Why do you think a dasi like Punna wanted to join the sangha?
A dasi like Punna would have wanted to join the sangha to escape the harsh realities and oppression of her life as a slave. The text describes how she lived in fear of punishment and the "angry words of high class women," making the sangha an attractive refuge from suffering.
The sangha offered a revolutionary social environment where all members were regarded as equal. By joining, Punna could shed her earlier social identity as a slave and gain respect. Buddhism appealed to the dissatisfied and weaker sections of society by emphasizing karuna (compassion) and metta (fellow feeling) rather than superiority based on birth, offering her a path to dignity and spiritual liberation.
Explanation
The answer is derived from the context describing the social composition of the sangha and the specific verses of Punna in the Therigatha. Punna's life as a dasi was marked by fear and subjugation ('frightened of punishment'). The textbook notes that the sangha regarded all members as equal, regardless of whether they were kings or slaves, allowing them to shed their earlier social identities. This promise of equality and the Buddhist emphasis on compassion (karuna) for the weaker sections provided a strong motivation for someone of low status to join.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify Punna's social condition from the text (a dasi/slave, frightened of punishment and angry words).
Step 2: Identify the nature of the sangha from the text (all regarded as equal, shedding earlier social identities).
Step 3: Connect the two points to explain the motivation: the sangha offered an escape from oppression and a chance for equality and dignity.