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General Buddhism => General Buddhism => Topic started by: Big Uncle on June 22, 2012, 08:33:54 PM
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According to this site,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-zesho-susan-oconnell/10-buddhist-women-you-should-know_b_1388248.html?utm_hp_ref=buddhism (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-zesho-susan-oconnell/10-buddhist-women-you-should-know_b_1388248.html?utm_hp_ref=buddhism)
everybody should know about these 10 Buddhist women. Click on the link above to read a little article about it and the esteemed women are:-
1. Mahaprajapati
2. Nancy Wilson Ross
3. Elsie Mitchell
4. Maurine Stuart
5. Zenkei Blanche Hartman
6. Eijun Linda Ruth Cutts
7. Pema Chodron
8. Sharon Salzberg
9. Karma Lekshe Tsomo
10. Emila Heller
Notoriously missing are Asian Buddhist women like Rev Cheng Yen of Taiwan and many others. So what do you think of this list?
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I certainly am not familiar with the names listed in here. It is interesting to know the few from zen tradition having brought Buddhism to elite schools such as Cambridge for the great minds. These are pioneers and is inspiring to read about them as they have in their own rights furthered buddhism and has played a major role for buddhism to take roots in their own countries.
I'd like to add to the list the few names come to mind which inspires me :
-Dorje Pakmo - third highest ranking in hierarchy after the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama
- Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, the first Western woman to be recognized as a tulku (reincarnate lama) in 1987
- Ven. Tenzin Palmo - (You must read her book "Cave in the Snow")
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According to this site,
[url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-zesho-susan-oconnell/10-buddhist-women-you-should-know_b_1388248.html?utm_hp_ref=buddhism[/url] ([url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-zesho-susan-oconnell/10-buddhist-women-you-should-know_b_1388248.html?utm_hp_ref=buddhism[/url])
everybody should know about these 10 Buddhist women. Click on the link above to read a little article about it and the esteemed women are:-
1. Mahaprajapati
2. Nancy Wilson Ross
3. Elsie Mitchell
4. Maurine Stuart
5. Zenkei Blanche Hartman
6. Eijun Linda Ruth Cutts
7. Pema Chodron
8. Sharon Salzberg
9. Karma Lekshe Tsomo
10. Emila Heller
Notoriously missing are Asian Buddhist women like Rev Cheng Yen of Taiwan and many others. So what do you think of this list?
What is really interesting to note is that 8 out of these 10 women are actually Caucasian women. Goes to show Buddhism has indeed spread out to the west and beyond.
Notably missing too are the following:
1. Samding Dorje Pagmo: In the fifteenth century CE, Princess Chokyi-dronme was recognized as the embodiment of the meditation deity and female Buddha in the Vajrayana tradition, Vajravarahi. Chokyi-dronme became known as Samding Dorje Pagmo and began a line of female tulkus, reincarnate lamas. At present, the twelfth of this line lives in Tibet.
2. Shugseb Jetsun Rinpoche (c. 1865–1951): A female tulku lineage that began in the late nineteenth century CE. While she received teachings of all the Tibetan schools, Shugseb Jetsun Rinpoche was particularly known for holding a lineage of Chöd, the meditation practice of offering one's own body for the benefit of others. At the start of the twentieth century, Shugsheb Jetsun Rinpoche - also called Ani Lochen Chönyi Zangmo - founded the Shuksep or Shugsep nunnery located thirty miles from Lhasa on the slopes of Mount Gangri Thökar. It became one of the largest and most famous nunneries in Tibet.
3. Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo: a Tibetan Buddhist nun, author, teacher and founder of the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in Himachal Pradesh, India. She spent twelve years living in a remote cave in the Himalayas, three of those years in strict meditation retreat.
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I do not know of anyone on this list. The Buddhist woman that I know that is famous is Tina Turner. :-\ I really liked the list. I believe that the list will remind those who think that only men can become Buddhist and practice well. Woman all have the ability for Enlightenment. All sentient beings have that possibility. People who still believe women can't become Enlightened have their mind outdated for a few millennia. I can give a whole list of female Buddhas to prove it. But the list would be pretty long. You can refer here (if you like): http://lhamo.tripod.com/9deity.htm (http://lhamo.tripod.com/9deity.htm)
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I am also not familiar with this list except for Pema Chodron and they are saying we must know them lol! And Tina is not even in the list. :-[ Okay... How about adding to the list which includes celebrities that we do know more... ;)
1. Ernestine Anderson - jazz singer
2. Laurie Anderson - performance artist
3. Kate Bosworth - actress
4. Susan Blackmore - parapsychologist, Zen Buddhist, ghost buster, professional skeptic
5. Cora L. E. Christian - Black female doctor who was an independent candidate for Governor of U.S. Virgin 6. Islands, 2002.
