“Men may have been the fruit of the Tantric vine, but women were the root, stalk, leaves, and flowers…. Although historians have glorified the men of Tantric Buddhism and effaced the women, Tantric Buddhism in India was characterized by the close association and cooperation of women and men who travelled, meditated, and explored the religious life together as esteemed peers. Women… Continue reading HEARING ‘HER-STORY’ (III): ENVISIONING AND CREATING THE FEMALE LINEAGE TREE. Making the invisible roots and flowers of the lineage tree visible, original artwork visually portraying the Kagyu ‘foremothers’
Tag: women in buddhism
THE ‘INNER’ LIFE OF BLISS, CELIBACY, DESIRE, LOVE, TANTRIC UNION AND WOMEN: New podcast interview of Adele Tomlin on Love and Liberation
"We've all had experiences of people we thought we had this love for, romantic relationships being the prime example. Then, all of a sudden something happened, or a friend said something, or did something, which we just felt so offended by, and all of a sudden, our love for them has completely gone. Actually, what… Continue reading THE ‘INNER’ LIFE OF BLISS, CELIBACY, DESIRE, LOVE, TANTRIC UNION AND WOMEN: New podcast interview of Adele Tomlin on Love and Liberation
BUDDHIST MOTHER’S DAY: RE-TELLING (AND RE-NAMING) ‘LHABAB DUCHEN’: When milk streamed from a mother’s breasts to Buddha’s mouth and Buddha’s great act of repaying mother’s kindness
“From women…buddhas come into this world…." "But when Queen Māyā saw the immense might Of her son, like that of a seer divine, She could not bear the delight it caused her; So she departed to dwell in the divine realms." ---excerpt from Buddhacarita on Queen Māyā's death "I tell you, monks, there are two… Continue reading BUDDHIST MOTHER’S DAY: RE-TELLING (AND RE-NAMING) ‘LHABAB DUCHEN’: When milk streamed from a mother’s breasts to Buddha’s mouth and Buddha’s great act of repaying mother’s kindness
THE ‘CENSORED’ TARA: POWERFUL PASSION VS PRUDISH PURITY. Depictions of women in Buddhist art and literature and the sexual objectification, denigration and censorship of women’s biology and nakedness
This short research article for Dakini Day today, inspired by a recent visit to the British Museum (London), considers ancient and modern representations of the bodies and sexuality of women in Indian and Tibetan Buddhist art and texts and how the excessive sexualisation and denigration of women’s breasts and genitals (exemplified by online porn), combined… Continue reading THE ‘CENSORED’ TARA: POWERFUL PASSION VS PRUDISH PURITY. Depictions of women in Buddhist art and literature and the sexual objectification, denigration and censorship of women’s biology and nakedness
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY (MARCH 08): THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE AND FEMALE LINEAGES RESEARCH AND TRANSLATIONS
"Male or female–there is no great difference. But if she develops the mind intent on enlightenment, to be a woman is better.” -Guru Padmasambhava. "It is time we truly recognize that the era of the hunter is past. This should be a more “feminine” era – an era when women make greater contributions to society.… Continue reading INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY (MARCH 08): THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE AND FEMALE LINEAGES RESEARCH AND TRANSLATIONS
‘DIFFICULT’ AND WILD WOMEN: THE INVISIBILITY AND OVERLOOKING OF FEMALES IN BUDDHISM, PAST AND PRESENT, PATRIARCHAL ACADEMIA AND FEMALE TOKENISM
“Those who wish to attain supreme enlightenment in a man’s body are many, but those who wish to serve the aims of beings in a woman’s body are few indeed; therefore may I, until this world is emptied out, work for the benefit of sentient beings in a woman’s body.” --Noble Tara (Origin of the… Continue reading ‘DIFFICULT’ AND WILD WOMEN: THE INVISIBILITY AND OVERLOOKING OF FEMALES IN BUDDHISM, PAST AND PRESENT, PATRIARCHAL ACADEMIA AND FEMALE TOKENISM
EMANATIONS OF VAJRAYOGINI? THE SAKYA JETSUNMAS, A FEMALE FAMILY LINEAGE
"As you know in the Mahayana Buddhism, there are so many deities and Buddhas we can pray to, but you have to receive the teachings, initiations and sometimes you cannot practice. However, with Tārā you can practice just like talking to your loving mother. Whenever you ask and turn to her, she will always be… Continue reading EMANATIONS OF VAJRAYOGINI? THE SAKYA JETSUNMAS, A FEMALE FAMILY LINEAGE
IN PRAISE OF THE HEADLESS, FEMME FATALE ‘SCARLET WOMAN’: Male monastic privilege and appropriation, denigration of women, female lineages, ‘feminist’ male consorts, and Vajrayoginī with severed-head and reversed Yum-yab union
“Thus I have heard—at one time the Buddha stayed in the vagina of the admantine woman, who is the essence of the body, speech, and mind of all buddhas.” – Shakyamuni Buddha[1] “Wherever in the world a female body is seen, That should be recognized as my holy body.” --Vajrayoginī , in Caṇḍamahāroṣaṇa Tantra “Even… Continue reading IN PRAISE OF THE HEADLESS, FEMME FATALE ‘SCARLET WOMAN’: Male monastic privilege and appropriation, denigration of women, female lineages, ‘feminist’ male consorts, and Vajrayoginī with severed-head and reversed Yum-yab union
TANTRIC BUDDHISM, VOWS, SEX AND WOMEN – the importance of love, respect and consent and what happens when a woman speaks out about lama misconduct
'Only the united beat of sex and heart together can create ecstasy.'-Anais Nin This article is an attempt to clarify some of the information and misunderstandings surrounding monasticism, sex, women, consorts in Vajrayana (or Tantric) Buddhism. The first half discusses the monastic vows and rules on sexual relations, the role and meaning of a consort, and… Continue reading TANTRIC BUDDHISM, VOWS, SEX AND WOMEN – the importance of love, respect and consent and what happens when a woman speaks out about lama misconduct
‘Actions Speak Louder than Words’: 17th Karmapa’s outstanding activities for females
HH 17th Karmapa with Tibetan Buddhist nuns 17th Gyalwang Karmapa and female empowerment Within the male privileged environs of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, apart from well-meaning words and soundbites about women from very few male Tibetan Buddhist lamas, even fewer have put their ‘money and time where their mouth is’, such as that of HH 17th Gyalwang Karmapa.… Continue reading ‘Actions Speak Louder than Words’: 17th Karmapa’s outstanding activities for females
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