Bibliography on Women and Buddhism

Compiled by Kate Crosby, 2004. Revised by Karma Lekshe Tsomo, 2010

http://www.sakyadhita.org
ktsomo@sandiego.edu

Biographies, Profiles, and Interviews

“Actress Became Candima, The Buddhist Nun.” Sydney Morning Herald (Australia), August 5,
1984.

Addiss, Stephen. “The Zen Nun Ryonen Gensho (1646-1711).” In Women & Buddhism: A
Special Issue of the Spring Wind-Buddhist Cultual Forum 6:1, 2 & 3 (1986): 180-87.

Adiele, Faith, Meeting Faith: The Forest Journals of a Black Buddhist Nun. W. W. Norton &
Company, 2005

Albert, Mimi. “Women of Wisdom.” Yoga Journal 68 (May-June 1986): 27-29, 52-54.

Allione, Tsultrim. Women of Wisdom. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1984.

Anderson, Richard W. “Rissho Koseikai and the Bodhisattva Way: Religious Ideals, Conflict,
Gender, and Status.” Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 21 (June-September 1994): 311-37.

Aoyama, Shundo. Zen Seeds: Reflections of a Female Priest. Tokyo: Kosei Publishing Company,
1990.

Austin, Shosan Victoria. “Suzuki Sensei’s Zen Spirit.” In Buddhist Women on the Edge. Edited
by Marianne Dresser. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 1996, 209-16.

Aziz, Barbara Nimri, “Ani Chodon: Portrait of a Buddhist Nun.” In Loka 2: A Journal from
Naropa Institute. Edited by Rick Fields. Garden City, NY: Anchor Press, 1976, pp. 43-46.

Bartholomeusz, Tessa. “Mothers of Buddhas, Mothers of Nations: Kumaratunga and Her

Meteoric Rise to Power in Sri Lanka.” Journal of Feminist Studies 25:1 (Spring 1999): 211-25.

Bays, Jan Chozen. “Zenshin’s Example.” Buddhadharma (Winter 2007).

Bennage, Patricia Daien, trans. Zen Seeds: Reflections of a Female Priest (Aoyama Shundo).
Tokyo: Kosei, 1996.

Blake, Edith. “A Buddhist Nun.” The Buddhist Review: The Organ of the Buddhist Society of
Great Britain and Ireland 7 (1915): 47-58.

Bode, Mabel. “The Woman Leaders of the Buddhist Reformation.” Journal of the Royal Asiatic
Society of Great Britain and Ireland (1893): 517-66; 763-98.

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 Bibliography on Women and Buddhism
Compiled by Kate Crosby, 2004. Revised by Karma Lekshe Tsomo, 2010
http://www.sakyadhita.org
ktsomo@sandiego.edu

Bode, Mabel. “The Women Leaders of the Buddhist Reformation.” Transactions of the 9th
International Congress of Orientalists. London: n.p., 1892, pp. 341-43.

Boucher, Sandy. “Not to Injure Life: A Visit with Ruth Denison.” In Buddhist Women on the
Edge. Edited by Marianne Dresser. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 1996, pp. 199-207.

Boucher, Sandy. “The Nuns’ Island: Seven Sisters on Retreat.” Tricycle: The Buddhist Review 1
(Winter 1991): 19-25.

Boucher, Sandy. “Walking Alone: The Way of Achaan Runjuan.” Tricycle: The Buddhist Review
1 (Summer 1992): 60-62.

Brazell, Karen, trans. The Confessions of Lady Nijo. Garden City, NY: Anchor Books, 1973.

Brown, Sid. The Journey of One Buddhist Nun: Even Against the Wind. Albany, NY: State
University of New York Press, 2001.

Campbell, June. “The Emperor’s Tantric Robes: Codes of Secrecy and Silence.” Tricycle: The
Buddhist Review 6 (Winter 1996): 38-46.

Carus, Paul. “Sister Sanghamitta.” The Open Court 13:2 (February 1899): 110-17.