7. Dadon Dawadolma - singer, actress
8. Diane di Prima - Feminist poet
9. Nathaniel Dorsky - filmmaker
10. Goldie Hawn - Oscar-winning actress
11. Becky Johnston - author, screenwriter
12. Jennifer Lopez - singer, actress
13. Joanna Lumley - actress
14. Melissa Mathison - screenwriter
15. Tano Maeda - filmmaker
16. Me'shell Ndegeocello - musician, songwriter
17. Patti Smith - rock star
18. Renee Tajima-Pena - filmmaker
19. Tina Turner - singer
20. Uma Thurman - actress
21. Babeth VanLoo - filmmaker
22. Alice Walker - author, The Color Purple
23. Ruby Wax - actress, comedienne
24. Sharon Stone - actress
Source: http://www.adherents.com/largecom/fam_buddhist.html (http://www.adherents.com/largecom/fam_buddhist.html)
Here a Video - enjoy!
Famous Buddhist women (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SISfrAfkZM#)
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I am also not familiar with this list except for Pema Chodron and they are saying we must know them lol! And Tina is not even in the list. :-[ Okay... How about adding to the list which includes celebrities that we do know more... ;)
1. Ernestine Anderson - jazz singer
2. Laurie Anderson - performance artist
3. Kate Bosworth - actress
4. Susan Blackmore - parapsychologist, Zen Buddhist, ghost buster, professional skeptic
5. Cora L. E. Christian - Black female doctor who was an independent candidate for Governor of U.S. Virgin 6. Islands, 2002.
7. Dadon Dawadolma - singer, actress
8. Diane di Prima - Feminist poet
9. Nathaniel Dorsky - filmmaker
10. Goldie Hawn - Oscar-winning actress
11. Becky Johnston - author, screenwriter
12. Jennifer Lopez - singer, actress
13. Joanna Lumley - actress
14. Melissa Mathison - screenwriter
15. Tano Maeda - filmmaker
16. Me'shell Ndegeocello - musician, songwriter
17. Patti Smith - rock star
18. Renee Tajima-Pena - filmmaker
19. Tina Turner - singer
20. Uma Thurman - actress
21. Babeth VanLoo - filmmaker
22. Alice Walker - author, The Color Purple
23. Ruby Wax - actress, comedienne
24. Sharon Stone - actress
Source: [url]http://www.adherents.com/largecom/fam_buddhist.html[/url] ([url]http://www.adherents.com/largecom/fam_buddhist.html[/url])
Here a Video - enjoy!
Famous Buddhist women ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SISfrAfkZM#[/url])
Wow! I didn't know there's so many actresses are Buddhists. They should talk more or perhaps do more to promote Buddhism so we know that Buddhism has a huge following. I really like this and I think there's just so many Buddhist female celebrities is because Buddhist teachings and methods have an amazingly powerful effect to calm the mind and keep it focus in the demanding world of Hollywood celebrityhood.
Actually, I have 2 more famous women in mind. They are famous Yogini teachers from India and Tibet. One is Niguma, the sister of Naropa, who was famous for her 6 yogas of Niguma and the other is Machig Labdron. She founded the Tantric Chod tradition. Machig Labdron is very significant because she started a whole Tantric system that was indigenous of Tibet and her system was debated and checked upon in the monasteries of India.
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The difference with the celebrities suggested by dsiluvu and the list of 10 women is that the 10 women actually play a very active role in spreading Buddhism wherever they are. Unfortunately, most of these women are completely unknown to those not into Buddhism, as their name and works remain in Buddhist circles only.
Whereas the celebrities mentioned below are buddhist, but how much do they do for the growth of Buddhism? They could do so much more, since they have the karma to have name, fame and the attention of the world. Sure, KD Lang and Tina Turner do the odd interview and TV show where they talk passionately about the buddhist aspect of their lives. But they dont do it often enough, and I really wish and hope that more celebrities, male or female, will come forward as champions of Buddhism.
