Dakini Power: Twelve Extraordinary Women Shaping the Transmission of Tibetan Buddhism in the W est

How does a surfer girl from Malibu become the head of the main international organization for Buddhist women? Why does the daughter of a music executive in Santa Monica dream so vividly of peacocks one What drives a young London librarian to board a ship to India, meditate in a remote cave by herself for twelve years, and then build a flourishing nunnery in the Himalayas?

Why does the daughter of a music executive in Santa Monica dream so vividly of peacocks one night that she chases these images to Nepal, where she finds the love of her life in an unconventional young Tibetan master? The women featured in Dakini Power —contemporary teachers of Tibetan Buddhism, both Asians and Westerners, who teach in the West—have been universally recognized as accomplished practitioners and brilliant teachers whose life stories demonstrate their immense determination and bravery.

Meeting them in this book, readers will be inspired to let go of old fears, explore new paths, and lead the lives they envision. Paperback , pages. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Dakini Power , please sign up. Sarah Draughon Nichiren Shoshu is a school of Japanese buddhism. See 1 question about Dakini Power….

Lists with This Book. Mar 05, Jen rated it really liked it Shelves: Michaela Haas, a reporter, lecturer, and consultant has been practicing Buddhism for twenty years. A visiting scholar in Religious Studies at UC Santa Barbara, Haas profiles twelve impressive women whose efforts are having tremendous influence in the spread of Buddhist philosophy and the inclusion of women in a male dominated hierarchy. The stories of these twelve women are interesting and inspirational, and following the paths they have taken provides a fascinating look at the way these differen Michaela Haas, a reporter, lecturer, and consultant has been practicing Buddhism for twenty years.

The stories of these twelve women are interesting and inspirational, and following the paths they have taken provides a fascinating look at the way these different women have met the challenges they've faced. As in any hierarchical system, religious or not, there is room for abuse of power, and I found it interesting that the dakinis chose to discuss the kinds of abuse that can take place and the differences in the way monks and nuns are treated. Traditionally, nuns get little support and no real education, while monks are well-supported and spend a majority of their lives receiving teachings that are usually denied to the women.

These women were courageous enough, or lucky enough, to find teachers that gave them the respect and spiritual education they so badly wanted and needed. Jul 31, Gwendoline Van rated it it was amazing. I loved this book. I loved the forays into the women trailblazers paving the way for Buddhism in the West. I loved the lessons. I loved the stories. I just plain loved it. And liberation from suffering, a promise of the Buddhist path, was primarily a matter of the mind, an internal revolution, so my imperative shifted from exposing corrupt governments to exposing the corruption of my own mind.

But if a woman develops the mind of enlightenment, her potential is supreme. To suddenly just let it go and be naked in the meditational experience is frightening for them, whereas women seem to be able to manage it naturally. Usually depicted as an attractive teenage girl, naked except for a few bone ornaments, she glances invitingly while also swinging a curved knife, ready to cut through ego clinging without warning. Every move, every word, every thought is practice.

Dharma is in daily life. If you don't want something, don't create the ground for it. Because, for the life of us, we don't want to give up or self-cherishing. Our constant attempts to exempt ourselves from this simple logic of altruism necessitated the later explosion of practices, mantras, a colorful pantheon of deities, philosophies, and texts. Each was designed to convince us that our particular style of self-cherishing will not lead to happiness for ourselves or others.

That makes you more open. Dagmola draws great meaning from the original Tibetan name for practitioners: Because I see that a lot of us are just running around in circles pretending that there's grond where there actually isn't ground. And that somehow, if we could learn to not be afraid of groundlessness, not be afraid of insecurity and uncertainty, it woul dbe calling on an inner strength that would allow us to be open and free and loving and compassionate in any situation.

But as long as we keep trying to scramble to get ground under our feet and avoid the uneasy feeling of groundlessness and insecurity and uncertainty and ambiguity and paradox, any of that, then the wars will continue. I find it humorous that people think retreat is an escape from responsibilities and a withdrawal into oneself In retreat, all that you have been suppressing comes to the surface. You put yourself in a position of being unable to ignore that.

The Book — DAKINI POWER

Not holding too tightly to any concept, even concepts that are supposed to be 'right. Perfect buddhas are born from the thought to help others. THerefore exchange your own happiness for the suffering of others. The teaching about misery coming from ignorance, attachment, and anger really got to me. The bodhichitta teachings, indentifying the self-centered thought as the troublemaker and knowing helping others is the thing to do--all this made so much sense.

Practicing to free our mind from ignorance, anger, and attachement and to cultivate love, compassion, and wisdom--that is the dharma. At that moment, I made the commitment to practice being there for others as they died. Practice of helping the spirit leave the body "Rather than idealize their spiritual teachers, Roshi recommends that students 'retrieve their projections, see their own enlightened nature and their own deluded nature, and see the deluded and enlightened nature of every being.

To think that when you feel sorrow, you should feel everyone's sorrow melts away the individual. It takes the grief away because you cannot remain individualized and self-centered. You have to let go of the clinging and realize your true nature as vast, compassionate, perfect, lucid. Inspiring Amazing book about women who transform the world by transforming themselves.

I found it so empowering and inspirational- regardless of whether you are attracted to buddhism or not. Their lessons are universal. Apr 28, Tanya McGinnity rated it it was amazing. From Women of the Way: Discovering 2, Years of Buddhist Wisdom by Sallie Tisdale to Women Of Wisdom by Tsultrim Allione and several other books that rest on both my physical and digital bookshelves, this book has now become a treasured guide to help inspire me through its presentation of strong, determined and steadfast feminine energy. The women featured from left to right in the image below are: Several married, others unmarried or previously married some have even married their teachers and many have borne children and balanced motherhood with spiritual practice and study.