Carus, Paul. “Sister Sanghamitta.” The Open Court 15:4 (April 1901): 251-52.

Chang, Pao. Biographies of Buddhist Nuns. Translated by Li Jung-his. Osaka: Tohokai, 1981.

Changchub, Gyalwa, and Namkhai Nyingpo. Lady of the Lotus-Born: The Life and
Enlightenment of Yeshe Tsogyal. Boston: Shambhala, 2002.

Chantamas, Marissa. “Vagrant Finds Spiritual Peace in New Home.” The Nation, February 16,
1997.

Chayat, Roko Sherry, ed. Subtle Sound: The Zen Teachings of Maurine Stuart. Boston:
Shambhala, 1996.

Chester, Ann E. “Zen and Me.” Spring Wind 4:4 (Winter 1984-1985): 23-28.

Ching, Yu-Ing. Master of Love and Mercy: Cheng Yen. Blue Dolphin Publications, 1995.

Chodron, Pema. “No Right, No Wrong: An Interview.” Tricycle: The Buddhist Review 3 (Fall
1993): 16-24.

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 Bibliography on Women and Buddhism
Compiled by Kate Crosby, 2004. Revised by Karma Lekshe Tsomo, 2010
http://www.sakyadhita.org
ktsomo@sandiego.edu

Chodron, Thubten. “Land of Identities.” Tricycle: The Buddhist Review 8 (Summer 1999): 69-73.

Chodron, Thubten. “You’re Becoming a What?: Living as a Western Buddhist Nun.” In Buddhist
Women on the Edge. Edited by Marianne Dresser. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 1996, pp.
223-33.

Chonam, Lama and Sangye Khandro, trans. The Lives and Liberation of Princess Mandarava:
The Indian Consort of Padmasambhava. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 1998.

Chung, Inyoung (Sukhdam Sunim). “Crossing Over the Gender Boundary in Gray Rubber Shoes:
A Study on Myoom Sunim’s Buddhist Monastic Education.” In Out of the Shadows: Socially
Engaged Buddhist Women in the Global Community. Edited by Karma Lekshe Tsomo. Delhi:
SriSatguru Publications, 2006, pp. 219-28.

Cissel, Kathryn A. The Pi-ch’iu-ni Chuan: Biographies of Famous Chinese Nuns from 317-516
C.E. Ann Arbor, Michigan: University Microfilms International, 1972.

Constans, Gabriel. Buddha’s Wife. Bandon, OR: Robert D. Reed Publishers, 2009.

Cooper, Andy. “In Indra’s Net: A Conversation with Joanna Macy.” Ten Directions 3:3
(December 1982): 7-12.

“Cremation Ceremony of a Zen Nun.” In Women & Buddhism: A Special Issue of Spring Wind-
Buddhist Cultual Forum 6:1, 2 & 3 (1986): 194-201.

Dash, Shobha Rani. Mahaprajaipati: The First Bhikkhuni. Seoul: Blue Lotus Books, 2008.

Devee, Sunity. The Life of Princess Yashodara: Wife and Disciple of the Lord Buddha. London:
Elkin Mathews and Marrot, 1929.

Dhondup, K., and Tashi Tsering. “Samdhing Dorjee Phagmo – Tibet’s Only Female
Incarnation.” Tibetan Review 14:8 (1979): 11-17.

Diemberger, Hildegard. When a Woman Becomes a Religious Dynasty: The Samding Dorje
Phagmo of Tibet. New York: Columbia University Press, 2007.

Dobbins, James C. Letters of the Nun Eshinni: Images of Pure Land Buddhism in Medieval
Japan. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2004.

Douglas, Anna. “Women’s Spirituality: An Interview with Christina Feldman and Michele
McDonald.” Inquiring Mind 3:1 (Summer 1986): 8-9.

