SZBA Women Ancestor Project – Presentation October 8, 2010, revised October 22, 2010
MYTHICAL ANCESTORS Prajnaparamita womb of the Tathagatas multiple primary sources
Maha Maya Buddha’s mother multiple primary sources; treated as a mythical figure in many stories
Srimala Queen, lay student, great teacher Lion’s Roar of Queen Srimala; a sutra devoted to a woman’s life and teaching
Tara Tibetan Bodhisattva who leads beings to awakening
Ratnavati Naga woman who preaches the Sutra of Sāgara, the Nāga King, also Dharma naturally; beats called the Ocean Dragon King Sutra. Mahākāśyapa in Dharma combat and
Buddha predicts her ultimate awakening
Prabhuta a lay woman who instructs Sudhana; Avatamsaka Sutra she is greatest in generosity
Sinhavijurmbhita taught liberation through removal of Avatamsaka Sutra “all vain imaginings”
INDIAN ANCESTORS Mahapajapati Gotami ( c 500 BC leader of the Nuns’ Sangha; Therigatha; stories of the Buddha’s Buddha’s aunt and stepmother life For all nuns sourced Therigatha)
Khema foremost in wisdom Therigatha
Sundarinanda foremost in meditation; Buddha’s Therigatha stepsister
Patacara foremost in discipline Therigatha
Bhadda Kundalakesa foremost in insight; only woman Therigatha ordained by the Buddha himself
Sumana foremost among lay women Therigatha
Kisagotami foremost in humility Therigatha; her story is repeated in many other sources
Dhamma best example of practice in advanced Therigatha age
Uppalavanna foremost in magical and psychic Therigatha powers; a shape-shifter Yashodhara foremost in supernatural powers; Therigatha; Cabezon Buddha’s wife
Soma foremost in energy Therigatha
Sakula foremost in seeing other worlds Therigatha
Bhadda Kapilani foremost in knowing past lives Therigatha
Singalaka mata foremost in faith Therigatha
Samavati foremost in loving-kindness Therigatha
Sanghamitta Theri (300 BCE) King Ashoka’s daughter Sri Lanka’s history; brought Bhikkhuni order from India to Sri Lanka, thus linking to first Chinese nuns
Prasannasilla (300 CE) Nun who was the mother of Asanga Janet Gyatso and Vasubandu
CHINESE ANCESTORS Jingjian (c 300-) early Buddhist nun “Lives of the Nuns”
Zongji (c 500) Bodhidharma’s “flesh” multiple sources incl. Dogen
Empress Wu (625-705) strengthened roles for Buddhist “Empress Wu” (Paul) women
Lingzhao (d808) Layman Pang’s daughter and his Record of Layman Pang equal in Dharma combat
Ling Xingpo (850) Dharma combat praised by Nansen Jin de chuan deng lu and Joshu
Moshan Liaoran (866) first woman in the roku; first woman Ching-te-ch’uan-teng-lu with official Chan transmission, first women recorded with male students; Imperial purple robe
Liu Tiemo – “Iron Grinder Lu” (880) the subject of koans; renowned for Blue Cliff Record; Book of Serenity strength and fearlessness
Miaoxin (883) guestmaster at monastery; practiced Dogen, based on Chinese sources side by side with men; taught “is the flag moving or the wind?”
Shiji (900) beat Juzhi in Dharma combat Blue Cliff Record
Juhan Daojen (c1050) Dharma heir of Yuanwu Levering Daoshen (c 1050) Dharma Heir of Furong Daokai Levering Lineage or Family Tree
Huiguang (c 1100) Imperial purple robe, head of large Cleary, Jia tai pudeng lu monastery, lectured mixed groups
Huiwen (c 1100) Dharma heir of Foyan Qingyuan Cleary Jia tai pudeng lu and other collections
Fadeng (c1100) Dharma heir of Huiwen; known as a Cleary, Jia tai pudeng lu “Great Master”
Yu Daopo (c 1100) lay woman; Langye Yongqi’s only Leggett Dharma heir
Miaodao (1089-1163) first Dharma heir of Dahui Zonggao Levering, Cleary , et al and the first student to awaken using
his new koan method
Zhidong (d. 1124) bathhouse Dharma combat; relative Ogata, multiple Chinese sources of Miaozong, wrote The Record on (Kongshi Daoren lay name) Clarifying the Mind
Miaozong (1095-1170) a Dharma heir of Dahui Levering, Cleary, et al
Lady Qinguo (c 1100) Lay woman Dharma heir of Dahui Cleary, et al
Wenzhao (c 1200) reformed 5 convents from Vinaya to Jia tai pudeng lu Chan Buddhism; had a male heir
Miaohui (1500) important teacher with many Grant, Daughters of Emptiness disciples
Zhiyuan Xinggang (1517-1604) Linji Lineage Holder Grant
Jizong Xingche (1606) Lineage holder and abbot Grant
Jifu Zukui (1610) Abbot and writer Grant
Shenyi (c 1722) Abbot, teacher Grant
JAPANESE ANCESTORS Zenshin (584) first ordained Japanese Buddhist Nihon Shoki, Ruch, et al
Kōmyō (701-760) Empress, established sutra copying Nihon Shoki, Ruch et al practice, helped establish Sotoshu system, established many convents Buddhist practitioner and Empress Tachibana no Kachiko (786-850) Ruch, Engendering Faith sponsored Chan priest I-Kung from China to Japan and temple Danrinji Ryōnen (c1200) one of Dogen’s primary students; she Bodiford, Levering, Dogen is believed to have influenced Dogen
Shogaku (ordained 1225) Dogen’s relative and supporter was Arai ordained
