Part primer, part personal history, part guide to spiritual practice, this book opens the door to an understanding of buddhist spirituality, which engages more and more Westerners as the millenium approaches. Through personal anecdotes, lively explanations, and thoughtful discussions, Sandy Boucher presents a female perspective on fundamental Buddhist teachings such as compassion, detachment, and enlightenment.


Opening the Lotus, Sandy Boucher, Beacon Press, paperback,194 pages, $24.00

Sandy Boucher is the author of six books, including Hidden Spring She has traveled extensively in Asia, living for a short time as a nun in Sri Lanka. Since her 1995-96 bout with the illness, Boucher has worked with others confronted with cancer. She lives in Oakland, California.

	Acknowledgments
I	The Heart of the Matter: Buddhist Basics	1
	What Is Buddhism?	7
	Taking Refuge	10
	A Way of Life	15
	The Precepts	17
	Mindfulness	24
	Compassion	26
	What Can I Expect in a Buddhist Meditation Hall?	28
	Doing a Buddhist Practice	32
	A Practice to Begin With	36
II	The Dance of Gender	41
	Women Teachers	42
	Who Is Welcome?	44
	Do Women Do It Differently?	47
	How Have Feminists Affected American Buddhism?	50
	Can Women Be Buddhist Leaders?	52
	Are There Goddesses in Buddhism?	54
	A Practice to Begin With	66
III	Ancient Beginnings	71
	How the Nuns' Order Was Founded	72
	Who Were the Women of Early Buddhism?	74
	How did Buddhism Develop So Many Different Styles?	87
	How Have Women Fared in Buddhist History?	91
	Could Women Become Bodhisattvas and Buddhas?	94
	How Are Women Viewed in Present-Day Buddhism?	97
	A Practice to Begin With	100
IV	The Teachings from a Woman's Perspective	104
	Suffering as a Beginning	107
	Do I Have to Let Go of My "Self"?	109
	How Does Buddhism Relate to Bodies?	114
	What about Sex?	119
	What Place Do Emotions Have?	120
	What Is the Meaning of Detachment?	123
	How Can I Understand Enlightenment?	124
	Is Compassion a Trap for Women?	126
	A Practice to Begin With	131
V	A Woman on the Path	136
	My Own Trajectory	136
	Final Practice	151
	Resources	155
	Directory of Women Teachers	155
	Publications with Retreat Schedules, and Buddhist Centers Offering Retreats by Women	179
	Books and Articles for Further Reading	181