Here is one such interview with KD Lang, where she "comes out" more on her practices. More please!
http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=3184&Itemid=247 (http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=3184&Itemid=247)
Melvin McLeod: Committing to a teacher as you have, particularly one in the Tibetan tradition, can really turn your life upside down.
k.d. lang: Yes, absolutely! [Laughs] That’s very true! When you find your teacher your life is turned upside down, but in the most divine way. My involvement with the dharma has completely changed the structure of my life. Our sangha is very small, so we work very hard. I would say that supporting Lama Gyatso Rinpoche’s activities is my number-one job. Together with my partner, Jamie Price, I’m on the board of directors of Ari Bödh, the American Foundation for Tibetan Cultural Preservation. We’ve been building a long-term retreat centre on a 475-acre retreat property north of Los Angeles. We’re just four years old now, but we are planning to create a facility that will accommodate retreats of three or more years. We have a temple, which has a lovely statue of Guru Rinpoche commissioned by Lama Gyatso.
We also have a children’s camp called Tools for Peace. The curriculum we use there is being translated into four languages now. Kids come to Ari Bödh every summer for the camp, and I serve as a cook and bottle washer there. It’s very rewarding.
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The difference with the celebrities suggested by dsiluvu and the list of 10 women is that the 10 women actually play a very active role in spreading Buddhism wherever they are. Unfortunately, most of these women are completely unknown to those not into Buddhism, as their name and works remain in Buddhist circles only.
Whereas the celebrities mentioned below are buddhist, but how much do they do for the growth of Buddhism? They could do so much more, since they have the karma to have name, fame and the attention of the world. Sure, KD Lang and Tina Turner do the odd interview and TV show where they talk passionately about the buddhist aspect of their lives. But they dont do it often enough, and I really wish and hope that more celebrities, male or female, will come forward as champions of Buddhism.
Here is one such interview with KD Lang, where she "comes out" more on her practices. More please!
[url]http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=3184&Itemid=247[/url] ([url]http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=3184&Itemid=247[/url])
Melvin McLeod: Committing to a teacher as you have, particularly one in the Tibetan tradition, can really turn your life upside down.
k.d. lang: Yes, absolutely! [Laughs] That’s very true! When you find your teacher your life is turned upside down, but in the most divine way. My involvement with the dharma has completely changed the structure of my life. Our sangha is very small, so we work very hard. I would say that supporting Lama Gyatso Rinpoche’s activities is my number-one job. Together with my partner, Jamie Price, I’m on the board of directors of Ari Bödh, the American Foundation for Tibetan Cultural Preservation. We’ve been building a long-term retreat centre on a 475-acre retreat property north of Los Angeles. We’re just four years old now, but we are planning to create a facility that will accommodate retreats of three or more years. We have a temple, which has a lovely statue of Guru Rinpoche commissioned by Lama Gyatso.
We also have a children’s camp called Tools for Peace. The curriculum we use there is being translated into four languages now. Kids come to Ari Bödh every summer for the camp, and I serve as a cook and bottle washer there. It’s very rewarding.
I appreciate what you have said Thor. Thank you. I do feel that, as much as like the celebrity Women who are Buddhist, the key is really how much are they doing to spread Buddhism? Their practice of Buddhism is for themselves, and I do not mean this in a selfish way. They are Buddhist practitioners who are also famous. But the article here is about Buddhist Women who practise and make a difference in Buddhism around the world.
Also the fact that the ones recognised are Western and recognised in the West, reflects that Asia is still backwards in the gender equality which shows in the lack of recognition for Buddhist nuns. Even in non-religious affairs, successful women are not as promoted and celebrated as men. Personally, I have always grown up seeing monks. And I was always taught that because I am female, I must always not go near or even touch the monks. This always made me feel "rejected" in the religion. However, now I appreciate Buddhism and will learn from any master, irregardless of gender.
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hmm i have not heard of the 10 women listed in the Huffington Post... When i saw the title of this thread i thought i'd find Tenzin Palmo, Reverend Cheng Yen and Aung San Suu Kyi's names listed..
After going through the brief excerpt of these women, I think this list is to highlight the female pioneers of Buddhism in the West.
