Re: cautious optimism

about the
size of a sesame seed.



If, however, women are able to rid themselves of jealousy, desire,
weakness, defilement, and of all evils, they may become men, and so
theirs is not a hopeless plight. There is, for example, the case of the
dragon king's daughter. When Sariputra said that she could not become a
Buddha, she took a precious gem, her most valuable and cherished
possession, and offered it to the Buddha, who accepted it. She then
asked Sariputra if the Buddha's acceptance of her offering was fast, and
he replied that, indeed, it had been quick. "I shall become a Buddha
that quickly," she said and then she became a Buddha. This is proof that
women's lot is not hopeless. All they must do is resolve to cultivate
courageously and they too can become Buddhas.



There are also Ten Evils that pertain to women. First, at their birth
their parents are displeased. Although it is not always the case that
parents are displeased at the birth of a daughter, in most societies
this is the case, and a daughter starts out life by making a bad
impression on her parents.



The second evil is that raising daughters is not a very interesting
task. The third is that women are always afraid of people. Boys are not
usually afraid, but girls almost always are. The fourth evil connected
with women is that their parents undergo a great deal of worry about
their daughters' marriage. In America this is not a major matter, but in
most other countries parents have to give a great deal of consideration
to finding good husbands for their daughters.



Once girls grow up, the fifth of the Ten Evils occurs, when they have to
leave their parents alone. The sixth comes after they have been married
and are in constant fear of their husbands. When a husband likes
something, they are pleased, and when he is angry, they cower in terror.
The seventh evil