Buddhadharma Fall 2019

56 BUDDHADHARMA: THE PRACTITIONER’S QUARTERLY

are men. Often, we try to learn from

their example, from how they responded

to situations. Many of us have heard

of the Zen master who was accused of

fathering a child—he was like, “Oh, is

that so?” He just let it happen. And then

the woman who accused him sort of felt

guilty and cleared his name, and then he

was like, “Oh, is that so?” A woman I

know was in a similar situation: she was

accused of sleeping with people in the

temple. So she went to a doctor to get

a certificate of virginity. Did she over-

react? Men always get a lot more of the

benefit of the doubt than women do. Just

reading the teachings from the ancestors

with that fact in mind can be extremely

helpful.

NARAYAN HELEN LIEBENSON: I remem-

ber, when I was a young teacher, an older

male teacher told me over and over again

that I was “out of control.” And I was

speaking in the calmest, quietest voice

one can imagine.

MYOAN GRACE SCHIRESON: You were

probably “out of control” because you

were standing your ground.

Where you are as a woman, what-

ever role, whether you’re in a

temple or you’re in a family, you

can find a way to come forth.

—MYOAN GRACE SCHIRESON

SHINSHU ROBERTS GRETCHEN ROHR

PARI RUENGVISESH

TUERE SALA AYYA SANTACCITA

WENDY EGYOKU NAKAO EIDO FRANCES CARNEY

TARA BRACH