The Hidden Lamp: Stories from Twenty-Five Centuries of Awakened Women

404 Pages·2013·2.22 MB·English

by  Zenshin Florence Caplow

Wisdom Publications
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Somerville, MA 02144 USA
www.wisdompubs.org
©2013 Susan Moon
©2013 Florence Caplow
All rights reserved.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The Hidden Lamp : Stories from Twenty-Five Centuries of Awakened Women / Compiled and Edited by
Zenshin Florence Caplow and Reigetsu Susan Moon ; Foreword by Zoketsu Norman Fischer.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-86171-659-0 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Buddhist women. 2. Women in Buddhism. 3. Religious life—
Buddhism. I. Caplow, Florence, 1964– editor of compilation, writer of added commentary. II. Moon,
Susan, 1942– editor of compilation, writer of added commentary.
BQ4570.W6H53 2013
294.3092’52—dc23
2013007111
ISBN 978-0-86171-659-3 eBook ISBN 978-1-61429-133-6
17 16 15 14 13 5 4 3 2 1
Cover design by Phil Pascuzzo. Author photo by Victoria Leonard. Interior design by Gopa & Ted2, Inc.
Set in Berling LT Std 10.4/15.4.
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durability of the Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources.
Printed in the United States of America.
This book was produced with environmental mindfulness. We have elected to print this title on 30%
PCW recycled paper. As a result, we have saved the following resources: 25 trees, 11 million BTUs
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information, please visit www.fscus.org.
Table of Contents
Foreword by Zoketsu Norman Fischer
Introduction
Suggestions for How to Practice with The Hidden Lamp
Stories and Reflections
I. CLAPPING HER HANDS AND LAUGHING: STORIES OF SEEKING AND AWAKENING
The Old Woman of Mount Wutai • Nancy Brown Hedgpeth
Anoja Seeks the Self • Sandy Boucher
Joko Beck and the Thought of Enlightenment • Peg Syverson
The Old Woman and the Pure Land • Emila Heller
Manseong’s No Cultivation • Barbara Rhodes
Bhadda-Kundalakesa Cannot Answer • Beth Kanji Goldring
Chiyono’s No Water, No Moon • Merle Kodo Boyd
Ohashi Awakens in a Brothel • Judith Randall
Seven Wise Women in the Charnel Ground • Bonnie Myotai Treace
Asan’s Rooster • Susan Murphy
The Old Woman’s Enlightenment • Shinge Roko Sherry Chayat
Qiyuan Gives Birth • Sunya Kjolhede
Chen’s Mountain Flowers • Joanna Macy
Ganji’s Family • Angie Boissevain
The Woman Lets It Be • Tamara Myoho Gabrysch
Awakening While Cooking • Viveka Chen
The Woman in Samadhi • Natalie Goldberg / Miriam Sagan
Yu Uses Her Full Strength • Kokyo Meg Porter Alexander
The Flower Hall on Buddha’s Birthday • Amala Wrightson
Sonin’s Shadeless Tree • Anita Feng
Linji Meets the Old Woman Driving the Ox • Myokaku Jane Schneider
Jiyu-Kennett’s Not Bigger, Not Smaller • Heila Downey
Jiaoan’s Sand in the Eye • Zenki Mary Mocine
Punnika and the Brahman’s Purification • Diana Winston
Nyozen’s Pale Moon of Dawn • Kuya Minogue
II. BRING ME A MUSTARD SEED: BEING HUMAN