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 Bibliography on Women and Buddhism
Compiled by Kate Crosby, 2004. Revised by Karma Lekshe Tsomo, 2010
http://www.sakyadhita.org
ktsomo@sandiego.edu

Dowman, Keith. Sky Dancer: The Secret Life and Songs of the Lady Yeshe Tsogyel. London:
Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1984.

Drolma, Delog Dawa. Delog: Journey to Realms Beyond Death. Padma Publishing, 1995.

Edou, Jerome. Machig Labdron and the Foundations of Chod. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion, 1995.

Ehrlich, Gretel. Questions of Heaven: The Chinese Journeys of an American Buddhist. Boston:
Beacon Press, 1997.

“Establishing Nunneries for Westerners: Discussions with Ayya Khema and Bhiksuni Pema
Chodron.” In Sakyadhita: Daughters of the Buddha, ed. Karma Lekshe Tsomo. Ithaca, NY:
Snow Lion Publications, 1988, pp. 315-320.

“First Woman Tulku to Be Reincarnated in the West Discovered in the United States.”
Areopagus 2:1 (1988): 45.

Gates, Barbara, editor. “The Heart of Practice: An Interview with Christina Feldman and Michele
McDonald on Women and Spirituality.” Karuna: A Journal of Buddhist Meditation 3:2 (Summer
1986): 11-14.

Goldberg, Natalie. “Face-to-Face with Natalie Goldberg.” Tricycle: The Buddhist Review 3
(Winter 1993): 34-38.

Grimshaw, Anna. Servants of the Buddha: Winter in a Himalayan Convent. Pilgrim Press/United
Church Press, 1994.

Gross, Rita M. “Why Me? Methodological-Autobiographical Reflections of a Wisconsin Farm

Girl Who Became a Buddhist Theologian When She Grew Up.” Journal of Feminist Studies in
Religion 13 (Fall 1997): 103-18.

Gross, Rita M. “Yeshe Tsogyel: Enlightened Consort, Great Teacher, Female Role Model.” In
Feminine Ground: Essays on Women and Tibet, ed. Janice D. Willis. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion
Publications, 1995, pp. 11-32.

Gunaratana, Henepola. “Going Upstream.” Tricycle: The Buddhist Review 4 (Spring 1995): 37-
41.

Gunawardhana, Theja. “Aung San Suu Kyi: A Woman of Conscience in Burma.” In Buddhist
Women Across Cultures, ed. Karma Lekshe Tsomo. New York: State University of New York
Press, 1999, pp. 259-66.

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 Bibliography on Women and Buddhism
Compiled by Kate Crosby, 2004. Revised by Karma Lekshe Tsomo, 2010
http://www.sakyadhita.org
ktsomo@sandiego.edu

Guy, David. “Alexandra David-Néel.” Tricycle: The Buddhist Review 5 (Fall 1995):12-16.

Guy, David. “Dragon Wisdom: The Life of Ruth Fuller Sasaki.” Tricycle: The Buddhist Review 4
(Winter 1994): 16-21.

Hadley, Leila. A Journey with Elsa Cloud. Turtle Point Books, 1997.

Hai, Bhiksuni Ching. “The Transparent Buddha – Part II.” Ch’an Magazine 5:1 (Winter 1985):
8-12.

Hamilton-Merritt, Jane. A Meditator’s Diary. New York: Pocket Books, 1977.

Havnevik, Hanna. “On Pilgrimage for Forty Years in the Himalayas: The Female Lama Jetsun
Lochen Rinpoche’s (1865-1951) Quest for Sacred Sites.” In Pilgrimage in Tibet, ed. Alex
McKay. Richmond, Surrey: Curzon Press, 1998, pp. 85-107.

hooks, bell. “Agent of Change.” Tricycle: The Buddhist Review 2 (Fall 1992): 48-57.

Huang, C. Julia. Charisma and Compassion: Cheng Yen and the Buddhist Tzu Chi Movement.
Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2009.

