The Buddha replied, “It’s impossible, Ānanda, that I would allow bowing down to women, or rising up for them, raising one’s joined palms to them, or doing acts of respect toward them. Even the monastics of other religions with their flawed teachings don’t do these things. So how, then, could I allow them?” The Buddha then gave a teaching and addressed the monks: “You shouldn’t bow down to a woman, or rise up for, raise your joined palms to, or do acts of respect toward a woman. If you do, you commit an offense of wrong conduct.”

On another occasion Mahāpajāpati went to the Buddha, bowed down, and said, “Sir, how should we practice those training rules that the nuns have in common with the monks?” “You should practice them in the same way as the monks do.” “And how should we practice those training rules that the nuns don’t have in common with the monks?” “You should practice them as they have been laid down.”