The parable of “The Woman at the Well” constituted a direct challenge to Brahmanism’s restriction of the right to make religious offerings to men of the Brahman caste. In it, Prakriti, a lower caste woman, has an encounter with Ânanda in which he accepts a drink of water from her. Profoundly moved by their interaction, Prakriti seeks out the Buddha and declares her love for Ânanda. In response, the Buddha elaborates on the central place of kindness and goodwill in Buddhist teachings, praising Prakriti as a “model for noblemen and noblewomen.” As you read it, think about the way the parable attacked central elements of Brahmanism. How did it challenge the caste system? What alternative relationship between gender, social status, and religion did it propose?

Ânanda, the favorite disciple of Buddha, having been sent by the Lord on a mission, passed by a well near a village, and seeing Prakriti, a girl of the Mâtanga caste, he asked her for water to drink.

Prakriti said, “O Brahman, I am too humble and mean to give you water to drink, do not ask any service of me lest your holiness be contaminated, for I am of low caste.”

And Ânanda replied: “I ask not for caste but for water”; and the Mâtanga girl’s heart leaped joyfully and she gave Ânanda to drink.

Ânanda thanked her and went away; but she followed him at a distance.

Having heard that Ânanda was a disciple of Gautama Shâkyamuni, the girl repaired to the Blessed One and cried: “O Lord help me, and let me live in the place where Ânanda thy disciple dwells, so that I may see him and minister unto him, for I love Ânanda.”

And the Blessed One understood the emotions of her heart and he said: “Prakriti, thy heart is full of love, but you do not understand your own sentiments. It is not Ânanda whom you love, but his kindness. Receive, then, the kindness you have seen him practise unto you, and in the humility of your station practise it unto others.

“Verily there is great merit in the generosity of a king when he is kind to a slave; but there is a greater merit in the slave when ignoring the wrongs which he suffers he cherishes kindness and good-will to all mankind. He will cease to hate his oppressors, and even when powerless to resist their usurpation will with compassion pity their arrogance and supercilious demeanor.

“Blessed art thou, Prakriti, for though you are a Mâtanga you will be a model for noblemen and noblewomen. You are of low caste, but Brahmans will learn a lesson from you. Swerve not from the path of justice and righteousness and you will outshine the royal glory of queens on the throne.”

Source: Paul Carus, The Gospel of Buddha (Chicago: The Open Court Publishing Company, 1896), pp. 174–175.

Questions to Consider