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 with the devas. Having concluded his pious mission, he returned to the earth and went about again, converting those who listened to his teachings.

XXXII.

WOMEN ADMITTED TO THE SANGHA.

Yasodharā had three times requested of the Buddha that she might be admitted to the Sangha, but her wish had not been granted. Now Pajāpati, the foster-mother of the Blessed One, in the company of Yasodharā, and many other women, went to the Tathagata entreating him earnestly to let them take the vows and be ordained as disciples.

And the Blessed One, foreseeing the danger that lurked in admitting women to the Sangha, protested that while the good religion ought surely to last a thousand years it would, when women joined it, likely decay after five hundred years? but observing the zeal of Pājapati and Yasodharā for leading a religious life he could no longer resist and assented to have them admitted as his disciples.

Then the venerable Ānanda addressed the Blessed One thus:

"Are women competent, Venerable Lord, if they retire from household life to the homeless state, under the doctrine and discipline announced by the Tathagata, to attain to the fruit of conversion, to attain to a release from a wearisome repetition of rebirths, to attain to saintship?"

And the Blessed One declared: "Women are competent, Ānanda, if they retire from household life to the homeless state, under the doctrine and discipline announced by the Tathāgata, to attain to the fruit of conversion, to attain to a release from a wearisome repetition of rebirths, to attain to saintship.

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