麻豆社

Good morning. Years ago, I was driving my 7 year-old son and his friend, Harry, home from school. Harry asked: who鈥檚 better? boys or girls? Without hesitation, my son responded: can girls play football? Topic resolved. At that time, these boys just didn鈥檛 know of any female stars playing at the highest level.

Now, they certainly do. Last night鈥檚 incredible match in which England鈥檚 Lionesses so narrowly lost to the USA may well have changed attitudes for many towards gender equality and neutrality in general 鈥� not just in football.

Hinduism has both negative and positive form on this matter. Hindu-based communities, still suffer dreadful misogyny, discrimination and violence against girls and women in the name of culture and religion: partly from biased interpretations of scripture; and partly from old reactions to historical and social circumstances. Like other religious traditions, modern Hinduism must distinguish social constructs from eternal truths; and should use those truths to overcome outmoded harmful attitudes and behaviour.

Hindu spiritual texts assert that the personal consciousness of the atma, or soul, is like a driver who uses a particular car for some time and then moves on to another vehicle. The atma is separate from the body; it is therefore neither old nor young; neither male nor female. The Gita encourages us to see every human and indeed, every creature in nature, equally in terms of their spiritual identity as an individual soul.

There may be physiological or psychological differences between the genders 鈥� but Hindu spirituality regards these as complementary, not competitive. Through reincarnation, the atma experiences life sometimes in a male and sometimes a female body 鈥� thus allowing us each a chance to develop empathy and imbibe the values of both. These complementary natures of gender are celebrated in Hindu temples with the Divinity being portrayed as the unity of female and male forms; for example as Radha-Krishna or Sita-Ram.

There鈥檚 another father and son story in one ancient text. The elderly sage Vyasa was walking by the river. The ladies bathing there saw him and they naturally covered themselves modestly. However, when the sage鈥檚 son, an enlightened ascetic, passed by, the same ladies continued bathing unconcerned, because they recognised the son had pure spiritual vision. His mind had transcended any distinction between male or female. For Hinduism, such equanimity is the goal and purpose of spirituality.

Who鈥檚 better? Boys or girls? Despite last night鈥檚 disappointment, the Lionesses have certainly addressed the 鈥淐an they play football鈥� riposte. I鈥檇 like to see spiritual philosophy similarly challenge the negatives of outdated religious and cultural ideas to help us nurture further gender equality and complementarity.

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