Why are women unable to become Buddhas?

General Theravada topics
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Someone asked me this and I wanted a more accurate response. Thanks.

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It’s not really stated why that is the case i dont think. Its merely stated that women cannot become Buddhas, maras or brahmas. but doesnt really explain why. To be clear. this means there will be no woman Buddhas, Maras or brahmas. Not that a being who is a woman now cannot become any of those three things in a future life. Its just that when they do they will be born a man in the life that they do.

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Please take the time to format as I have done.
Translation and text taken from TPR with full epitaka extension

Root Text

uparipaṇṇāsapāḷi

‘‘‘aṭṭhānametaṃ anavakāso yaṃ itthī arahaṃ assa sammāsambuddho, netaṃ ṭhānaṃ vijjatī’ti pajānāti; ‘ṭhānañca kho etaṃ vijjati yaṃ puriso arahaṃ assa sammāsambuddho, ṭhānametaṃ vijjatī’ti pajānāti.’’

‘‘He understands: ‘It is impossible, it cannot happen, that a woman would be an Arahant, a Sammāsambuddha; this is not possible.’ He understands: ‘But it is possible that a man would be an Arahant, a Sammāsambuddha; this is possible.’’’

Commentary:

uparipaṇṇāsa-aṭṭhakathā

130. yaṃ itthī assa arahaṃ sammāsambuddhoti ettha tiṭṭhatu tāva sabbaññuguṇe nibbattetvā lokuttāraṇasamattho buddhabhāvo, paṇidhānamattampi itthiyā na sampajjati.

  1. Regarding that a woman might be an Arahant, a Perfectly Enlightened One (yaṃ itthī assa arahaṃ sammāsambuddho), let alone the state of Buddhahood, which is capable of generating omniscient qualities and leading beings beyond the world, even the mere aspiration (paṇidhāna) is not fulfilled by a woman.

manussattaṃ liṅgasampatti, hetu satthāradassanaṃ;

Human existence, perfection of gender, presence of causes, sight of a Teacher;

pabbajjā guṇasampatti, adhikāro ca chandatā;

Going forth, perfection of qualities, strong resolve, and desire;

aṭṭhadhammasamodhānā, abhinīhāro samijjhatīti.(bu. vaṃ. 2.59) –

When these eight conditions are met, the aspiration is fulfilled.

imāni hi paṇidhānasampattikāraṇāni.

For these are the conditions for the fulfillment of aspiration.

iti paṇidhānampi sampādetuṃ asamatthāya itthiyā kuto buddhabhāvoti ‘‘aṭṭhānametaṃ anavakāso yaṃ itthī assa arahaṃ sammāsambuddho’’ti vuttaṃ.

Thus, for a woman unable to even fulfill the aspiration, how could there be Buddhahood? Therefore, it is said: “It is impossible, there is no opportunity, for a woman to be an Arahant, a Perfectly Enlightened One.”

sabbākāraparipūro ca puññussayo sabbākāraparipūrameva attabhāvaṃ nibbattetīti purisova arahaṃ hoti sammāsambuddho.

And an accumulation of merit perfect in all respects produces an existence perfect in all respects, so it is only a man who becomes an Arahant, a Perfectly Enlightened One.

Prediction Requirements

I have heard that as soon as the prediction has been made, they will always be male.
Here is the quote from Buddhavamsa

Buddhavaṃsapāḷi

manussattaṃ liṅgasampatti, hetu satthāradassanaṃ;

Human existence, attainment of the right gender, a cause, seeing the Teacher,

pabbajjā guṇasampatti, adhikāro ca chandatā;

Going forth, attainment of virtues, a meritorious act, and resolution;

aṭṭhadhammasamodhānā, abhinīhāro samijjhati.

Through the convergence of these eight conditions, the aspiration succeeds.

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I find it hard to imagine a Buddha-to-be carrying the burden of bearing and nursing a child like Rahula. That is not to mention the dangers of wandering alone or the physical toll of extreme ascetic practices. I simply don’t think it would have been biologically or socially feasible.

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Thank you ashin payar

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Hello, Venerable. Im confused by that MN 115 quote. Arent there female arahants? Doesnt the Therigatha have them?

And AN 8.51 has

Then Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha, “Sir, is a lady able to realize the fruits of stream-entry, once-return, non-return, and perfection once she has gone forth?”

bhabbo nu kho, bhante, mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitvā sotāpattiphalaṁ vā sakadāgāmiphalaṁ vā anāgāmiphalaṁ vā arahattaphalaṁ vā sacchikātun”ti?

“She is able, Ānanda.”

Perhaps MN 115 is using “arahant” as part of the full title of “Buddha” and thus it is not ruling out non Buddha arahantship for women?

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sabbākāraparipūro ca puññussayo sabbākāraparipūrameva attabhāvaṃ nibbattetīti purisova arahaṃ hoti sammāsambuddho.

And an accumulation of merit perfect in all respects produces an existence perfect in all respects, so it is only a man who becomes an Arahant, a Perfectly Enlightened One.

Araham and Sammasambuddho are Buddha’s qualities.

This quote is saying that only a man can become a Buddha.

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Thats my hunch too. Even tho its not stated exactly why women cannot become Buddha’s (or exactly why they cant fulfill the aspiration). It seems pretty logical and i think people wouldnt even question it if it was just 200 years ago (let alone 2000). Literally no religious founder in history has been a woman.

And this relates also to the reason the Buddha was reluctant to let women ordain. Which he literally says is because

“Itll be like a clan made up of many women and few men, the clan is quickly destroyed by thieves and bandits”

And thus shorten the lifespan of Buddhism as thieves and bandits attack Buddhist temples as a result. Seems pretty straightforward why we don’t have woman Buddhas.

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