印度教與佛教的性別觀及其性別平等實踐

Gender Perspectives in Hinduism and Buddhism: A Study on How to Improve the Gender Equality among the Two Religions

印度每年約八千起婦女因嫁妝不足而被殺死或燒死。第一作者從事家庭暴力者的輔導二十餘年且在2005年先後提出區域與全國危險分級預防方案確實有降低通報的成效，而好奇是否可結合印度學者提出改善印度方案。印度教佔印度八成人口，而佛道教佔台灣六成人口，第一作者將比較印度教與佛教的性別平等觀念並探討未來可行的做法。研究發現印度教來自西元前一千五百年前中亞遊牧民族雅立安人的入侵並帶婆羅門教消滅尚有男女平等的印度河文化，更為統治需要而設種姓。男祭師能與神溝通而漸漸寫出男性至上的典籍，官員則附和，至此女性地位漸滑落至從屬地位，只負責生殖與家事，連宗教活動也被禁。西元前五百年佛陀出世提出眾生平等，到孔雀王朝阿育王倡導佛教，之後笈多王朝印度教復興至今，其中印度教之摩奴法典，更是要求妻要伺候神一樣服侍夫。佛教則在佛陀時就倡導眾生平等，對於女性出家也予接納，但有八敬法主張尼眾須恭敬比丘、不舉其過等。對此國內尼眾有不平之鳴。作者以多元文化社會工作中須平等尊重多元文化，優勢觀點社會工作強調之社區是資源的綠洲為基礎，而提出三一互助法，也就是須先找出已較進步的前三分之一區域來幫助願改善而較落後的後三分之一，即可逐步改善。

Approximately eight thousand women are killed or burned to death annually due to insufficient dowry in India. The first author, with over two decades of experience in counseling perpetrators of domestic violence, introduced regional and national risk classification prevention programs in 2005, demonstrating a tangible reduction in reporting. There is a curiosity about whether these initiatives can be integrated with improvement proposals suggested by Indian scholars. With 80% of the Indian population practicing Hinduism and 60% of the Taiwanese population adhering to Buddhism, this paper aims to compare the gender equality concepts in Hinduism and Buddhism and explore feasible future interventions. Research reveals that Hinduism originated around 1500 BCE from the invasion of Central Asian nomadic people, the Aryans, who brought Brahmanism and eradicated the egalitarian culture of the Indus Valley, ultimately establishing a caste system for governance. Male priests, capable of communicating with gods, gradually authored scriptures promoting male supremacy, and officials concurred. Consequently, the status of women declined to a subordinate position, limited to reproductive and household duties, with even religious activities being prohibited. Around 500 BCE, Buddha advocated for the equality of all sentient beings. During the Maurya Empire, Emperor Ashoka promoted Buddhism, while the subsequent Gupta Dynasty witnessed the resurgence of Hinduism. Notably, within Hinduism, the Manusmriti, a legal code, mandates a wife's duty to serve her husband as if serving a deity. In contrast, Buddhism, from the time of Buddha, promoted the equality of all sentient beings and accepted the ordination of women, although the Eight Respectful Laws stipulate that nuns should show deference to monks and refrain from mentioning their faults, leading to dissatisfaction among female monastics domestically. Drawing on multicultural social work principles that emphasize equal respect for diverse cultures, the author proposes the 'First Third Helps the Last Third Method.' This involves identifying the first third of counties and townships to assist those in the last third, gradually fostering nationwide improvement, based on the notion that the community serves as a resource oasis.