Buddhism, Death, and the Feminine Jerry S. Piven, Ph.D.
Buddhism, Death, and the Feminine
Jerry S. Piven, Ph.D.
Life undergoes destruction night and day;
Women are the stain of the holy life…
- Samyutta Nikaya; Devaputtasamyutta (135: 76)
I am repelled and humiliated
By this foul, putrid body,
Subject to break up, fragile:
I’ve uprooted sensual craving.
- Samyutta Nikaya; Bhikkhunisamyutta (224: 530)
This paper is an attempt to elucidate how certain developmental issues and conflicts are
constellated in non-Western theologies. Despite a prevailing view of Buddhism as a philosophy
of detachment that enlightens us about our illusions and the psychological causes of our
suffering, numerous Buddhist texts also evidence marked disgust for the body and physical
decay, disparage the putrescing body as a real thing, and finally blame women for death and
contamination.
