Ask Osho!

Why was the Buddha reluctant to allow women into his Sangha?

Synthesized from Source definition

"Even the enlightened carry the weight of their past; true compassion sometimes requires us to transcend our own fears and limitations."

Core Insight:
According to Osho, Buddha hesitated to admit women because his extensive pre-enlightenment experience with women colored his mind; even enlightened ones communicate through their old mind, so his caution aimed to protect disciples from distraction. After a decade of refusal, compassion moved him to relent when his stepmother requested initiation.
Buddha was cautious about women due to his past, and finally said yes out of compassion when his stepmother asked.
Why this matters practically
- Recognize even great teachers speak through personal conditioning; don’t absolutize every rule.
- Notice your own biases and choose context-wise, kinder responses.
- Let compassion soften rigid positions when life demands flexibility.
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