Jaini, Padmanabh. “Padipadanajtaka: Gautama’s Last Female Incarnation.”In Amala Prajña:

Aspects of Buddhist Studies. Edited by N.H. Samanti and H.S. Prasad.Delhi: Indian Books
Centre, 1989, pp. 33-39.

Jikun, Abbess Kasanoin. In Iris Fields: Remembrances and Poetry. Kyoto: Tankosha, 2009.

Kabilsingh, Chatsumarn. “Voramai Kabilsingh.” In Women & Buddhism: A Special Issue of the
Spring Wind-Buddhist Cultural Forum 6:1, 2 & 3 (1986): 202-9.

Kalyanavaca, ed. The Moon and Flowers: A Woman’s Path to Enlightenment. New York:
Weatherhill 1997.

Kaza, Stephanie. “Thai Buddhist Women: An Interview with Dr. Chatsumarn Kabilsingh.”
Buddhist Peace Fellowship Newsletter (Summer 1990), 24-25.

Kennett, Roshi Jiyu. The Wild, White Goose: the Diary of a Female Zen Priest. 2 Vol. Mt.
Shasta, California: Shasta Abbey, 1977-1978.

Khema, Ayya. Be An Island: The Buddhist Practice of Ayya Khema. Somerville, MA: Wisdom,
1999.

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 Bibliography on Women and Buddhism
Compiled by Kate Crosby, 2004. Revised by Karma Lekshe Tsomo, 2010
http://www.sakyadhita.org
ktsomo@sandiego.edu

Khema, Ayya (trans. Sherab Chodzin Kohn). I Give You My Life: The Autobiography of a
Western Buddhist Nun. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 1998.

Khong, Chan, Cao Ngoc Phuong, and Maxine Hong Kingston. Learning True Love: How I
Learned and Practiced Social Change in Vietnam. Parallax Press, 1993.

King, Sallie B., trans. Passionate Journey: The Spiritual Autobiography of Satomi Myodo.
Boston: Beacon Press, 1995.

King, Sallie B. “Egalitarian Philosophies in Sexist Institutions: The Life of Satomi-san, Shinto
Miko and Zen Buddhist Nuns.” Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion 4 (Spring 1988): 7-26.

Kirthisinge, Buddhadasa. “Marie Musaeus Higgins: American Mother of Ceylon’s Buddhist

Womanhood.” The Mahabodhi Journal 76:11-12 (November-December 1968): 327-32.

Klein, Anne C. “On Meeting the Great Bliss Queen.” Tricycle: The Buddhist Review 4 (Spring
1995): 80-84.

Kornfield, Jack, ed. Living Dharma: Teachings of Twelve Buddhist Masters. Shambhala
Publications, 1995.

Lawrence, Lee Adair. “Zen, California-Style: East Meets West Through the Matronly ‘Dharma
Heir’ of San Diego.” Far Eastern Economic Review 158 (24 August 1995): 66.

Mackenzie, Vicki. Cave in the Snow: Tenzin Palmo’s Quest for Englightenment. Bloomsbury
Publications, 1995

O’Halloran, Maura. Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind: The Zen Journal and Letters of Maura
“Soshin” O’Halloran. Boston: Charles E. Tuttle, 1994.

Ohtani, Lady Yoshiko. Eshin-Ni: The Wife of Shinran Shonin. Kyoto: Honpa Hongwanji, 1969.

Owens, Claire Myers. Zen and the Lady: Memoirs – Personal and Transpersonal – in a World in
Transition. New York: Baraka Books, 1979.

Packer, Toni. “End of the Story.” Tricycle: The Buddhist Review 5 (Summer 1996): 32-38.

Pao-Ch’Ang, Shih. Lives of the Nuns: Biographies of Chinese Buddhist Nuns from the Fourth to
Sixth Centuries: A Translation of the Pi-Ch’Iu-Ni Chuan. Translated by Kathryn Ann Tsai.
University of Hawaii Press, 1994.

