Zen's Female Lineage

[Myosha]

Hello,

". . . to remember all those who kept wisdom alive, lived it, and passed it on, all the way preparing the ground we stand on today – whether they were female or male, whether their name was recorded or left out or forgotten."

Well said. Thank you.


Gassho,
Myosha

[Jundo]

Thank you for this, Nindo.

If I may introduce a couple of books that may be of interest to some folks ...

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

This landmark presentation at last makes heard the centuries of Zen's female voices. Through exploring the teachings and history of Zen's female ancestors, from the time of the Buddha to ancient and modern female masters in China, Korea, and Japan, Grace Schireson offers us a view of a more balanced Dharma practice, one that is especially applicable to our complex lives, embedded as they are in webs of family relations and responsibilities, and the challenges of love and work.

Part I of this book describes female practitioners as they are portrayed in the classic literature of "Patriarchs' Zen"--often as "tea-ladies," bit players in the drama of male students' enlightenments; as "iron maidens," tough-as-nails women always jousting with their male counterparts; or women who themselves become "macho masters," teaching the same Patriarchs' Zen as the men do. Part II of this book presents a different view--a view of how women Zen masters entered Zen practice and how they embodied and taught Zen uniquely as women. This section examines many urgent and illuminating questions about our Zen grandmothers: How did it affect them to be taught by men? What did they feel as they trying to fit into this male practice environment, and how did their Zen training help them with their feelings? How did their lives and relationships differ from that of their male teachers? How did they express the Dharma in their own way for other female students? How was their teaching consistently different from that of male ancestors? And then part III explores how women's practice provides flexible and pragmatic solutions to issues arising in contemporary Western Zen centers.

And a book chock full of essay and talks by some of the best Teachers around ...

Receiving the Marrow: Teachings on Dogen by Soto Zen Women Priests

Receiving the Marrow is the first book that expresses Dogen's teaching as experienced and lived by Western Soto Zen women teachers. Dogen Zenji(1200-1253) supported equality and respect for women Zen teachers from a Buddhist perspective.He did so through his understanding of the equality of Buddha nature shared by all beings. Historically, Japanese Soto Zen women have referred to Dogen's teachings as a touchstone for finding their place and empowerment within the Soto Zen tradition that he founded. Now Western women are sharing their appreciation of Dogen and enjoying the same broad and brolliant support that he offered for all practitioners.Receiving the Marrow's essays on Dogen are enjoyable,elucidating, accessible and a wonderful new presentation on chapters from Dogen's Shobogenzo. Each woman relates personally and authentically to Dogen's teaching. This book is a wonderful addition to Dogen scholarship and a way to make Dogen our own.... . .

Another book looking a bit wider at stories of female Buddhist ancestors ...

The Hidden Lamp: Stories from Twenty-Five Centuries of Awakened Women

The Hidden Lamp is a collection of one hundred koans and stories of Buddhist women from the time of the Buddha to the present day. This revolutionary book brings together many teaching stories that were hidden for centuries, unknown until this volume. These stories are extraordinary expressions of freedom and fearlessness, relevant for men and women of any time or place. In these pages we meet nuns, laywomen practicing with their families, famous teachers honored by emperors, and old women selling tea on the side of the road.

Each story is accompanied by a reflection by a contemporary woman teacher--personal responses that help bring the old stories alive for readers today--and concluded by a final meditation for the reader, a question from the editors meant to spark further rumination and inquiry. These are the voices of the women ancestors of every contemporary Buddhist.

Gassho, J

[Geika]

Thank you, Jundo!

[Dosho]

Much appreciated Jundo!

Gassho,
Dosho