Zen's Female Lineage

[Kokuu]

Interesting article from Tricycle magazine about how one sangha formed a female ancestor document to go alongside the male lineage chart handed out at Jukai.

"The women ancestor document formed out of an urgent plea for change and a sense of injustice at the absence of women figures in Soto Zen history as it was being taught in the West. Its creation is an example of how history is adjusted for greater accuracy in light of a value system that honors women’s contributions. This document embodies a new story for Zen, a story that includes women. It also embodies a story of how history changes."

http://www.tricycle.com/feature/roused-dream

Added: also, from the same issue, Rita M Gross discusses male privilege in Buddhism and the obstacle of female birth: http://www.tricycle.com/feature/man-made-obstacle


Gassho
Andy

[Hans]

Hello Andy,

thanks for sharing. Seems like a very good idea! If we in the West are to wait for the Soto-Shu to become more open to powerful women in a greater sense, we shouldn't hold our breath, because one cannot divide the extreme macho mentality found in institutionalised Asian Buddhism from the local culture. A step in the right direction! Of course we in the West have a lot of gender related "healing work" to do ourselves.

Blessed Lady Prajna Paramita is smiling without a doubt.



Gassho,

Hans Chudo Mongen

[Cooperix]

Thank you for bringing this important article to the attention of the sangha. Yesterday's paper had an AP article on the epidemic worldwide of violence toward women. The WHO calculates that one in three women worldwide will experience sexual or physical violence in their lifetime. A deplorable finding.
Beginning to recognize that women are deserving of respect, indeed should be given respect is a first step in healing the mysogeny that permeates our culture.
In my lifetime in the US there have been important changes. But we still have so very far to go.
again thank you for pointing out that article!
Anne

[Mp]

Thank you for this Andy, equality in all forms is very important and a value I hold dear.

Gassho
Shingen

[Dosho]

Andy,

We do chant the names of women ancestors during our Rohatsu retreat. Check this out:

https://sites.google.com/site/jundotreeleaf/TREELEAFCHANTBOOKFORRETREAT11252011.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1

It starts on page 12. But the idea of having a second lineage chart for jukai is an excellent idea we should definitely consider.

Gassho,
Dosho

Interesting article from Tricycle magazine about how one sangha formed a female ancestor document to go alongside the male lineage chart handed out at Jukai.

"The women ancestor document formed out of an urgent plea for change and a sense of injustice at the absence of women figures in Soto Zen history as it was being taught in the West. Its creation is an example of how history is adjusted for greater accuracy in light of a value system that honors women’s contributions. This document embodies a new story for Zen, a story that includes women. It also embodies a story of how history changes."

http://www.tricycle.com/feature/roused-dream

Gassho
Andy

[Kokuu]

We do chant the names of women ancestors during our Rohatsu retreat

I had forgotten that, Dosho. I remember doing that now and it was very lovely.

Gassho
Andy

[Geika]

Something I wonder why I haven't thought of yet... Thank you, Andy.

[Myosha]

Hello,

Thank you for the link Andy.

Attachment can be distracting.


Gassho,
Myosha

[Jundo]

Hi,

Many years ago, we also added a dedication during every ceremony to all "male and female ancestors whose names have been forgotten or left unsaid".

And of course, in ultimate reality ... what male, what female?

However, the fact of the matter is that, in the conservative and male dominated societies and Buddhist institutions of Asia, the women were so forgotten that most of the names on the "Women Ancestors List" are just various random names pulled out of writings scattered here and there, some not even historical. Of course, even the traditional list of the male Ancestors is largely made up and cooked up the further one goes back in time, simply to draw a line back from the Zen institution back to the Buddha where no real historical record exists (many of the people in the Zen Lineage, especially past about 1500 years ago, never met, never particularly practiced "Zen", or did not even really live). So, we might say that the new "Womens" list is just as fictional as the traditional list.

Of course, even if we do not know exactly who ... some folks somewhere kept traditions going, and are our source. So, we celebrate them even if we do not know their name. And I would include countless women, even if their roles are little known and previously ignored.

Gassho, J

PS - If anyone would like to read more reflections on why we honor Lineage even if, it is now know, much of it is imaginary ... here is an old post ...

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?10647-Fathering-your-father&p=96139&viewfull=1#post96139

[Marj]

Balance is the key

[Nindo]

Here are some personal thoughts on lineage that I wrote for my congregation's blog a couple of weeks ago:

http://westwoodgrove.org/2014/05/28/spiritual-lineage/

[Byokan]

Hi Nindo,

Wonderful, love this! Thanks for sharing

Gassho
Lisa

[Mp]

This is wonderful Nindo, thank you. =)

Gassho
Shingen

[Kokuu]

Beautiful, Nindo. Thank you so much for sharing!

Gassho
Andy

[Jinyo]

Thank you for sharing Nindo.

Gassho

Willow