Hi Nina, I could not find the [A 1.27] reference you specified at sutta
central:
http://www.suttacentral.net/disp_sutta.php?subdivision_id=59&subdivision_name=Ekaka%20Nip%C4%81ta&collection_name=Pali&division=AN&acronym=1&type=Subdivision
Is it using the numbering scheme on the left column or 2nd column in
parenthesis?
-Frank

On 3/11/2010 2:15 AM, Nina van Gorkom wrote:
>
> Dear Yong Peng and friends,
>
> In the Co. to the first book of the Abhidhamma, the Expositor
> (Atthasaalinii), II, Ch 3, Derived Material Qualities, 322, we read:
> <Of the two, the masculine sex is superior, the feminine is inferior.
> Therefore the former disappears through grossly immoral conduct; the
> latter may be brought about by weak immorality. But in disappearing,
> the latter does so by weak immorality, the former may be brought
> about by strong morality. Thus both disappear through immorality and
> may be brought about by morality.>
> Kamma produces the ruupas that are sex, bhava ruupa. It is due to
> kamma whether one is born a male or a female. Rebirth-consciousness
> as a woman is vipaakacitta that is weaker than rebirth-consciousness
> as a man. This is clear. It is a fact that a woman does not obtain so
> easily a position of honour in society.
> When a bodhisatta is born in his last life where he will be a Buddha,
> his rebirth-consciousness cannot be a weaker vipaakacitta. We read in
> the Cariyapi.taka that one of the requirements for Buddhahood is
> birth as a male. We read in the Anguttara Nikaaya, Book of the Ones,
> I, 27: <It is impossible, monks, it cannot come to pass, that a woman
> should be an arahat who is a Fully Enlightened One.>
> We also read in the suttas that both man and woman can develop wisdom
> and attain arahatship. For example: Samyutta Nikaaya IV, Sayings on
> Womankind, § 34:
> <Increasing in five growths, monks, the ariyan woman disciple
> increases in ariyan growth, takes hold of the essential, takes hold
> of the better. What five? She grows in faith, grows in virtue, in
> learning, in generosity, in wisdom...>
>
> We also read in the Theriigathaa that many women attained arahatship.
>
> We may debate about gender, about emancipation of women, about
> prejudices, rank, honour, but all this is insignificant compared to
> the development of right understanding of the dhamma appearing at
> this moment. This is what really matters in life, this leads
> eventually to liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
>
> Nina.
>
>



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