WOMEN IN ZEN

Women in Zen is a group dedicated to studying and contemplating the many contributions women have made to Buddhism. But it is more than just a study group. We have lively discussions about what these teachings mean to our own practice. There are men and women in the group. The history and wisdom of Buddhist women is valuable to everybody.

Over the years we have not only contemplated the most ancient teachings of Buddhist women but also the wisdom of contemporary Buddhist teachers. We have read several translations of the enlightenment poems of the first women to be ordained by the buddha. And we read their histories in The First Buddhist Women by Susan Murcott. We found Grace Schireson’s book Zen Women to be a valuable history of our female Zen lineage. Those of us in the Women in Zen group feel it is important to study these women who came before us. Their contributions were ignored and almost lost over centuries. Fortunately, times have changed and many wonderful books have been written by contemporary Buddhist women. We’ve read several in the Women in Zen group including books by Joko Beck and Joan Halifax. The first book we read in the group was Hidden Lamp edited by Florence Caplow and Susan Moon. Now, about 10 years later, we are reading it again.  The wisdom of our ancient sisters was very nearly lost to us. By studying contemporary women teachers we do our part to ensure women’s wisdom is appreciated now and and in future generations. Perhaps, most importantly, our perspective of our own practice and place in history is expanded.

Reading List:

• The First Buddhist Women: Translations and Commentary on the Therigatha, Susan Murcott

• Therigatha: Poems of the First Buddhist Women, Translated by Charles Hallisey

• The First Free Women: Poems of the Early Buddhist Nuns, Matty Weingast (This book contains lovely interpretations of the poems rather than translations.)

• The Woman Who Raised The Buddha: The Extraordinary Life of Mahaprajapati, Wendy Garling

• Zen Women: Beyond Tea Ladies, Iron Maidens, and Macho Masters, Grace Schireson

• The Hidden Lamp: Stories from Twenty-Five Centuries of Awakened Women, Edited by Florence Caplow and Susan Moon

• Everyday Zen, Charlotte Joko Beck

• Nothing Special, Charlotte Joko Beck

• Ordinary Wonder, Charlotte Joko Beck

• Standing at the Edge: Finding Freedom Where Fear and Courage Meet, Joan Halifax