Nineteen women received Outstanding Women in Buddhism Awards at a March 6 ceremony in Bangkok. The six American honorees were Lama Tsultrim Allione, Joan Hogetsu Hoeberichts, Susan Pembroke, Bhikkuni Pannavati, Carol Gansho O’Dowd, and Jan Willis.
“The awards,” Willis says, “provide inspiration and encouragement for Buddhist women practitioners around the world who, in spite of 2,600 years, are still struggling to practice in societies that are less than supportive of them.”
The annual awards, held in honor of the United Nations’ International Women’s Day, celebrate the accomplishments of Buddhist women in meditative practice, social work, community development, spreading the dharma, and peace activism. The honorees were selected by a panel of Buddhist scholars and practitioners and received their awards at a ceremony held at the Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women.
“The ceremony and the activities surrounding it,” Willis says, “provided participants with a great opportunity for sharing. It’s a chance for courageous women to meet, inspire each other, and learn about other women’s struggles and triumphs. The meetings and the networking will undoubtedly continue to bear fruit.”
For more on these and other recipients of this year’s Outstanding Women in Buddhism Awards, visit http://iwmcf.net/award/2009