I watched the video posted by dsiluvu... its interesting to note that the music theme is oriental and the celebrities featured are westerners. and the description of the video is "a brief list of pictures of some surprisingly buddhist women" why is it that we are surprised if we find out a western celebrity is a Buddhist? i typed "asian christian celebrities" and the type of results that came out are different from "celebrity Buddhists".. check it out...
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My comments on this list :
1. It is very Western-central, all of the ten notable ladies are from the West, this explains why Rev Cheng Yen, who founded Tsu Chi 40+ years ago in a small town Taiwan and now the organization has thousands of centers worldwide and millions of followers. This shows that the selection was done not based on throughout research.
2. All of the ten notable ladies in the list are either writers (Pema Chodron being the most famous one), or teachers. This shows that their dharma work actually benefit many people.
3. It would be good if the criteria of selecting are made transparent, so we understand why some obvious candidates were left out.
Anyway, for those who had not made it to this list, it doesnt matter for them because a true dharma practitioner would not need any recognition.
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Hmm... of the 10 in the list... I only know one! Which means to say I haven't been doing much reading!
I'm not very surprised on the outcome of that list... after all, it is a list produced by the western world... its not that there are no great Asian masters, there are! Just low profiled.
I once heard someone told me (or perhaps I read it somewhere, cant remember) that... while Buddhism touches the hearts of people in the west, so does it diminish in the east... is it because of balance? karma? I dont know... but it certainly looks logical, for so many reasons. I just hope everyone will get their share of Dharma in their lives.
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While it is truly beautiful that so many people are realizingthere is more to life than meets the eye,how many people are Buddhist because they want to follow the path and end suffering or because they are looking for a new shining label on their reputation?
People are always fascinated with celebrities especially with their lifestyle,practice and so on.There are many famous Buddhist actors and actresses but not all practice seriously.They are called the 'not-really- a- Buddhist'
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There is a lack of Asian women in the list who are Buddhist and very powerful in their own rights. They are:
1. The Princess of Thailand Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
2. Michelle Yeoh of Malaysia
3. Aung San Su Kyi of Burma
4. Lilian Too of Malaysia
5. Queen of Bhutan Jetsun Pema
6. Faye Wong of China
7. Karina Lau of Hong Kong SAR
Historical influential Buddhist women were:
1. Empress Wu of China
2. Prajapati (The 1st Buddhist nun who was Shakymuni Buddha's step mother)
3. Princess Wencheng of Tang Dynasty
4. Princess Kuan Yin of China
The above ladies were and are influential in different areas of their community.
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Notoriously missing are Asian Buddhist women like Rev Cheng Yen of Taiwan and many others. So what do you think of this list?
LOL I'm not sure you'd quite use the word "notorious" for a lovely gentle nun like the venerable Cheng Yen!
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I think I can only think of 8 if I were to prepare a list. Sad. It’s time to produce more great Buddhist women in the world ???
1. Dorje Pakmo
2. Khandro Rinpoche
3.Tsultrim Allione
4. Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
5. Master Cheng Yen
6. Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
7. Pema Chodron
8. Thubten Chodron
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Thank you Big uncle to share with us the link, i knew none of them and never heard or read about them before, hence its time for me to read more about Buddhism.
I do like the list which propose by others as well especially for Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma who recently accepted her 1991 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on June 16, after spending a total of 15 years under house arrest.
Here is part of her interview with the Council on Foreign Relations http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/under-god/post/aung-san-suu-kyi--buddhism-has-influenced-my-worldview/2011/12/01/gIQAR9m5GO_blog.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/under-god/post/aung-san-suu-kyi--buddhism-has-influenced-my-worldview/2011/12/01/gIQAR9m5GO_blog.html)
I am a believing Buddhist, so I am sure the teachings of Buddhism do affect the way I think.
She is one of lady i admired, she really put Dharma in her daily life as it been mentioned in the link despite all of the horrors she has been through, there wasn’t a trace of anger or bitterness in her remarks.
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Thank you Big Uncle for the post. Interesting. Most of the names there I have not heard of. Sorry for my ignorance.
Your are right, I wonder why Master Cheng Yen is not listed as 1 of them. And also Aung San Suu Kyi. There are many celebrities out there promoting Buddhism to the world and I think they deserve to be recognized as some of the influential people and not just confined to 10 people. ;D It's really wonderful as people see these names and the 1st thing that they relate to is Buddhism.