Egi (c 1200) Dogen’s student, Koun Ejo’s Dharma Bodiford, Levering, Dogen sister, nursed Dogen on his deathbed, helped Eiheiji transition
Mugai Nyodai (1223-98) the first acknowledged female Zen Ruch and multiple master in Japan, founded Keiaiji
Kakuzan Shido (1252-1305) founder of Tokeiji, related to Mugai Ruch, et al Nyodai
Ekan Daishi (d 1314) abbot, devoted to Kanzeon, mother Daijoji records, Faure, Bodiford, et al of Keizan
Seitaku (also called Shotaku) Third Abbess Tokeiji fended off rape Leggett (Warior Koans), Ruch, with paper sword Morrell
Kontō Ekyu (1300) first Japanese woman to receive Soto Daijoji records , Faure, Bodiford, et al transmission
Mokufu Sonin (ordained in 1319) first abbot of Enzuin, women’s Daijoji records, Faure, Bodiford, et al hermitage at Yokoji; close student of Keizan
Soitsu (c. 1350) Gasan’s heir with her own disciples Faure
Eshun (b. 1364) Serious Soto nun, famous for grace Leggett, Bodiford and humor in dealing with misogyny and obstacles to training
Yōdō (1318-1396) abbot of Tokeiji, teaching poet, great Ruch, et al advocate of Wesak
Kodai-in, (Kogetsu-ni) (1549-1624) established Kodai-ji Kodaiji
Soshin-ni (1588-1675) student of Takuan, spiritual advisor Soshin-ni Hogo to Tokugawa Iemitsu
Tenshu (1608-1645) abbot of Tokeiji , surviving princess, Ruch, Morrell offered one request by shogun, asked for Tokeiji’s protection. Saved Hori women from being kidnapped.
Daitsu Bunchi (1619-1697) writer and artist, left Imperial Court Fister to establish Enshoji
Ryonen Gensō (1646-1711) famous for burning her face in order Addiss to practice; enlightenment certified by Dōtai; revived an abandoned temple; poetry and calligraphy still honored today
Tachibana no Someko (1660-1705) wrote Wastepaper Record and King, Fumihiko commentary on Mumonkan; a lay woman who received a kesa
Tokugon Riho (1672-1745) restored convents Fister
Satsu (c 1700) lay woman; Dharma heir of Hakuin Hakuin
Ohashi (c 1700) lay woman; enlightened certified by Hakuin Hakuin
Teijitsu (c 1750) head of Hakuju-an, women’s Sotoshu records hermitage created after women were banned from Eiheiji
Otagaki Rengetsu (1790-1875) Nun who became world famous Stevens artist, poet, and sculptor
Mizuno Tenmyō Jorin (1848-1927) the national leader of nuns and re- Sotoshu records established a national training system for nuns in 20th century
Hori Mitsujo (1868—1927) founder and savior of Soto convents Arai
Nagasawa Sozen (1880-1956) abbot; only independent woman Collection of Meditation Experiences teacher in her time; many devoted students
Nogami Senryo (1883-1980) Abbess Seikan-ji Died standing in front of Buddha chanting Dogen’s Arai Women Living Zen words “Die Sitting, Die Standing” (Zadatsu Ryubo)
Satomi Myodo Yasutani’s first Dharma heir King Spiritual Autobiography of a Nun
Kendō Kojima (1898-1995) international influence and primary Arai force in equalizing training for men and women
Yoshida Eshun (1907-1982) Hashimoto Roshi Dharma Heir taught Selkirk Blanche Hartman and Tomoe Katagiri
Kasai Joshin (1914-1984) established robe-sewing practice in SFZC records, Selkirk US
Kudo Sumiko (c 1929-1976) Translated Mumonkan from Niwa Roshi, Koon-ji Japanese to English for Shibayama Zenkei and back to Japanese on her death bed. Taught at a temple near Tokyo
NEWER (WESTERN POTENTIAL) ANCESTORS Ruth Eryu Jokei Fuller first Westerner to train in Japan; first Fuller American woman priest in Japan; (1893-1967) important translator; restored Ryosen-an
Maurine Myo-on Stuart certified by Soen Nakagawa; Stuart established Cambridge Buddhist (1922- 1990) Association; many devoted students;
Houn Jiyu Kennett (1924-1996) first Western woman to practice at Kennett Sojiji; transmitted by Keido Chisan; established Order of Buddhist Contemplatives and Shasta Abbey
Gesshin Myoko Prabhasa Dharma a founder and leader of Cimarron Cheney Cheney (1931-1999) Zen Center and Mt. Baldy; founder of International Zen Institute
Baiho Trudy Dixon (1939-69) Called “a true Zen Master” by Suzuki Zen Mind Beginner’s Mind Roshi
Specific Lineage ancestors Beginning local lineages here (eg Seisho Maylie Scott)
NOTES
Mythical Ancestors: Kwan Yin is left out because she appeared originally in male form and is widely revered as a Mahasattva. Maha Maya is here because many important elements of her story are mythical, including that of the Buddha’s conception and her as a guide after her death. The Avatamsaka presents an embarrassment of riches. Sudhana visits many women and girls; these are examples.
Indian Ancestors: The Therigatha also has many examples. With close reading, there are repetitious elements. These women selected offer a wide selection of the most accomplished women.
Chinese Ancestors: Jingjian is one of a large cohort and chosen as an exemplar.
Japanese Ancestors: We left out women who were primarily financial sponsors. Newer Ancestors: There are many choices to be made here. We all have favorites, and it may be too early to know about lasting influence.