Paul, Diana. “Empress Wu and the Historians: A Tyrant and Saint of Classical China.” In

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 Bibliography on Women and Buddhism
Compiled by Kate Crosby, 2004. Revised by Karma Lekshe Tsomo, 2010
http://www.sakyadhita.org
ktsomo@sandiego.edu

Unspoken Worlds: Women’s Religious Lives in Non-Western Cultures. Edited by Nancy Falk and
Rita Gross. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1979, pp. 191-206.

Piez, Wendell. “Anonymous Was A Woman – Again.” Tricycle: The Buddhist Review 3 (Fall
1993): 10-11.

Podesta, Jane Simes. “A 300-year-old Saint Returns as Buddhism’s First U.S. Mama Lama.”
People-Weekly 30 (24 October 1988): 123-4.

Raju, R. K. A Mystic Link with India: Life Story of Two Pilgrim Painters of Hungary. New
Delhi: Allied Publishers 1991.

Sakya, Jamyang, and Julie Emery. Princess in the Land of Snows: The Life of Jamyang Sakya in
Tibet. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 1988.

“She is Now a Buddhist: The Countess de Canavarro Received into the Faith with Impressive
Ceremonies.” New York Tribune, August 31, 1897.

Shin, Nan (Nancy Amphoux). Diary of a Zen Nun. New York: Dutton, 1986.
“Sister Upalavanna – Life of Renunciation.” Ceylon Daily News, 15 July 1982.

“Some Western Women Who have Contributed to the Buddhist Movement.” In Women &
Buddhism: A Speical Issue of the Spring Wind-Buddhist Cultural Forum 6:1, 2 & 3 (1986): 226-
34.

Storandt, Patricia Daichi. “My Dharma Journey to the East.” In Women & Buddhism: A Special
Issue of the Spring Wind-Buddhist Cultural Forum 6:1, 2 & 3 (1986): 221-24.

Sunim, Samu. “Manseong Sunim, a Women Zen Master of Modern Korea.” In Women &
Buddhism: A Special Issue of the Spring Wind-Buddhist Cultural Forum 6:1, 2 & 3 (1986): 188-
93.

Sunim, Samu. “Women in My Life.” In Women & Buddhism: A Special Issue of Spring Wind-
Buddhist Cultural Forum 6:1, 2, & 3 (1986): 1-34.

Tabrah, Ruth M. “Reflections on Being Ordained.” Eastern Buddhist 16 (Autumn 1983): 124-33.

Tau, Y. Y., trans. “Diary of a Chinese Nun: T’ze Kuang.” Journal of Religion 7:5-6 (October
1927): 612-18.

Tsomo, Karma Lekshe. “Being Buddhist.” In Why I Am a Believer: Personal Reflections on Nine
World Religions. Edited by Arvind Sharma. Delhi: Penguin, 2009, pp. 24-74.

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 Bibliography on Women and Buddhism
Compiled by Kate Crosby, 2004. Revised by Karma Lekshe Tsomo, 2010
http://www.sakyadhita.org
ktsomo@sandiego.edu

Tulku, Tarthang. Mother of Knowledge: The Enlightenment of Yeshe Tsogyel. Berkeley: Dharma
Publishing, 1983.

Walker, K. Women Saints of East and West. London: Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre, 1972.

Wheeler, Kate. “Ringworm.” Tricycle: The Buddhist Review 3 (Fall 1993): 60-68.

Willis, Janice D. “Tibetan Buddhist Women Practitioners, Past and Present: A Garland to
Delight Those Wishing Inspiration.” In Buddhist Women Across Cultures: Realizations. Edited
by Karma Lekshe Tsomo. New York: State University of New York Press, 1999, pp. 145-58.

Win, Kanbawza. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Laureate: A Burmese Perspective. Bangkok:
CPDSK Publications, 1992.

Wingate, Andrew. “A Woman of Faith Dies: Death of a Champion of Buddhism.” Theology 100
(May-June 1997): 170-79.

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