Women in Buddhism
Clearly much more can be said on this topic.It is undeniable that men have traditionally dominated religious practice and thought throughout history.
But it is equally obvious that all this is changing radically in modern Buddhism. At http://members.tripod.com/~Lhamo/ Women Active in Buddhism are wonderful brief biographies, photos, websites and addresses of many influential women. These include representatives of the Tibetan, Japanese, Theravadan, and other traditions and women from many countries. There is a page listing activists: http://members.tripod.com/~Lhamo/1activ.... and one for teachers.
Two teachers profiled here have already been mentioned in my column: Lama Tsering Everest and Lama Inge Sandvoss, both of whom were among the earliest to achieve the title of Lama in the USA.
There is a tendency in Buddhist/holistic/New Age circles to put down Western culture for its shallowness and materialism and to exalt Asian cultures. In some respects, this is justified. But if we consider today's inclusion of women in every aspect of Buddhist activity, and the entrance of women into the highest levels of Buddhist hierarchy and scholarship, then we see what is perhaps the greatest contribution of the West to the growth of the Dharma.
On that note, this just in, courtesy of Patti:
...here's a fun quote from Reginald Ray's Secret of the Vajra World"...To me, if there is an "active cover-up" the covers will be torn off and soon, too, with the quality and dedication of the many female scholars and highly accomplished practitioners around the world today."If one disparages women who are of the nature of wisdom, that is the fourteenth root downfall. That is to say, women are the [embodiment] of wisdom and Sunyata [emptiness] , showing both.
It is therefore a root downfall to dispraise women in every possible way, saying that women are without spiritual merit and made of unclean things, not considering their good qualities."
He ascribes the quote to Janice Willis from a book called Diamond Light, but sadly I'm unable to find any reference to that book online. Hmmm, maybe there is an active cover up of the feminine wisdom tradition?
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