Self-Help, Buddhism, Gender & Sexuality, Women's Studies 

I. The Heart of the Matter: Buddhist Basics. What Is Buddhism? Taking Refuge. A Way of Life. The Precepts. Mindfulness. Compassion. What Can I Expect in a Buddhist Meditation Hall? Doing a Buddhist Practice. A Practice to Begin With -- II. The Dance of Gender. Women Teachers. Who Is Welcome? Do Women Do It Differently? How Have Feminists Affected American Buddhism? Can Women Be Buddhist Leaders? Are There Goddesses in Buddhism? A Practice to Begin With -- III. Ancient Beginnings. How the Nuns' Order Was Founded. Who Were the Women of Early Buddhism? How did Buddhism Develop So Many Different Styles? How Have Women Fared in Buddhist History? Could Women Become Bodhisattvas and Buddhas? How Are Women Viewed in Present-Day Buddhism? A Practice to Begin With -- IV. The Teachings from a Woman's Perspective. Suffering as a Beginning. Do I Have to Let Go of My "Self"? How Does Buddhism Relate to Bodies? What about Sex? What Place Do Emotions Have? What Is the Meaning of Detachment?

Do women take a unique approach to spirituality? What are the elements of the Buddhist path, and what particular challenges might a Western woman face in beginning a Buddhist practice? What profound benefits does Buddhist practice offer to contemporary women? Opening the Lotus investigates these questions. Part primer, part personal history, part guide to spiritual practice, this book opens the door to an understanding of Buddhist spirituality, which is engaging more and more Westerners as the millennium approaches. Sandy Boucher, author of a groundbreaking study of women and Buddhism and a longtime Buddhist meditator, explores Buddhism's basic beliefs, its history, its female images of the divine. Through personal anecdotes, lively explanations, and thoughtful discussions, she presents a female perspective on fundamental Buddhist teachings such as compassion, detachment, and enlightenment. 

194 pages ; 22 cm 

35758200