Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Women who practice Buddhism generally notice, sooner or later, that nearly every Buddhist historical figure they study and read about is...not a woman. For some women this is disillusioning, heart-breaking, completely discouraging. Until recently, if she asked her teacher about it, he/she would likely say, "I know dear, it's too bad. There must have been great women teachers, but we just don't know who they were. Records weren't kept about them." Now, with this book, no teacher can say that, and women can begin to feel that they have ancestors too. Sallie Tisdale did an immense amount of historical research - her biographies and stories are based on solid fact - and then she took the brave step of "re-imagining" these women's lives - some of them unspeakably hard - so we can feel them as living, breathing women. Her re-imagining is also based on solid historical knowledge. She brings the women alive. I found myself in tears as I read may of the stories.

I'm only sorry she chose not to footnote her work - it would have helped the skeptics to realize the historical accuracy of her biographies, provided a great resource for others, and helped to separate the "re-imagining" from the more solid material. I've been doing research on many of these women myself, and I'm realizing that really only the emotional material, or the background, is imagined. There is a solid basis for every story or dialog in the book.

A readable, entertaining, beautifully written, and important book.

This is an incredibly valuable resource for information and inspiration for women who are seeking spiritual role models in Buddhism. One should be mindful of the theological and transcendental imagery used in the earlier stories and it might be a good idea to have a general background in the way sutras were written. The only detriment to the entire book is when the author uses homely and colloquial language in an attempt to make the stories more accessible. It's not necessary and takes a little away from the book's impact.

I ordered this book based on the five-tar reviews of others and am sorely disappointed. I have only reached Chines Ancestors section and am already overwhelmed with errors and issues I have found so far.

(1) This book is just the latest salvo in the feud between Mahayana and Theravada, by choosing to ignore Theravada sources and relying on Mahayana-only (?) Sutras. Depicting Ven. Mahakasyapa as a dullard and Ven. Sariputra as a child that needs frequent instruction should have been over with in the 4-5 Centuries CE - no need to continue it now.

(2) Ven. Ananda and others calling Lord Buddha by name as "Siddhartha" - simply never happened, ever. In fact, here is an excerpt from the canon: Lord Buddha stated "So I said to them, 'Don't address the Tathagata by name and as "friend."' - MN 26

In fact, in Indian tradition, an honorific is always added before or after the name if you have to call an older/elder by name.

(3) The Mythical Ancestors are just that - myths and nothing further so that is mostly a figment of imagination.

(4) The Ven. Uppallavanna story is not complete in itself since it omits the "running away, having a duaghter, abandoning the daughter, and then being co-wife with daughter to the same husband" part completely. That is what is called suffering and something that changes one.

(5) The Sukha story states "Sukha means Bright and Lustrous" - I have never seen this anywhere and would like author to provide reference. On the other hand, Pali canon (and Sanskrit) repeatedly uses the word sukha to denote pleasant feeling.

(6) The Ven. Patachara story sttes that she became a never-returner needing no more lives. This statement is wrong on 2 counts. One, Ven. Patachara became an Arahant and two, even if she was a never-returner, she would still have one last life left in higher planes - never-returners don't return to earth/sense sphere.

I can keep on going for a long time with this but will stop here. I am not trying to belittle the authors hard-work. Just that with a reverent attitude and correct research, this could have been a much better book. The book as it is right now is more a fantasy than an authentic record of women in Buddhism and their accomplishments.

I just finished reading this book and found it to be well written and informative. Having read other books about Buddhist nuns, this book gave a real sense of the courage and perserverance that was, and in some sense still is, required to be a nun.

The fact that Tisdale had to rely upon the translation of others makes her findings not as authentic as they should be.

These sages' examples of bravery and devotion are inspiring. Their words, deeds, and teachings stand alone like all great masters. I feel blessed to have seen, read and spoken their sacred words. For that I am greatful, however, what these sages do not need is a rude and angry woman standing on their shoulders with an axe to grind.