#Women in Buddhism

[sammybunnyreads]

New Buddhist books I picked up from McKay's - my favorite bookstore. As a Baby Buddhist, I am always looking for interesting books to add to my collection (seen below). I always keep an eye out for Women in Buddhism books. Found two this time!

Thich Nhat Hanh is a favorite as is Jan Chozen Bays. Any recs for me? I tend toward Zen, but I am open to learning about other Buddhist schools.

[shakir2]

A Critical Analysis of Buddhism  

About two and a half thousand years ago, a Hindu prince named Siddhartha Gautama [AKA–Buddha Shakyamuni, 589 BC, the founder of Buddhism] was born in the north of India, leading a happy and indulgent childhood, protected from the harsh realities of life. At age 29, he walked out of his comfort zone and witnessed the harsh realities of life. Moved by all the suffering he saw, he vowed to search…

[planetdharma]

Empowering Women: The Impact of Their Contribution in Buddhism

Interest in the role of women in Buddhism is experiencing a renaissance. And while there may be frustration, grief, and rage about historical gender inequity in Buddhism, we can use Buddhist methodologies to transform these challenging emotions into greater compassion and wisdom.

Learn about the empowering journey of women in Buddhism and their valuable contributions - as told through the personal experiences of Catherine Pawasarat Sensei.

Know More about Women and Buddhism:- https://www.planetdharma.com/insights-for-women-in-buddhism/

[buddhabeings]

Mahaprajapati Gotami - The Step Mother of Lord Buddha

Did you know that Lord Buddha had a stepmother named Mahaprajapati Gotami who became the first Buddhist Nun and played an important role in the spread of Buddhism. She received initiation from The Blessed One Himself and was also His maternal aunt (mother's sister).

The Blessed One's name "Gautam" as in Gautam Buddha or Siddhartha Gautama, also comes from Mahaprajapati Gotami's name.

[jareckiworld]

Irene Chou (Zhou Lüyun, 1924-2011)— Sunset in Autumn [ink, colours, on rice paper, hanging scroll, ca. 1989]

[bey0utifulsoul]

[divinum-pacis]

Central to the nuns’ identity is their proficiency in martial arts. Jigme Rupa (all nuns’ names are prefixed with Jigme) uses a sword to practise her skills outside the main temple. Among the eight ‘mystical’ weapons that can be used in martial arts, Rupa says her favourite is a sword.

Photograph by Skanda Gautam

[city-of-ladies]

Kōmyō (701-760), born Asukabehime, was Empress Consort of Japan. A highly influential figure, she played a key role in the spread of Buddhism and undertook numerous philanthropic projects.

The Empress Consort

Kōmyō was the daughter of the powerful courtier Fujiwara no Fuhito. In 716, she married the future Emperor Shōmu, who would later succeed his aunt, Empress Regnant Genshō.

Kōmyō was not only a skilled calligrapher but also a devout Buddhist. Both her father and grandfather were instrumental in making Buddhism the religion of the Fujiwara clan. Her mother, Tachibana no Michiyo, also took religious vows.

In 718, Kōmyō gave birth to a daughter, Princess Abe (718-770), who would later reign as Empress Kōken/Shōtoku. In 727, she had a son, but he died shortly after birth. The Fujiwara family used this loss to accuse their political rival, Prince Nagaya, of having used black magic to curse the child. This led to Nagaya's suicide.

In 729, Kōmyō was elevated to the title of Empress Consort, or kōgō, securing her position as Shōmu’s principal wife and ensuring her daughter’s place as first in line for the throne.

By 738, Abe was officially named Crown Princess—the only instance in Japanese history of a woman receiving this title. Kōmyō likely played a significant role in securing this appointment, using Buddhist teachings to bolster Abe’s legitimacy.

Kōmyō had her own Palace Agency, with a staff as large as those of other major government offices, allowing her to use these resources in support of her causes.

