hat a congenial and happy atmosphere will be created in their new homes. Theywere advised to study and understand their husband's nature, ascertain their husband's activities,character and temperament, and to be useful and co-operative at all times in their new homes.They should be polite, kind and watchful in their relationship with the servants. They should alsosafeguard their husband's earnings and ascertain that all household expenditure was economicallymaintained. Such is the timeless quality of the Buddha's advice. The Buddha appreciated that peace and harmony in a home is to a great extent ensured by awoman. Thus, His advice to women on their role in their married life was realistic and practical.He listed a good number of day-to- day qualities which a woman should or should not emulate.On diverse occasions, the Buddha advised that a wife: - should not harbor evil thoughts against her husband; - should not be cruel, harsh or domineering; - should not be a spendthrift but should be economical and live within her means; - should zealously guard and save her husband's property and hard-earned wealth; - should always be virtuous and chaste in mind and action; - should be faithful and harbor no thoughts of any adulterous acts; - should be refined in speech and polite in action; - should be kind, industrious and hard-working; - should be thoughtful and compassionate towards her husband and her attitude should equatethat of a mother loving and protecting her son; - should be modest and respectful; - should be cool, calm and understanding serving not only as a wife but also as a friend andadviser to her husband when the need arises. In the days of the Buddha, other religious teachers had also spoken on the duties and obligationsof a wife towards her husband. They stressed that it is the particular duty of a wife to bear anoff-spring for the husband, and render him faithful service and to provide conjugal happiness. Thisis a similar view ...
