Reading List

Reading List for Buddhist Women Teachers: 2500 Years

A Note of Invitation:

During the Buddhist Women Teachers: 2500 Years lecture series with Sokaku Kathie and Zoketsu Norman Fischer, a number of wonderful books and historical sources were mentioned. Reading these is completely optional — we simply wanted to gather them here in case you’d like to explore further. If you’re feeling inspired, you’re warmly invited to dive into any of these teachings at your own pace, following your own curiosity and heart.

Women of the Way: Discovering 2,500 Years of Buddhist Wisdom

Author: Sallie Tisdale

Summary: A groundbreaking work that traces women Buddhist masters and teachers across continents and centuries, drawing upon historical, cultural, and Buddhist records to bring to life these narratives of ancestral Buddhist women.

Purchase: https://store.sfzc.org/product/women-of-the-way-discovering-2-500-years-of-buddhist-wisdom-sallie-tisdale-/1399?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=true

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

Editors: Zenshin Florence Caplow & Reigetsu Susan Moon

Summary: A collection of one hundred koans and stories of Buddhist women from the time of the Buddha to the present day. Each story is accompanied by a reflection by a contemporary woman teacher, bringing ancient tales to life for modern readers.

Purchase: https://store.sfzc.org/product/the-hidden-lamp-caplow-zenshin-florence-/19?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=true


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

Author: Grace Schireson

Summary: This book provides a comprehensive look at the role of women in Zen Buddhism, challenging stereotypes and highlighting the contributions of female practitioners throughout history.

Purchase: https://store.sfzc.org/product/zen-women-beyond-tea-ladies-iron-maidens-and-macho-masters-schireson-grace-/137?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=true


Women Under Primitive Buddhism: Laywomen and Almswomen

Author: I.B. Horner

Summary: A scholarly examination of the roles and statuses of women in early Buddhist communities, focusing on both laywomen and ordained nuns.

Purchase: https://www.commoncrowbooks.com/pages/books/0089659/i-b-horner/women-under-primitive-buddhism-laywomen-and-almswomen


In Search of Buddha’s Daughters: The Hidden Lives and Fearless Work of Buddhist Nuns

Author: Christine Toomey

Summary: A global journey exploring the lives of Buddhist nuns, shedding light on their spiritual practices, challenges, and contributions to Buddhism.

Purchase: https://store.sfzc.org/product/in-search-of-buddha-s-daughters-the-hidden-lives-and-fearless-work-of-buddhist-nuns-christine-toomey-/746?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=true


Zen Sanctuary of the Divine Purple Robes: Japan’s Tōkeiji Convent Since 1285

Authors: Sugawara Makoto and Robert Morrell

Summary: A detailed history of Tōkeiji Convent, a sanctuary for women in Japan, highlighting its significance in providing refuge and spiritual practice for centuries. Draws from Word Weeds in Southern Sagami Province (1545), an ancient koan collection featuring stories and teachings from Buddhist practitioners.

Purchase: https://www.biblio.com/book/zen-sanctuary-purple-robes-japans-tokeiji/d/1112786123?srsltid=AfmBOoqJSF_P3aqxFYsq4fT6vwf2CUXFIGlfM357RWIyXtdCaumeOl6V


Reflections of a Zen Buddhist Nun: Essays by Zen Master Kim Iryŏp

Author: Kim Iryŏp; Translated and introduced by Jin Y. Park

Summary: A collection of essays by Kim Iryŏp, a pioneering Korean Buddhist nun, offering insights into her spiritual journey and perspectives on Zen practice.

Purchase: https://uhpress.hawaii.edu/title/reflections-of-a-zen-buddhist-nun/


Subtle Sound: The Zen Teachings of Maureen Stuart

Author: Maureen Stuart; edited by Jean Smith

Summary: This collection captures the deeply intuitive and accessible style of Maureen Stuart Roshi, one of the first female Rinzai Zen teachers in America. Through her talks and informal conversations, Stuart emphasizes Zen as a path of kindness, patience, and daily attentiveness rather than rigid striving. Her teachings resonate with a gentle yet powerful wisdom, offering inspiration to anyone drawn to a heartfelt, noncompetitive approach to practice.

Purchase: https://store.sfzc.org/product/subtle-sound-the-zen-teachings-of-maurine-stuart-maurine-stuart-/650?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=true


Seeds for a Boundless Life: Zen Teachings from the Heart

Author: Zenkei Blanche Hartman; Edited by Zenju Earthlyn Manuel

Summary:

This luminous collection brings together Dharma talks, teachings, and personal reflections from Zenkei Blanche Hartman (1926–2016), the first female abbess of San Francisco Zen Center. Edited by Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, the book reflects Blanche’s gentle presence, fierce compassion, and unwavering commitment to equality in practice. Her voice shines through as she touches on themes like lovingkindness, grief, faith, mindfulness, and the everyday work of opening the heart. A beloved teacher and pioneer in American Zen, Blanche’s teachings are intimate, spacious, and deeply grounded in her decades of practice and service.

Purchase: https://store.sfzc.org/product/seeds-for-a-boundless-life-hartman-zenkei-blanche-/275?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=true


Being Nobody, Going Nowhere: Meditations on the Buddhist Path

Author: Ayya Khema

Summary:

A clear, grounded, and accessible guide to foundational Buddhist teachings, Being Nobody, Going Nowhere presents Ayya Khema’s meditation retreat talks on topics like the Eightfold Path, the five aggregates, no-self, mindfulness, and the nature of suffering. With practical instructions and encouragement, she invites readers to recognize impermanence, loosen attachment, and cultivate a path toward true freedom beyond ego and clinging.

Purchase: https://store.sfzc.org/product/being-nobody-going-nowhere-meditations-on-the-buddhist-path-ayya-khema-/1021?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=true


Further Reading

The Works of Caroline Rhys Davids

Author: Caroline Rhys Davids

Summary: A compilation of works by Caroline Rhys Davids, a prominent Pali scholar, offering translations and interpretations of early Buddhist texts.

wikipedia.org


The Works of Kim Iryŏp (김일엽)

Author: Kim Iryŏp

Summary: A collection of writings by Kim Iryŏp, encompassing her essays, poems, and reflections on Buddhism and women’s roles in spiritual practice.

wikipedia.org



If you need further assistance or additional information on any of these texts, feel free to ask!


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