The Women’s Mandala
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.