Was Gautama Buddha's wife Yesodhara in any way instrumental in Him becoming a Buddha?
score:0
It appears the stories in the question are not from the Pali suttas but are later commentary stories and Mahayana ideas probably created to salvage Gotama's misogynist reputation.
It appears Yasodharā is not mentioned in the Pali suttas, apart from supposedly as Bhaddakaccānā in AN 1.245. The Pali suttas appear silent on Yasodharā and only refer to Gotama's parents when Gotama left home.
So, at a later time, while still young, a black-haired young man endowed with the blessings of youth in the first stage of life — and while my parents, unwilling, were crying with tears streaming down their faces — I shaved off my hair & beard, put on the ochre robe and went forth from the home life into homelessness.
The Pali suttas do not report the traditional fables or children's stories about Gotama seeing a sick, old & dead man and secretly leaving home. Instead, the Pali suttas report Gotama unhappy with worldly life in his palaces and having an existential crisis (refer to Sukhamala Sutta).
Since Gotama left home after his son was born, it appears possible he made a deal with his father to bear an heir to the throne. In other words, his wife was probably unimportant, apart from her role of child bearing (breeding) for the family lineage.
Since Gotama was married for 13 years but childless, based on the above suttas mentioned, it appears obvious Gotama had little or no interest in sex. Obviously his family (clan), wife, child and royal status were a burden for him. This is probably why the Buddha taught in MN 26:
Monks, there are these two searches: ignoble search & noble search. And what is ignoble search? There is the case where a person, being subject himself to birth, seeks [happiness in] what is likewise subject to birth. Being subject himself to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement, he seeks [happiness in] what is likewise subject to illness... death... sorrow... defilement.
And what may be said to be subject to birth? Spouses & children are subject to birth. Men & women slaves... goats & sheep... fowl & pigs... elephants, cattle, horses, & mares... gold & silver are subject to birth. Subject to birth are these acquisitions, and one who is tied to them, infatuated with them, who has totally fallen for them, being subject to birth, seeks what is likewise subject to birth.
And what may be said to be subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement? Spouses & children... men & women slaves... goats & sheep... fowl & pigs... elephants, cattle, horses, & mares... gold & silver are subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement. Subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement are these acquisitions, and one who is tied to them, infatuated with them, who has totally fallen for them, being subject to birth, seeks what is likewise subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement. This is ignoble search.
In conclusion, Gautama Buddha's wife Yesodhara was probably highly instrumental in Him becoming a Buddha because she showed Gautama she was incapable of bringing Gautama any real happiness but would only bring burdens & misery.
Upvote:0
Who we finally called Yashodhara was an integral part of who we now call Siddhartha Gautama's achievement. She not only was an integral part, she also achieved realization in that lifetime. Ignorantly claiming that the circumstances in which karma was dispelled are not necessary is counter-productive. For instance, even in his last lifetime as the Buddha, Siddhartha stepped on a briar and hurt his foot. Ananda said, "How can this happen?" Gautama said, "It's the last little bit of karma that I had to dispel."
Yashodhara and Siddhartha made a pact in the time of the Later Dipankara Buddha - they would travel together through all of the subsequent lifetimes until enlightenment and if one achieved, they would come back for the other. We see undisputed (finally, sigh) stories of Yashodhara copying everything Siddhartha did as an Aesthetic. Shaving hair, doning yellow robes, eating once a day....while still in the palace waiting for him. This is not the action of a distraught or angry wife. Let's think about it.
Male Chauvenistic tendancies aside (if we can bear it) Yashodhara was principle part of Siddhartha's history. If you believe that he was ACTUALLY omniscient and did ACTUALLY remember his lifetimes, you must assume he could tell stories about them.
Men who claim women are unequal practitioners, evidenced by the 8 extra rules that place women "below" men are right. Men and women are unequal. Women are superior Bodhissatvas. Naturally they give their bodies to others (carrying a child), Feed them from their own bodies, subjugate their own needs to take care of others.
More rules are always given to more serious practitioners. Ignorant beginners only have a few rules. Let us think about this, too.
Upvote:3
I am trying to get around this idea called 'soul-mates' which is in pop-media.
The term 'soul-mates' doesn't make sense in ultimate reality as there are no souls to begin with. But if you simply interpret it as being the perfect husband and wife, it has meaning in Buddhism.
With or without Her being in His life He would have made it?
Once the Buddha Deepankara gave the prediction that the Bodhisatta is going to be a Buddha, it was going to happen one way or the other.
Yashodara Theri herself answers this question in her last words before she passed away.
“me saranam atthano” (“I am my own refuge”).
Nevertheless, she was the perfect wife to the Bodhisatta.