Empress Kōmyō's calligraphy and signature

Protector and patron

Kōmyō was likely a key figure in the establishment of Nara’s Todai-ji temple. She established with her husband a network of government-sponsored temples for monks and nuns. Her household employed craftsmen to build temples, sculpt religious images, and scribes to copy sacred texts. Among these texts was the Lotus Sutra, a scripture highly valued by women, as it could be interpreted to suggest that women too could achieve enlightenment.

Kōmyō also cared for orphans, lepers, the poor, and those affected by war. She established a hospital that provided free medicine to those who couldn't afford it.

She transformed her father’s residence into a convent for nuns, known as Hokke-ji. She encouraged the women there to practice ikebana, or flower arranging, and the Hokke-ji Goryū school of Ikebana still exists today.

After her husband's abdication in 749, Kōmyō took the tonsure and became a nun, witnessing her daughter ascend the throne. She passed away in 760.

Kōmyō became a popular subject in art, with many legends surrounding her. In one famous tale, she washes a leper, who is later revealed to be the Buddha himself. She has since been venerated as an embodiment of Kannon, the Bodhisattva of compassion. Today, the nuns of Hokke-ji continue her legacy by creating Braille texts for the blind and making amulets for pregnant women.

Feel free to check out my Ko-Fi. I'm about to launch my own business so your support would be much appreciated in these trying times!

Further reading: 

Ambros Barbara, Women in Japanese religions

Lowe Bryan, Ritualized Writing: Buddhist Practice and Scriptural Cultures in Ancient Japan

Kane Robinson Arai Paula, Women Living Zen Japanese Soto Buddhist Nuns

Ooms Herman, Imperial Politics and Symbolics in Ancient Japan The Tenmu Dynasty

Schireson Grace, Zen Women Beyond Tea Ladies, Iron Maidens, and Macho Masters

[meirimerens]

the pathologic Kin is largely fictionalized with a created language that takes from multiple sources to be its own, a cosmogony & spirituality that does not correlate to the faiths (mostly Tengrist & Buddhist) practiced by the peoples it takes inspirations from, has customs, mores and roles invented for the purposes of the game, and even just a style of dress that does not resemble any of these peoples', but it is fascinating looking into specifically to me the sigils and see where they come from... watch this:

P2 Layers glyphs take from the mongolian script:

while the in-game words for Blood, Bones and Nerves are mongolian directly, it is interesting to note that their glyphs do not have a phonetic affiliation to the words (ex. the "Yas" layer of Bones having for glyph the equivalent of the letter F, the "Medrel" layer of Nerves having a glyph the equivalent of the letter È,...)

the leatherworks on the Kayura models', with their uses of angles and extending lines, remind me of the Phags Pa Script (used for Tibetan, Mongolian, Chineses, Uyghur language, and others)

some of the sigils also look either in part or fully inspired by Phags Pa script letters...

some look closer to the mongolian or vagindra (buryat) script

looking at the Herb Brides & their concept art, we can see bodypainting that looks like vertical buryat or mongolian script (oh hi (crossed out: Mark) Phags Pa script):

shaped and reshaped...

[wlwgoku]

Byakuren sketch

Been listening to her theme all day vvv

[onetruefool]

A young man approached Buddha, seeking relief from his sorrows

After much discussion Buddha offered him a potion

Buddha explained "drink this and you will turn into a woman"

The young man drank the potion, and was disappointed when nothing happened

"This is just water!" He cried, "it did not work!"

Buddha calmly answered, "it was indeed just water. But it did work."

The young woman was stunned.

[takeshitakyuuto]

i hate an "its not that deep" bitch. sorry for believing that artists put thought and effort into their works i guess

[jadeseadragon]

Lasha Mutual, Dakini with Blessings for the Ocean, 2019, digital painting

Dakini with Ocean Waves, 2019, digital painting by artist (2,3)

digital image manipulation by me (4,5)

[serenhob]

Idk why it's taking so long (probs cause very been taking so many breaks to watch documentaries about the Flds) but this is what I have so far

My friend called him a dorito

[blackhornedarts]

Umi And Mazu (Gods Are Real) WIP

Mazu, and her human from my comic.

[jareckiworld]

Ewa Ciepielewska — Tenga Rinpoche (oil on canvas, 1989)