I did however, googled a few sites and found more interesting names that I can relate to ::)
http://www.examiner.com/article/ten-influential-buddhist-women (http://www.examiner.com/article/ten-influential-buddhist-women)
- Venerable Cheng Yen, founder of the international charity Tzu Chi Foundation (Compassionate Relief).
- Ngawang Sangdrol, Tibetan activist
- Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese activist
- Pema Chödrön, American-born Tibetan nun
- Jan Willis, Professor of Religion, Weslyan University
- Helena Norberg-Hodge, groundbreaking Environmental Analyst
- Tara Brach, Psychologist and Meditation expert
- Ayya Khema, Buddhist nun
- Anne Arundel Hopkins Aitken
- Dekyi Lee Oldershaw, teacher and speaker
The above 10 women have done a lot by being outspoken in their own ways and changing the lives of many people young or old. Not forgetting the celebrities
http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/top-10-celebrity-buddhists (http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/top-10-celebrity-buddhists)
- Aung San Suu Kyi
- Steven Seagal
- Kate Bosworth
- Richard Gere
- Herbie Hancock
- Leonard Cohen
- Tina Turner
- Orlando Bloom
- Tiger Woods ???
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Thank you for posting the list, Big Uncle. I have not heard of any of those listed by you, while some of the other names proposed by other forum friends are familiar to me.
I guess the difference is that while your list shows important Buddhist women, the others proposed are famous women who are Buddhist.
This list is not exhaustive as people like Master Chen Yen and Aung San Suu Kyi are not listed. These are influential and important people in the Buddhist field, not only they are Buddhists but because of the untiring work they have done for their country and the world.
It's great to have famous personalities to come out and declare they are Buddhists, but we also need to know what they have contributed to the growth of Buddhism.
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I have heard before that women are inferior to men in Buddhism, so I have recently reading up on the subject and there is a relevant part in the Lotus Sutra that I thought I share with all of you.
The context is the Buddhist disciple Manjusri extolling the power of the Lotus Sutra and its message to guide all sentient beings to speedy enlightenment.
To emphasize and illustrate his point, Manjusri explained that even the daughter of the dragon king has attained quick enlightenment. Indeed "Her merits are perfect. . . . Her will and thought are harmonious and refined, and she is able to attain to bodhi [enlightened wisdom]."
The bodhisattva Wisdom Accumulation objects to Manjusri's claim, saying that Shakyamuni himself went through many lifetimes and hardships before becoming enlightened. "I do not believe that this girl in the space of a moment directly and immediately achieved right, enlightened intuition."
No sooner had Wisdom Accumulation voiced this objection then the dragon king's daughter appeared before the assembled crowd to testify to her enlightenment.
But another prominent disciple of the Buddha, Sariputra, was incredulous. Speaking to her, he stated the Five Obstructions/Obstacles doctrine as follows:
A woman's body is filthy, it is not a Dharma-receptacle. How can you attain unexcelled bodhi? The Path of the Buddha is remote and cavernous. Throughout incalculable kalpas [of time], by tormenting oneself and accumulating good conduct, also by thoroughly cultivating the perfections, only by these means can one then be successful. Also, a woman's body even then has the five obstacles. It cannot become first a Brahma god king, second the god Sakra, third King Mara, fourth a sage-king turning the Wheel, fifth a Buddha-body. How can the body of a woman speedily achieve Buddhahood?
At that time, the assembled multitude all saw the dragon girl in the space of an instant turn into a man, perfect bodhisattva-conduct, straightaway go southward to the world-sphere Spotless, sit on a jeweled lotus blossom, and achieve undifferentiating, right, enlightened intuition, with thirty-two marks and eighty beautiful features setting forth the Fine Dharma for all living beings in all ten directions.
At that time . . . bodhisattvas, voice-hearers, gods, dragons, the eightfold assembly, humans and nonhumans, all from a distance seeing that dragon girl achieve Buddhahood and universally preach Dharma to the men and gods of the assembly of that time, were overjoyed at heart and all did obeisance from afar. . . . The bodhisattva Wisdom Accumulation, as well as Sariputra and all the assembled multitude, silently believed and accepted. (Hurvitz, Lotus Blossom, p. 201.)
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Out of 10 of the Buddhist Women, 8 are from the West. This shows how far Buddhism has spread and how in the West it is practised with more passion than we do in the east. Buddhism seem more like part of life in the east whereas in the West the new converts treat Buddhism as life.