I Hear Her Words

Alice Collett is an academic who specializes in women in Indian Buddhism. Her books include the edited volume Women in Early Indian Buddhism: Comparative Textual Studies (2013) and the monograph, Lives of Early Buddhist Nuns: Biographies as History (2016). She is currently working on her fifth book, entitled Women in Early Historic India: The Changing Political Landscape. She has worked at several universities around the world - in North America, Europe and Asia, and is currently Director of the South Asia History Project, United Kingdom.

I Hear Her Words: An Introduction to Women in Buddhism by Alice Collett is a thorough, comprehensive and well researched guide to the history and agency of women in Buddhism. We travel widely through time and space, discovering awakened and well-practised women of old to the present day. Collett brings to our attention inspiring quotes demonstrating the depth of insight that could have been missed were it not for their presence in this volume. - Martine Batchelor is the author of Women on the Buddhist Path and Women in Korean Zen.********; In this wide-ranging and innovative introduction to women in Buddhism Alice Collett draws on sources from across the Buddhist world to interrogate the idea that Buddhism views women as inferior to men. Her argument is informed by her own considerable scholarship and introduces the general reader to the lives, works and teachings of an impressive range of, often lesser known, Buddhist women from East Asia, India and Tibet, and the West.; In the first part of the book Alice Collett challenges received ideas about the way women are portrayed in Buddhist texts, and by relating ideas about women to essential Buddhist doctrine develops a convincing argument that it is not Buddhism that sees women as inferior but individual (male) Buddhists.; In the second part the reader is introduced to the lives and achievements of a number of inspiring women who have, throughout history, played a crucial role in keeping Buddhism alive and relevant. Even readers familiar with the subject will encounter new evidence of the radical nature of women's spirituality within Buddhism and will welcome being introduced to so many diverse voices.; The author's blending of scholarly analysis and stories of women's lives makes this book a valuable addition to the growing body of work about women in Buddhism. - Danasamudra, co-founder of the Triratna Women Project and Librarian of the Sangharakshita Library.********; Alice Collett's book is a fascinating and engaging survey of recent research into women and Buddhism. Focusing on positive narratives of nuns and laywomen, this compelling work will be an inspiration to all. Citing a wealth of primary sources, including biographies, poems and inscriptions, the author highlights the pivotal roles that women have played both throughout Buddhist history and today, not least as highly respected teachers. This book gives these key figures a long-overdue voice and finally tells the 'her-story' that they all deserve! - Ann Heirman is a researcher on Chinese Buddhist monasticism.********; Written in a clear and accessible style, this book offers an excellent introduction into how women have shaped Buddhism from its beginning in India and over the course of its historical development throughout the Buddhist world. Drawing on her impressive long-term research on ancient Buddhist texts and a wide range of recent scholarship, Alice Collett's book inspires its readers to engage more deeply with this fascinating and important topic. By carefully listening to the often unheard voices of women who have enriched Buddhism through their spiritual practice and teachings, Collett provides new and refreshing perspectives on how Buddhists have implemented the Buddha's teachings to de-essentialise gender. - Martin Seeger, Professor of Thai Studies at the University of Leeds, author of Gender and the Path to Awakening.******** ; A sweeping survey of Buddhist women in Asia from historical times to the present, showing their personal and societal struggles, their many contributions, and their unique wisdom. Impressive in its scope, this book serves our next generations with corrective insights and ushers in an era of greater gender equality in keeping with the Buddha's original vision. - Judith Simmer-Brown, Distinguished Professor of Naropa University and author of Dakini's Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism

• CONTENTSAbout the Author Acknowledgements Publisher's AcknowledgementsIntroductionA New Historical NarrativeFour Recurring Themes in Buddhist Texts and TraditionPart I Asking Questions About BuddhismChapter 1 Buddhism and Gender EqualityBuddhist EthicsThe Principle of Non-HarmBuddhism and FeminismChapter 2 Women in Buddhist TextsNuns Overcoming DesireThe Problem of DesireWomen Are the Problem, Not DesireThe Saundarananda, 'Handsome Nanda'The Maharatnakuta, 'The Collection of Great Jewels'The Siksasamuccaya,, 'The Compendium of Training'Beyond IndiaChapter 3 Gender and Buddhist DoctrineDependent ArisingThe Doctrine of No-SelfEmptiness and Sexual TransformationPart II Voices Through the CenturiesChapter 4 Portraits of Buddhist WomenEarly Buddhist Nuns in India DhammadinnaBhadda KundalakesaPatacaraWomen in Early China Zhu JingjianAn Lingshou DaoxingWomen in Modern East Asia Qiyuan XinggangChiyo-niWomen in Modern Thailand Mae Chi Kaew SianglamChapter 5 Recovering a Lost Past: South and Southeast AsiaSri LankaMainland Southeast Asia CambodiaBurma (Myanmar) ThailandChapter 6 Deities, Teachers, Lineages: Central and East AsiaMahayana Buddhism ChinaKorea TaiwanTantric Buddhism Tibetan BuddhismChapter 7 Unconventional Women and Truth-Tellers: The WestTheravada Buddhism Tibetan BuddhismModern Western BuddhismEpilogue Reaching Across the DivideNotes References Index