Allah, who are considered supreme deities. There's no record of the Buddha having any supernatural powers or magical abilities. The most he could do was preach, guide those who were misguided, and tell those doing wrong things. The Buddha was actually an ordinary person, Prince Siddhartha. He was incredibly wealthy, but he witnessed illness, death, and suffering. That's what made him want to become a monk. He practiced asceticism and self-mortification until he attained enlightenment and passed away. The Buddha died. That's the story. And then, once he attained enlightenment, everything else... I might not have studied it much, but he's a role model, you know? Like the Che Guevara of Buddhism.
Buddhism doesn't have missionaries who force or impose their beliefs on anyone, unlike Christianity/Islam. They have a proactive approach to religious dissemination (missionary style), sending people out to spread the faith and invite people to convert. If they encounter conservatives or extremists, like in some Western countries, it becomes a form of imposition, ridicule of those of different faiths, or claiming that their religion is the only path to salvation and that those who don't believe will go to hell.
Buddhism: Have you ever seen a monk knocking on doors inviting people to convert to Buddhism? No! Buddhism is about "being quiet. If you want to know, come to us." Our core principle is Ehipassiko, which means saying, "Hey, the repository of knowledge is here. Come and take a look. Try it out. If it's good, continue doing it. If you don't like it, that's your problem." There is no coercion or brainwashing of anyone
.Most other religions start with the phrase, "You must believe first." Believe in God, believe in the scriptures. Don't question, don't doubt. Memorize and follow the rules, and one day you will be rewarded.
But Buddhism is much more independent. The Buddha said, "Don't believe me yet" (the Kalama Sutta). Even if I am the prophet, the best in your heart, or even if you have read the Tripitaka until you know every word, you are just an enlightened reader of the apple. Your heart hasn't yet tasted the true flavor. It's not until you try meditating, practicing the Five Precepts to protect your life, and when your heart is truly peaceful and you are truly free from suffering, that's when you have "bite and swallowed the apple." Only then will you understand for yourself, without needing confirmation from anyone else
.When it comes to tasting things for yourself, you'll see why Buddhism in our country is so liberal and lenient with people's lives. It's because the Buddha provided the apple tree. You can pick it and eat it however you want—peel it, juice it, or eat the whole thing. (Whether you practice the five precepts by swatting mosquitoes or become a monk and renounce the world), it's all about experiencing taste according to what your body and life can handle at that moment. No one will point a finger at you and say, "Hey, you're eating the apple the wrong way! You'll go to hell!" Everyone has their own way of tasting.
The Buddha never claimed that Buddhism was the only path to salvation for humanity. If you don't believe in Buddhism, you can go to Christianity, Islam (go eat oranges, eat durian), or you can be an atheist and not believe in anything at all, chill about it... Buddhism says, "Do as you please." The Buddhist law of karma works like the laws of physics: you do good, you get good results; you do evil, like murder or theft, you get the consequences. It has nothing to do with wearing an amulet or following any other religion. It's incredibly fair!
Buddhism doesn't say you'll go to hell for not chanting prayers. Instead, Buddhism says you'll go to hell only when you commit heinous acts with undeniable evidence, causing harm to others, such as robbing or murdering. As soon as you do that, you won't have to wait for your next life to go to hell... You'll be dragged to jail by the police, ostracized by society, and live in fear that her husband might point a gun at you someday. That's the hell on earth that you've created with your own hands.
Because Buddhism is so lenient and flexible, achieving "heaven" or inner happiness according to Buddhist principles doesn't have complicated conditions. You don't need to pass a perfect exam on the scriptures, nor do you need to adhere to all 227 precepts like a monk (which you'd fail even if you just swat a mosquito, lol). You just need to live a life of moderation, responsibly, without causing trouble for others, having a positive mindset, and helping others to the best of your ability... Your mind will be clear and happy. That light and peaceful state of mind is your own version of heaven.
Other Religions: When faced with a crisis or taking risks, they focus on supplicating and asking God for strength and protection (which is a matter of belief for their peace of mind).
Buddhism: Buddhists say, "You can chant as many prayers as you want or wear as many amulets as you like, but you must also be mindful!" Because Buddhists believe in the law of cause and effect. If you have done bad things (like not carrying a parachute), the result will still be a crash to your death. There are no miracles that override the laws of nature.
In Buddhism, we don't worship a single god who controls everything. We have "deities" (incorporating elements from Brahmanism-Hinduism) like Ganesha, Shiva, or guardian angels, which represent completely different dimensions:
Western Gods: The creator of the world, who dictates life and death; you can't defy them, and there can't be other deities.
Buddhist Deities/Angels: More like "fellow inhabitants of a different dimension," who simply have more merit and a little bit of supernatural power, enough for lighthearted superstition. Similar to powerful government officials or influential figures who help you when you're in trouble. However, these deities are still subject to the cycle of birth and death and don't have the power to truly free you from suffering as effectively as "you create it for yourself."
However, the purpose of this chapter is not to persuade anyone to convert to Buddhism; it is merely for the purpose of exchanging information.