The impact that each of these women has made in the global community is also highlighted as each have used their precious human birth to assist in the spread of the dharma in their own ways, be it through becoming high ranking spiritual teachers, authors, lecturers, translators or founders of spiritual centres. To read of their motivations and their desire to be of service is truly a gift.

In the case of Tenzin Palmo, she mentioned how at one time or another each of us has been male and female and she is dedicating herself to becoming enlightened in a female form since she believes in the importance of there being more women teachers and role-models. Several of the women featured are some of the first wave of Tibetans to be forced from their land by the Chinese and this book captures their stories.

Other women were those who traveled from the West over to India and Asia to experience and discover the wisdom traditions of the East. We must ask ourselves now what the next generation of female Buddhists will contribute. Mar 28, Julie G rated it really liked it Shelves: Dakini Skt , khandro Tib: Female embodiment of enlightenment Ms.

Haas begins her book with the story of how she came to embrace Tibetan Buddhism and the "questions, challenges and demands" that drove her to seek out other women in similar circumstances. As she explains in the foreword: I hope that by meeting them in this book, you will be inspired in the same way: It is part and parcel of any discussion of female Buddhist teachers and masters. And helps to explain the dearth of information. Although Padmasambhava, the eighth-century pioneer of Buddhism in Tibet, believed that women "are better equipped to realize the wisdom of the teachings", that there was no great difference in male and female, Buddhist cultures throughout history have perceived the woman as inferior.

There are no formal educational opportunities for female Buddhists in Asia and, in Tibet, no way for Buddhist nuns to be fully ordained. The author makes the point dramatically with the story of a friend, the sister of four brothers, who doesn't even know her birth date as her parents didn't deem it important enough to record. Dakini Power is not a quick read, nor an easy read. There is a great deal of information that, despite the glossary and extensive notes in the back, went over my head on several occasions. With that said, I applaud Ms.

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Haas' work to fill the informational hole and bring the stories of these twelve amazing Dakinis to the rest of the world. This is a book worth reading, and re-reading. I received a complimentary electronic galley of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Mar 27, Demi rated it it was amazing Shelves: This was by far, one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time. It was a real pleasure to follow the very varied biographies of these amazing female practioners and actually, quite inspiring given that I'm currently a young Mum trying to squeeze in Buddhist practice while raising a young child.

Each of the twelve biographies were written very well and quite easy to read. What I really treasured was the varied backgrounds and personalities of the twelve female teachers. So often, we rea This was by far, one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time. So often, we read about these teachers or take teachings from them, but don't realise the personal challenges that some of them have overcome.

It was very encouraging to read that some of this great teachers came from circumstances similiar to any other person and look at what they've managed to achieve. It brought me closer to each one of these women and I appreciate more than ever, their candid and resourceful teachings.

What I also enjoyed was the insight into what it's like to be a consort Sangyum to high Lamas both from a traditional Tibetan perspective and a Western perspective. Not much is often spoken about this role and yet it is often hinted at when you read various Tibetan Buddhist material. Dakini Power helped to dispel a lot of "myths" or misconceptions about this very important role and bring things down to earth. I have a new appreciation for what a Sangyum does and I think this book will help future students to better understand the difference between a true Sangyum relationship and abuse of Guru-student sexual misconduct.

Well doen to Michaela Haas for opening the doors of discussion about this and for her wonderful selection of female practioners to interview. I truly hope there might be a sequel one day, as sentient beings are in dire need of more Dakinis and highly realised female practioners as role models.

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Sep 20, Harry Allagree rated it really liked it. Author Michaela Haas early on sets the tone of the book: But what exactly is a dakini?

Dakini Power: Twelve Extraordinary Women Shaping the Transmission of Tibetan Buddhism in the West

Dakinis are elusive and playful by nature; trying to nail them down with a neat definition means missing them, since defying narrow intellectual concepts is at the core of their wise game. I listened to the teachers in this book when they shared their understanding. The span of ages, backgrounds, nationalities, etc. Their absorbing, personal and provocative accounts provide surprising insights into what this age-old tradition of wisdom can offer to modern seekers.

Many of us dream of exchanging our day-to-day responsibilities for a heartfelt life full of purpose , but few of us ever get around to doing something about it. The women featured in Dakini Power —contemporary teachers of Tibetan Buddhism, both Westerners and Asians, who teach in the West—are the exception. All twelve women followed their intuition against all odds , made dramatic and unusual decisions, and sometimes had to fight for their survival in order to lead the lives they envisioned.

All were criticized—for being too conservative or too rebellious, too feminist or not feminist enough —yet they pulled through with immense determination and bravery. Today all are recognized as accomplished practitioners and brilliant teachers. What can we learn from these women? How do they handle the cultural differences? How do they deal with the more controversial aspects of Buddhism? The Westerners among them risked alienating their families and closest friends by immersing their lives in a completely foreign culture.

Often, this necessitated radical life changes. What did they find on their journey? Was the price they paid worth it to them? Dakini Power honors the lives and a ccomplishments of these female pioneers of Buddhism in the West, not least because they seem to have bridged gaps that many of us struggle with. Meeting them in this book, the reader will be inspired in the same way: Take a look inside the book here! Dakini Power is available as paperback, e-book, and audio book, and is also available in German , Swedish , Spanish , Czech, Portugese, and Polish!