Though women have always played an important role in the dharma, they haven’t always been given the recognition or rights they deserve. Today, we have many examples of women — historical and contemporary — who’ve paved their own way on the Buddhist path, achieved titles and honors previously reserved for men, and dedicated their lives to spreading the dharma. We hope you’ll find real inspiration, as we have, in the teachings and examples set by the influential Buddhist women featured here.
Women & the Buddhist Community
Tara, The First Feminist
Since becoming ordained four decades ago, Lama Tsultrim Allione has faced her share of challenges and sexism. Throughout it all, Tara’s vow to work for the benefit of all beings in a woman’s body has been a source of guidance and inspiration.
The First Women’s March
More than two-and-a-half millennia ago, Mahapajapati Gotami, the Buddha’s aunt, set a precedent for women’s rights.
Making Our Way: On Women & Buddhism
Grace Schireson, Christina Feldman, Rita Gross, and Lama Palden Drolma discuss how women are defining new roles as Buddhist leaders, teachers, and practitioners.
Our Path Is Limitless and Vast
While women may feel constrained by Buddhist institutions, the dharma itself poses no such limitations, says Joan Sutherland. By connecting with the vast view of no-self, women can discover their own meaningful expressions of the dharma.
A Woman of Zen
Melissa Myozen Blacker recounts how she, as a practitioner and a teacher, has navigated a male-dominated tradition.
The Sacred Feminine
In Vajrayana Buddhism, dakinis are seen as unbridled and enlightened feminine energy. Lama Tsultrim Allione on how she discovered her own dakini power.
Enlightenment Is A Male Fantasy
Gesshin Greenwood offers an alternative to the “male fantasy” of striving for enlightenment.
Chanting Names Once Forgotten: The Zen Women Ancestors Document
A quiet movement to reshape our understanding of Zen lineage and history is bringing attention to the forgotten names and voices of women in the tradition. Grace Schireson explains how the Women Ancestors Document came into being and what it means for us.
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She Who Hears the Cries of the World
In Buddhist iconography, compassion is embodied in the bodhisattva Kuan Yin, who is said to manifest wherever beings need help. Engendering such compassion is not only good for others, says Christina Feldman, it is also good for us. By putting others first, we loosen the bonds of our self-fixation, and in doing so, inch closer to our own liberation.
The Wise Woman Who Talked Back to God
The Ancient Buddhist tale of the Seven Wise Sisters has Zen Teacher Bonnie Myotai Treace thinking about the koan of gender.
Profiles
Tenzin Palmo: “There is nothing” a woman can’t accomplish
Dominique Butet and Olivier Adam profile Tibetan nun Tenzin Palmo, who is changing the role of women in Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Translated from French by Susan Maneville.
The Life and Teachings of Sister Chan Khong
She’s best known as Thich Nhat Hanh’s invaluable collaborator, but Sister Chan Khong is also a dedicated activist and gifted teacher in her own right. Andrea Miller tells her extraordinary story.
Becoming Pema
Andrea Miller on the life and spiritual journey of one Deirdre Blomfield-Brown.
Feminine Principal
The principal figure in Buddhism is the teacher, a role traditionally dominated by men. Andrea Miller profiles three women teachers — Trudy Goodman, Roshi Pat Enkyo O’Hara, and Lama Palden Drolma — who are changing the face of Buddhism and making the teachings whole.
How Sharon Salzberg Found Real Happiness
Facing her suffering head-on has made Sharon Salzberg one of today’s most relatable Buddhist teachers. Lindsay Kyte talks to Salzberg about her difficult life’s journey, establishing loving-kindness as a key practice in American Buddhism, and how we can all find real happiness.
The Only Choice is Kindness
“Life is so difficult, how can we be anything but kind”—it was these words that inspired Sylvia Boorstein to follow the Buddhist path. Steve Silberman talks with her about the challenges of life, from a rough childhood to a post-partum depression, that helped her become such a beloved teacher—and example—of Buddhist virtues.
The radical buddhism of rev. angel kyodo williams
“I just want people to be liberated.” John DeMont on the radical Buddhism of Rev. angel Kyodo williams.
Writing the Ruth Denison Story
Ruth Denison, pioneer Buddhist teacher, died in February 2015 after forty years of inspired, innovative teaching. Sandy Boucher, her student and biographer, gives a candid account of the tangles and revelations in chronicling the life of her gifted mentor.
The Inspiring Story of Dipa Ma, “Mother of Light”
Amy Schmidt and Sara Jenkins tell the inspiring story of Dipa Ma, known as “the patron saint of householders.”
Khandro Rinpoche’s Tough Love
She is demanding of her students and uncompromising about the dharma, and she is a rarity—a prominent Tibetan teacher who is a woman. Trish Deitch Rohrer experiences the provocative and challenging Khandro Rinpoche.
The Many Lives of Yeshe Tsogyal
Holly Gayley discusses the power of Padmasambhava’s foremost disciple and consort, Yeshe Tsogyal, and the life of one of her modern emanations.
Who Was Freda Bedi?
Freda Bedi, Vicki Mackenzie tells us, was an early champion of women’s rights, a Gandhian revolutionary, and a major force in bringing Tibetan Buddhism to the West.
Conversations
Forum: Hear Our Voices
Myokei Caine-Barrett, Narayan Helen Liebenson, Rebecca Li, and Myoan Grace Schireson share their experiences and insights into being a female teacher and leader in today’s world. Introduced and moderated by Pema Khandro Rinpoche.
Strike! Rise! Dance! – bell hooks & Eve Ensler
Eve Ensler & bell hooks on fighting domination and finding love.
Waking Up to Patriarchy
One helped transform American society, the other is helping to transform the lives of Buddhist nuns. In an event at the Rubin Museum of Art, feminist trailblazers Gloria Steinem and Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo talk candidly about the personal challenges they’ve faced, the progress they’ve seen, and why there’s still more to be done.
Buddha’s Daughters: An interview with Judy Lief
Andrea Miller talks with Judy Lief about gender inequality in the Buddhist community, and the importance of female dharma teachers.
Buddha’s Daughters: An interview with Karen Maezen Miller
Andrea Miller and Karen Maezen Miller discuss the role of women in the contemporary Zen world.
Buddhist Nuns in the News
Ordained at Last
From 2003, the story of the first Thai woman to receive full ordination as a Theravadin nun.
Longing to Ordain
Bhikkhuni Sudhamma traces the origins of Buddhist ordination for women to Queen Anula, Sri Lanka’s first Buddhist nun.
