Women Walking the Path: Feminism, Buddhism, and the Power of Persistence
This HerStance episode centers Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī—the first Bhikkhunī, the Buddha’s foster mother, and the woman whose courage opened the Buddhist path to women.
Through a feminist lens, we explore Mahāpajāpatī’s historic and often-understated role in Buddhist history: her persistence in the face of repeated refusal, her leadership among women seekers, and her unwavering commitment to spiritual liberation despite patriarchal barriers. Her story is not only foundational to the Bhikkhunī sangha—it is a powerful example of women’s spiritual authority, collective resistance, and embodied wisdom.
We examine how Mahāpajāpatī and the early nuns challenged gendered assumptions about women’s capacity for awakening, and how their voices were later constrained by institutional rules and historical retellings shaped by male authority. This episode invites listeners to question whose stories have been preserved, whose have been minimized, and why reclaiming women’s spiritual lineages matters now.
From ancient India to contemporary Buddhist communities, Mahāpajāpatī’s legacy continues to inform conversations about gender justice, leadership, and liberation within spiritual traditions. Her determination reminds us that access to the path has always been contested—and that women have always walked it anyway.
This episode is an invitation to remember, reclaim, and re-center women’s wisdom on the Buddhist path—and to consider how spiritual practice can be a site of feminist awakening and collective liberation.
✨ Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī did not ask for permission to awaken—she insisted on it.
References:
https://www.buddhistdoor.net/features/mahapajapati-gotami-the-woman-who-opened-the-path-for-us/
Finding Venerable Mother: A Daughter’s Spiritual Quest to Thailand, by Cindy Rasicot
Alliance for Bhikkhunis: An organization dedicated to supporting and educating the public about the bhikkhuni sangha.
Present Magazine: Offers a comprehensive historical timeline of the "2600 Year Journey" of Buddhist nuns.
Sakyadhita International: The "Daughters of the Buddha" organization that has been a driving force behind the global movement for women's ordination.
Aloka Vihara Forest Monastery (California, USA): Dedicated to the Theravada Forest Tradition, they offer a clear, step-by-step training path from lay guest to full ordination.
Dhammadharini Monastery (California, USA): Led by Ayya Tathaaloka, this community has fostered the ordination of over 50 women worldwide and serves as a vital hub for research into ancient lineages.
Anukampa Grove (UK): Recently established by Ven. Canda, this is the first monastery in the UK where women can train toward full ordination.
Ariya Vihara (Malaysia): The first Theravada bhikkhuni nunnery and training center in Malaysia, offering an intensive program for both local and international aspirants.
Newbury Buddhist Monastery (Australia): Provides a robust training environment and supports the "dual ordination" process with the broader Sangha.