The Old Woman Burns Down the Hermitage • Zenkei Blanche Hartman
Zhaozhou’s Deeply Secret Mind • Ikushin Dana Velden
Miaozong’s Dharma Interview • Hoka Chris Fortin
Zhaozhou and the Old Woman’s Obstacles • Diane Eshin Rizzetto
Eshun’s Deep Thing • Karen Sundheim
Ryonen Scars Her Face • Wendy Egyoku Nakao
Vasumitra Teaches Freedom from Passion • Anne Seisen Saunders
Zongchi and Bodhidharma’s Flesh • Shosan Victoria Austin
The Zen Mirror of Tokeiji • Zenju Earthlyn Manuel
Yoshihime’s “Look, Look!” • Judith Simmer-Brown
The Old Woman, Zhaozhou, and the Tiger • Chi Kwang Sunim
Shotaku’s Paper Sword • Nancy Mujo Baker
Dipa Ma’s Fearless Daughters • Amita Schmidt
Maylie Scott Meets Loneliness • Diane Musho Hamilton
Yasodhara’s Path • Byakuren Judith Ragir
Bhadda Kapilani and Mahakassapa • Jacqueline Mandell
Ikkyu and Kannon’s Messenger • Mushim Patricia Ikeda
Senjo and Her Soul Are Separated • Eijun Linda Ruth Cutts
Iron Grindstone Liu’s Feast • Pat Enkyo O’Hara
The Old Woman Recognizes Mazu • Eido Frances Carney
Satsujo Overthrows Hakuin • Caitriona Reed
The Old Woman Steals Zhaozhou’s Bamboo Shoots • Furyu Nancy Schroeder
The Old Woman’s Relatives • Zenshin Florence Caplow
Kisagotami’s Mustard Seed • Christina Feldman
Satsujo Weeps • Reigetsu Susan Moon
Ziyong’s Last Teaching • Myoshin Kate McCandless
Lingzhao Goes First • Catherine Genno Pagès
Yuanji Knocks the Body Down • Melissa Myozen Blacker
Anne Aitken’s “Get On and Go” • Nancy Genshin Gabrysch
Permanence and Impermanence • Hilary Richards
Patacara’s Presence of Mind • Anna Prajna Douglas
Asan’s Dewdrop • Tonen Sara O’Connor
III. WHY DO YOU CALL YOURSELF A WOMAN? WORDS IN THE MIDST OF
WORDLESSNESS
The Goddess’s Transformations • Jan Chozen Bays
Soma Rebukes Mara • Barbara Joshin O’Hara
Ziyong’s Ship of Compassion • Daijaku Judith Kinst
Tara’s Vow • Rita M. Gross
Dogen Sets the Record Straight • Sobun Katherine Thanas
Mahapajapati Opens the Door • Thanissara
Changjingjin’s No Obstructions • Myokei Lynda Caine-Barrett
Moshan’s Mountain Summit • Shinshu Roberts
Miaozong’s Disappointment • Ursula Jarand
The Naga Princess’s Enlightenment • Anne Carolyn Klein Rigzin Drolma
Ziyong’s Earth • Eva Myonen Marko
Kongshi’s Bathhouse • Sallie Jiko Tisdale
Asan Claps Both Hands • Laurie Schley Senauke
Dongshan and the Old Woman’s Water Buckets • Mitra Bishop
Satsujo Sits on the Lotus Sutra • Rachel Mansfield-Howlett
The Old Woman’s Rice Cakes • Joan Halifax
Ling’s Question • Jo Potter
Kakuzan Shido’s Dagger • Laura del Valle
The Old Woman and Naropa • Karma Lekshe Tsomo
Lingzhao’s Shining Grasses • Jisho Warner
Qiyuan and the Lotus Sutra • Stephanie Kaza
Dieu Nhan’s Without Words • Eileen Kiera
Shiji Doesn’t Take Off Her Hat • Judith Roitman
Miaodao’s Falling into the Hole • Gyokujun Layla Smith Bockhorst
Miaoxin’s Banner • Myoan Grace Schireson
IV. I SAW YOU FALL DOWN SO I’M HELPING: THE PATH OF PRACTICE
Lingzhao’s Helping • Joan Sutherland
Faxiang’s Recognition • Misha Shungen Merrill
Sujata’s Offering • Vimalasara, aka Valerie Mason-John
Laywoman Pang’s Merit • Amy Hollowell