The relationship between Yashodhara and Prince Siddhartha was long and deep-rooted. It had started many, many years ago at the time of the Dîpankara Buddha. At that time, the Prince (Bodhisatta) was born as an ascetic by the name of Sumedha. After an exceedingly long period of practicing the ten virtues, the Bodhisatta Sumedha had finally completed the eight requirements to receive the definite proclamation of Buddhahood from the Dîpankara Buddha. Yashodhara, at that time, was born as a noble lady by the name of Sumitta. She saw the Buddha Dîpankara give the Bodhisattva eight handfuls of white jasmine flowers and the definite proclamation that He would be a Buddha by the name of Gotama, of the Sakyan caste, in the distant future. Cutting off her hair, she aspired to be His consort and helpmate and to support Him actively in His quest for Buddhahood.
Since then she had been the wife of no other but him during the entire period(100,000 world cycles and four infinite periods).
Another example for a perfect couple is Nakula matha and Nakula pitha.
More post
- 📝 Can a person with harmful thoughts still meditate?
- 📝 Is it alright to have a leather jacket and still consider myself a Buddhist?
- 📝 Garu kamma explanation
- 📝 How to understand a second order Karma?
- 📝 Devas as gods in buddhism ,is it a corruption of original teachings..?
- 📝 If every bad event is because of karma, how can anyone ever murder an arhat or buddha?
- 📝 Is it possible to have a romantic relationship without attachment?
- 📝 How should a bodhisattva respond to evil?
- 📝 Are there any instructions on the pose of hand during meditation?
- 📝 MN 36 parallels for section where Buddha as a 9 year old boy has first jhana
- 📝 Separating meditation into vipāssana or samatha
- 📝 In need of help in meditation
- 📝 Does Kwan Yin hold a place in Theravada Buddhism?
- 📝 What are the rotating cylinders in monastries, and why are they there?
- 📝 Foundations of Mindfulness • Stages of Awakening
- 📝 Does Viññāṇa generate Nāmarūpa in the sense that would make "uploading concsciousness" impossible?
- 📝 Miscarriages & Natural abortions as a result of evil beings?
- 📝 Is dependent co-arising an "IF AND ONLY IF A THEN B" relation?
- 📝 Proficiency in teaching Dhamma
- 📝 Dualism of mind and matter in Buddhism
- 📝 How to nullify the expectations?
- 📝 What are your thoughts on Ajahn Maha Bua?
- 📝 Why is 'attention' ('manasikara') included within 'nama-rupa'?
- 📝 How to combine Buddhism with being a parent?
- 📝 Literal translation of Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra
- 📝 Using money and improper dependency of monks on householders?
- 📝 How to recognize stream entry?
- 📝 I enjoy sex just like I enjoy good movie. What is wrong about it?
- 📝 How can Buddhist believe in Re-Incarnation, when they do not believe in soul?
- 📝 Personal practices of meditation
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Was Gautama Buddha's wife Yesodhara in any way instrumental in Him becoming a Buddha?
- 📝 Before Buddhism, was there a way to escape from samsara?
- 📝 Was Gautama Buddha a believer of the religious beliefs prevalent in his time and in his cultural context?
- 📝 What does Diamond Way Buddhism say about obstacles at times of becoming more conscious?
- 📝 What happened to Siddhārtha Gautama wife Yashodhara?
- 📝 Did the Buddha state that there is only one way, and state/imply that any other path (such as those practiced by yogis) was futile?
- 📝 What is known about enlightenment before the lifetime of the Buddha? Are there any claims that he was the first?
- 📝 Was buddha aware of future or future way of living?
- 📝 Has Buddha Gautama ever had problems with some autorities about his teachings and way of live?
- 📝 Is there any proof that Budai was an actual historical figure
- 📝 What was the time gap between the previous Buddha and Gautama Buddha?
- 📝 Is there any way to decipher sensations in the body during Vipassana?
- 📝 According to Theravada tradition, was Siddharta Gautama illuminated after meditating under the Bodhi tree?
- 📝 Is there any way one can be a Monk without a teacher in India/Nepal?
- 📝 Are there any sutta references to the way S.N. Goenkaji teaches Vipassana?
- 📝 Any advice on leg numbing during sitting?
- 📝 Did Gautama Buddha exist?
- 📝 Are there any living enlightened people?
- 📝 Have any Buddhist thinkers responded to the critique of the Brahma Sutras?
- 📝 Any authentic sutta from any tradition that gives guidance on what kind of partner to choose?
- 📝 Was Vipassana discovered by the Buddha (Siddhartha)?
- 📝 Is there any benefit in learning Pali or Sanskrit?
- 📝 How was the Buddha Jayanti edition of the Tripitaka derived?
- 📝 Is there any such thing as a bad meditation?
- 📝 Can Buddhism be viewed as a threat to the capitalist way of life?
- 📝 How/Why to be moral without believing God or any supernatural entity?
- 📝 Are there any differences in karma?
- 📝 Is there any significance to shaving the head?
- 📝 Was Buddha born of a Virgin?
- 📝 Are there any alternative formulations of the five skandas?