Aṇguttara Nikāya
X. Dasaka-Nipāta
XXI: Kara-Ja-Kāya-Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
X. The Book of the Tens
XXI: The Body Born of Deeds
Sutta 202
Mātu-Gāma Suttaṃ
Womenfolk
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
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Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī.
There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
'Purgatory' is Woodward's suggested translation for Niraye, Hell, in accordance with a precise understanding of the Judeo-Christian concept where 'Hell' proper is eternal and Purgatory temporary. Since Niraye is a temporary condition, was the thinking, this could not qualify it to be called Hell. The Buddhist position, is that there is no state of existence which is eternal. The common understanding of the idea of Hell today will do for life in Niraye, which can last to the end of a world cycle.
— p.p.
"Monks, characterized by ten qualities
womenfolk are cast into purgatory according to their deserts.
What ten?
Herein a certain one takes life,
takes what is not given,
in sexual desires
she is a wrong-doer,
she is a liar,
she is a slanderer,
she is of harsh speech,
she is given to idle babble,
she is covetous,
she is malevolent of heart,
she has wrong view.
Characterized by these ten qualities
womenfolk are cast into purgatory according to their deserts.
■
Characterized by ten qualities, monks,
womenfolk are put into heaven according to their deserts.
What ten?
Herein a certain one abandons taking life,
abandons taking what is not given,
in sexual desires
she abandons wrong action,
she abandons lying speech,
she abandoning slanderous speech,
she abandons harsh speech,
she abandons idle babble,
she is not covetous,
she is not malevolent of heart,
she has right view.
Characterized by these ten qualities, monks,
womenfolk are put into heaven according to their deserts.
