excerpt from AN 5.55, bodhi trans.:
“Bhikkhus, did that foolish man think: ‘A mother does not fall in love with her son, or a son with his mother’? (1) Bhikkhus , I do not see even one other form that is as tantalizing, sensuous, intoxicating, captivating, infatuating, and as much of an obstacle to achieving the unsurpassed security from bondage as the form of a woman. Beings who are lustful for the form of a woman—ravenous, tied to it, infatuated, and blindly absorbed in it1051""—sorrow for a long time under the control of a woman’s form. (2) I do not see even one other sound … (3) … even one other odor … (4) … even one other taste … (5) … even one other touch that is as tantalizing, sensuous, intoxicating, captivating, infatuating, and as much of an obstacle to achieving the unsurpassed security from bondage as the touch of a woman. Beings who are lustful for the touch of a woman—ravenous, tied to it, infatuated, and blindly absorbed in it—sorrow for a long time under the control of a woman’s touch.
296“Bhikkhus, while walking, a woman obsesses the mind of a man; while standing … while sitting … while lying down … while laughing … while speaking … while singing … while crying a woman obsesses the mind of a man. When swollen,1052"" too, a woman obsesses the mind of a man. Even when dead, a woman obsesses the mind of a man. If, bhikkhus, one could rightly say of anything: ‘Entirely a snare of Māra,’ it is precisely of women that one could say this.”1053"" [69]
297One might talk with a murderous foe, one might talk with an evil spirit, one might even approach a viper whose bite means certain death; but with a woman, one to one, one should never talk. 298They bind one whose mind is muddled with a glance and a smile, with their dress in disarray, and with gentle speech. It is not safe to approach1054"" such a person though she is swollen and dead. 299These five objects of sensual pleasure are seen in a woman’s body: forms, sounds, tastes, and odors, and also delightful touches. 300Those swept up by the flood of sensuality, who do not fully understand sense pleasures, are plunged headlong into saṃsāra, [into] time, destination, and existence upon existence.1055"" 301But those who have fully understood sense pleasures live without fear from any quarter. Having attained the destruction of the taints, while in the world, they have gone beyond.
And that’s why when the Buddha talks about different meditation techniques, you always see asubha, 31 body parts contemplation, as the first method listed, on so many numbered lists.
And that’s why there are misogynistic rules in the vinaya, IMO. The Buddha was a pragmatist trying to find an effective solution to govern groups of disciples from danger, the goal is nirvana, not a utopia where all beings of all races, genders, ages, class, have equal civil rights. I fully support the bhikkhuni movement, BTW, and don’t think the Theravada orthodox is doing things in a sensible or useful way, but it’s good to keep in mind the goal is nirvana.
This post is not meant to be inflammatory or start a discussion, I just came across this sutta passage as I was searching for something else and wanted to share.