Women Empowerment in Early Buddhism
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Abstract
Buddhism about twenty-five centuries ago inculcated the values of equality, justice and moral strength and spiritual energy by making woman empowered. The concept of women’s empowerment has gained more and more significance in the present times. The present study about women’s empowerment in the Buddhist period carries a contemporary significance. It offers the right path to remove ignorance and powerlessness among women. The right path is that of empowerment. Empowerment brings enlightenment. Enlightenment in the individual – both female and male – and social life enables humanity as a whole to tread the path of righteousness, truth, peace, progress, prosperity and justice. Empowerment of women mean empowerment of the entire mankind as in the present times, women are at the center of the world inside home and also hold the nucleus of the world outside home. Women have become the center that holds all the parts together and does not allow any disintegration to happen. The ceremony of innocence is celebrated by women, the flag of fair dealing is held by women, the march of non-violence is continued by women and therefore women have become the path finders of latest advances and record-breaking performance. Women have really proved themselves to be the solace for all the ills, all the pains, all the sorrows, all the sufferings and all the woes of men. In the woman lies the womb of progress, in her lies the cradle of prosperity, in her lies the hearth of peace and in her lies the throne of saintliness and she holds the key to happiness all over the world, peace in all the continents, brotherhood among all races and religious and woman will certainly in her reign of empowerment bring on this planet the Kingdom of Heaven.
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