Great Plains Zen Center
The Women’s Mandala

The Women’s Mandala

The Women’s Mandala

Painting by Ekyo Maezumi

 

We refer to this list of important female teachers as a mandala because these women are not in a direct succession, but rather have collectively, through their effort throughout space and time, brought the Dharma teaching to us.  This mandala is chanted some mornings while the direct ancestral lineage coming through India, China and Japan is chanted on other mornings.  We are deeply grateful to both our direct ancestor teachers and the teachers in this mandala. 

 

 

 

 

Homage to the Perfection of Wisdom

 

Homage to the Perfection of Wisdom,

Prajnaparamita, the Mother of the Buddhas.

The lovely and the holy Perfection of Wisdom gives light.

Unstained the entire world cannot stain her.

She is a source of light and from everyone

in the triple world, she removes darkness.

Most excellent are her works.

She brings light so that all fear and distress may be forsaken

and disperses the gloom and darkness of delusion.

She herself is an organ of vision.

She has a clear knowledge of her own being of all Dharmas,

for she does not stray away from it.

The Perfection of Wisdom of the Buddhas⎯

the Buddhas set in motion the wheel of Dharma.

Great Ancestors:

Queen Maya Honored One

Mahapajapati Honored One

Mitta Honored Teacher

Yasodhara Honored Teacher

Tissa Honored Teacher

Sumana Honored Teacher

Upasama Honored Teacher

Viskha Honored Teacher

Khema Honored Teacher

Uppalavanna Honored Teacher

Sundari-Nanda Honored Teacher

Vaddhesi Honored Teacher

Patacara Honored Teacher

Uttama Honored Teacher

Bhadda-Kundalakesa Honored Teacher

Nanduttara Honored Teacher

Dantika Honored Teacher

Sakula Honored Teacher

Siha Honored Teacher

Dhammadina Honored Teacher

Kisagotami Honored Teacher

Vasetthi Honored Teacher

Ubbiri Patacara-Pancasata Honored Teacher

Isidasi Honored Teacher

Bhadda-Kapilani Honored Teacher

Mutta Honored Teacher

Capa Honored Teacher

Dhamma Honored Teacher

Citta Honored Teacher

Vimala Honored Teacher

Addhakasi Honored Teacher

Padumavati Honored Teacher

Ambapali Honored Teacher

Anopama Honored Teacher

Abhirupa-Nanda Honored Teacher

Jenti Honored Teacher

The seven-year old daughter of the Dragon King Sagara Honored Teacher

Soji, Honored Teacher, Dharma heir of Bodhidharma,

Mo-shan, disciple of Kao-an Ta-yu Honored Teacher

Miao-hsin, Honored Teacher, disciple of Hui-chi who enlightened 17 monks

Iron Brush Liu, Honored Teacher, an equal of Master Isan.

Zenshin, Honored Teacher, first ordained Japanese Buddhist

Empress Komyo, Honored Teacher, founder of the first Buddhist head convent, Hokkeji

and who tirelessly served those in need

The women disciples of Dogen Zenji

Egi Honored Teacher

Eshin Honored Teacher

Shogaku Honored Teacher

Ryonen Honored Teacher

The women disciples of Keizan Zenji

Sonin, Honored Teacher, Dharma heir and chief priest of Enzuin

And her daughter Ekan, Honored Teacher, chief priest of Enzuin

Shozen Honored Teacher

En’i Honored Teacher

Shinmyo Honored Teacher

Myosho Honored Teacher

Shinsho Honored Teacher

Ekyu Honored Teacher

Jonin Honored Teacher

Myoshin Honored Teacher

Ninkai Honored Teacher

And all other direct Soto women ancestors:

Shune Honored Teacher

Joa Honored Teacher

Genshu Honored Teacher

Shue Honored Teacher

Honsho Honored Teacher

Somyo Honored Teacher

Soki Honored Teacher

Soitsu Honored Teacher

Zensho Honored Teacher

Myojun Honored Teacher

Ryoso Honored Teacher

Myozen Honored Teacher

Myoko Honored Teacher

Mugai Nyodai, Honored Teacher, founder of the first Zen Buddhist convent in Japan

Ryonen Genso, Honored Teacher, who sacrificed her beauty

Kojima Kendo, Honored Teacher, advocate of the equality of women in the Soto Sect

Ruth Fuller Sasaki, Honored Teacher, first American Rinzai priest

Jiyu Kennett, Honored Teacher, founder of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives

Gesshin Myoho Prabhasa Dharma, Honored Teacher, founder of the Moon Heart Sangha

Maurine Stuart, Honored Teacher, American Zen pioneer

Zenkei Blanche Hartman, Honored Teacher, first woman abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center

Jishu Angyo Holmes, Honored Teacher, co-founder of Zen Peacemakers

Charlotte Joko Beck, Honored Teacher, founder of Ordinary Mind School

We recognize all laywomen who carried the Dharma

The Indian Queen Srimala, Honored One, who roared the Lion’s Roar

Flora Eko Courtois, Honored One, founding member of ZCLA and especially to

Antoku Inden Kasho Myokei Zenni, Honored One, mother of Taizan Maezumi

And to all the Women Ancestors whose names have been forgotten or left unsaid.

May we become worthy to carry on the Dharma together.