Nuns, Agriculture, Metaphors

Note to myself: the value connection between gender, agriculture, and ordination are made in the paradigmatic text of nun ordination: the story of Mahaprajapati begging the Buddha (first herself, then via Ananda) to allow for the ordination of women. The Buddha explains to Ananda what catastrophes will befall the sangha if women are allowed to enter:

At that time, the Venerable Ananda went to see the Lord. Having sat at one side, he said to the Lord, ”Lord, Mahaprajapati Gautami has accepted the Eight Heavy Duties. The aunt of the Lord has now been ordained.” The Lord said to Ananda, ”Ananda, if women had not renounced their household lives and ordained in the religion of the Tathagata, the holy life would have lasted long, the core teaching of Buddhism would have remained for a thousand years. Because the ordination of women has occurred in this religion of the Tathagata, the holy life will not last long; the True Dharma will last for only 500 years. Ananda, in whatever religion women are ordained, that religion will not last long. As families that have more women than men are easily destroyed by robbers, as a plentiful rice-field once infested by rice worms will not long remain, as a sugarcane field invaded by red rust will not long remain, even so the True Dharma will not last long. Ananda, as a man builds a large surrounding dike to prevent the flow of water, I prescribe the Eight Heavy Duties for the nuns to adhere to for the rest of their lives without fail. (Vin. II, 256) [emphasis mine]