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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Somewhat dated, diverse feminist views of American Buddhism,
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This review is from: Turning The Wheel: American Women Creating the New Buddhism (Paperback)
This book consists of a large number of short biographical vignettes & interviews with American Buddhist women prior to 1988--so it's a bit dated. All the women are associated with Zen, Theravada, or Tibetan Buddhist organizations in the U.S.; almost all residents thereof at some time. Thus, it presents a number of obvious dichotomies: feminism vs. authoritarian, patriarchal Buddhism; East vs. West; social activism vs. inner spirituality; & monasticism vs. lay Buddhism. It includes photos of many of the women interviewed. It is written in a flowing, descriptive travelogue style-almost like a novel. I particularly liked the chapters on nuns & other female leaders within the Buddhist hierarchy. The author attempted to balance the many divergent opinions by presenting interviews with differing points of view. However, the major thrust of the book is more feminist than Buddhist. There is virtually nothing on how Buddhist practices are adapting to the West. Rather, the focus is on form/structure/leadership of Buddhist organizations in America. This might be an important feminist work but not an important Buddhist work. It virtually ignores practitioners not intimately associated with a particular monastery or study center (e.g. the Mahasiddi tradition of Kagyu Mahamudra or Dzogchen or solitary retreats like Tenzin Palmo's in "Reflections on a Mountain Lake"). So, it seems to be rather group oriented. It does contain a gutsy yet sensitive treatment of the sexual & alcoholic exploits of monks & male Buddhist leaders in the U.S. and also has a couple of good quotes: p. 143: Roshi Jiyu Kennett: "In the Bible it says that many are called and few chosen. Buddhism has it that all are called and few answer" and p. 222: Denah Joseph: "I have since heard fanaticism defined as `repressed doubt' [quoting Kathleen Speeth]"-{brackets hers}. The last chapter is Boucher's projection to 2015: pp. 387-8: "Gradually we developed a practice fully grounded in the Dharma and conducive to the enlightenment of women." As a former EEO Counselor & Prevention of Sexual Harassment Trainer, I'm all for this! But, IMHO, she spoils this by envisioning a time (p. 389) when only women are permitted to teach. I find this as sad, disheartening, & offensive as many of the interviewed women felt about unequal treatment of nuns, leaders, etc. by Buddhist misogynists. I'd guess that the book/poster "Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" included: "two wrongs don't make a right."
5.0 out of 5 stars
SUPERB OVERVIEW OF SEVERAL DOZEN BUDDHIST TEACHERS,
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This review is from: Turning The Wheel: American Women Creating the New Buddhism (Paperback)
Sandy Boucher is herself a noteworthy expositor of Buddhism for the West (having written books like Opening the Lotus: A Woman's Guide to Buddhism), and this book (first written in 1988, then updated and expanded in 1993) provides an excellent series of chapters by more than three dozen female Western Buddhist teachers, including Pema Chodron, Jan Willis, Rita Gross, Tsultrim Allione, etc.). While this survey IS a bit "dated," most of the teachers surveyed are still in active teaching practice, so it's hardly "out of date."
It is the DIVERSITY of topics covered that is so exceptional in this collection. General subject areas include "Women-Led Centers and Retreats," "The Problem of the Male Teacher," "The Link Between Buddhist Practice and Political Activism," and "The Integration of Buddhist Practice with Family Life, Job, and Community." The chapters in the book don't shy away from "controversial" topics, such as sexual abuse by male teachers. Boucher notes that the year 1983 "brought events crucial to women's full participation in, and transformation of, Buddhism. During that year, several of the principal male Zen spiritual teachers were exposed as sexual adventurers and abusers of power.... Most practitioners came to realize that the old hierarchical models brought from Asia do not, in the long run, serve Americans well. Authority was questioned, structures challenged. And women particularly became visible and articulate." Various chapters cover Buddhist journals intended for women; various Sakyadhita (orders of nuns); women's Buddhist conferences; and more. Political activism is covered in comparative depth (with chapters such as Charlene Spretnak's "Green Politics and Beyond," discussion of "Engaged Buddhism," and the Buddhist Peace Fellowship). Certainly, this book should not constitute one's ONLY reading on the subject of American women and the "new" Buddhism. But this book is an extremely helpful addition to one's library. Other books to consult include Walking On Lotus Flowers: Buddhist Women Living, Loving and Meditating, A Gathering of Spirit: Women Teaching in American Buddhism, Buddhist Women on the Edge: Contemporary Perspectives from the Western Frontier, and Meetings with Remarkable Women: Buddhist Teachers in America.
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