Acharya Prashant addresses a question regarding historical accounts of Shri Buddha's initial reluctance to admit women into the Sangha and certain statements attributed to him. He explains that Shri Buddha should not be viewed merely as a specific historical individual but as a flow of 'Buddhahood' or enlightenment. He emphasizes that while the core philosophy or 'Dhamma' is timeless and universal, the specific actions, language, and social arrangements of any historical figure are bound by the context, culture, and constraints of their time. He notes that the philosophical foundations of Buddhism were further clarified and developed by later scholars like Acharya Nagarjuna, who separated the essential spiritual message from the time-bound social conventions. Regarding the exclusion of women from the early Sangha, Acharya Prashant suggests this decision likely reflected the lack of self-discipline among the male monks of that era rather than a judgment on women themselves. He points out that Shri Buddha eventually changed this rule, demonstrating that such arrangements were situational. He warns against the human tendency to seek absolute perfection in historical figures, noting that perfection is often a subjective mental projection. He asserts that one should follow the philosophy (Darshan) rather than trying to imitate the personal life or specific historical conduct of a teacher, as the latter is always relative to the circumstances of that period. Finally, Acharya Prashant clarifies a misconception regarding animal products and slaughterhouses. He explains that the vast majority of livestock today are not born naturally but are artificially and intentionally bred to satisfy human demand for milk, eggs, and meat. He argues that the suffering of these animals begins with their forced birth into an industrial system. Therefore, reducing the consumption of animal products would lead to fewer animals being bred into a life of misery, rather than leading to the abandonment of existing natural animals.
