...yielding, she is gentle and refined in will, capable of attaining bodhi." . . . At that time Sâriputra said to the dragon girl, "You suppose that in this...heavenly king. Second, she cannot become the king Sakra. Third, she cannot become a devil king. Fourth, she cannot become a wheel-turning sage king....

...noted earlier, the arhat Sariputra refuses to believe in the naga-girl's achievement, because for him "a woman's body is soiled and defiled, not a vessel for the Law."13 Even though he eventually has to concede, the subliminal message of the text remains that "women...

...compassionate, benevolent, yielding, she is gentle and refined in will, capable of attaining bodhi." . . . At that time Shariputra said to the dragon girl, "You...austerities, accumulating deeds, practicing all kinds of paramitds, can one finally achieve success. Moreover, a woman is subject to the five obstacles. First,...

...eight-year-old girl had learned the Lotus Sutra and attained enlightenment, Sariputra said to her: You suppose that in this short time you have been...body is soiled and defiled, not a vessel for the Law. . . . Moreover, a woman is subject to the five obstacles.40 First, she cannot become a Brahma in the...