Kathryn R. Blackstone is Lecturer in Religious Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.

Contents:

Preface.

Introduction.

I. The language of liberation:
1. Liberation refrains. 2. Distinctions between the texts.
3. A difference of perspective.

II. Looking backward: attitudes towards renunciation:
1. The way they were
. 2. Breaking free: going forth to the homeless life.
3. Reflections on the good life.

III. Looking inward: attitudes towards the body:
1. A Buddhist lesson in anatomy.
2. The body beautiful.
3. Looking at the doctrine as a mirror.

IV. Looking outward: attitudes towards the environment:
1. The environment as setting and symbol.
2. Tree meditations.
3. Envisioning the environment.

V. Struggle for liberation in the Therigatha:
1. Models of liberation.
2. The question of female authorship.
3. Women's struggle for liberation.

Appendices.

Notes.

Bibliography.

Glossary.

Index.