Mahaprajapati was the Buddha’s mother (actually his aunt who nurtured and raised him). Oddly, little was written about her or her influence over her son, or the establishment of the female sangha — both lay and monastic. Ancient stories about her made their way to China, Sri Lanka, Tibet and Thailand but were excluded from the Pali Canon except for one volume, the Therigatha – “versus of the elder nuns.” Her life experience, her approach to teaching and her relationship with the women of her sangha was generally ignored by the monks of her time, and even now. New research and access to ancient “herstory” are now slowly becoming available. What this new information offers is a picture of a compassionate woman, a gifted leader — who was beloved by her entire community. Mahaprajapati and her community of women had to approach the Dharma with a different sensibility due to the misogyny of that time. Their approach to the Dharma, which we will discuss, may be what is needed in today’s world as Buddhism continues to evolve.
Sierra 2 Center, Room 14
2791 24th Street, Sacramento, CA, United States
Mahamudra and Manjushri Retreat with Rob Preece 4-Day Online Retreat Friday April 24, 2026-Monday April 27, 2026 7am-5pm PDT Please plan to attend all days, no partial retreat available Sliding […]
