Symposium – 8 to 12 June 2021
The materials of the Treasuring the Feminine in Vajrayāna Buddhism symposium that took place in June 2021 are now available.
For the last year the materials were only available to the women teachers who participated. Since December 2022, the contributors have made them available to anyone with an interest in this topic. The materials are simply a support for reflection, and do not claim to be complete.
The wish was to gather and reflect on where we are at in our tradition when it comes to treasuring the feminine. It was also clear that the problems Vajrayāna Buddhist communities had faced in the student-teacher relationship between men and women had been greatly amplified by the many misunderstandings about Vajrayāna Buddhism itself.
On this occasion the main contributors were Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel, Sangye Khandro, Chagdud Khadro, Marcia Schmidt, Venerable Karma Lekshe Tsomo, Lama Tsultrim Allione, Acharya Judith Simmer-Brown – in order of intervention.
Pour les francophones : Pour un résumé en français des conversations sur le Trésor Féminin entre Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, Sangye Khandro, Chagdud Khadro, Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel et Marcia Schmidt, téléchargez la traduction française au bas de cette page.
The materials of the Treasuring the Feminine in Vajrayāna Buddhism symposium that took place in June 2021 are now available.
For the last year the materials were only available to the women teachers who participated. Since December 2022, the contributors have made them available to anyone with an interest in this topic. The materials are simply a support for reflection, and do not claim to be complete.
The wish was to gather and reflect on where we are at in our tradition when it comes to treasuring the feminine. It was also clear that the problems Vajrayāna Buddhist communities had faced in the student-teacher relationship between men and women had been greatly amplified by the many misunderstandings about Vajrayāna Buddhism itself.
On this occasion the main contributors were Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel, Sangye Khandro, Chagdud Khadro, Marcia Schmidt, Venerable Karma Lekshe Tsomo, Lama Tsultrim Allione, Acharya Judith Simmer-Brown – in order of intervention.
Pour les francophones : Pour un résumé en français des conversations sur le Trésor Féminin entre Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, Sangye Khandro, Chagdud Khadro, Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel et Marcia Schmidt, téléchargez la traduction française au bas de cette page.
You will find here:
The summary report of the Symposium
It includes extracts from the teachings of the main contributors that are accessible to a general Buddhist audience, questions for reflection and striking main points from the group discussions. This account of the symposium is available publicly and is shared as a support for reflection.
-> Link to summary report
-> Link to summary report
The videos of the teachings and roundtables of the Symposium
These are available to teachers wishing to hold the space for their sangha to explore these topics in a safe environment. Anyone with an interest in the topic is also welcome to watch the videos.
Please keep in mind this symposium was the first gathering of this kind, time was limited and not all points of views are represented.
Please keep in mind this symposium was the first gathering of this kind, time was limited and not all points of views are represented.
More information about the Symposium itself
The group agreement
We propose for dialogues and workshops to be held from a first-person perspective, rooted in deep listening, fearless and joyful.
Here is the group agreement we used during the symposium.
-> you can download the group agreement at the bottom of this page.
Here is the group agreement we used during the symposium.
-> you can download the group agreement at the bottom of this page.
The reading list
And here is the reading list that was shared during the symposium as a support for further study and practice.
-> Link to reading list
-> Link to reading list
We hope that they can become a support to workshops and continued dialogues, holding the space for each of us to explore what it means to treasure the feminine in Vajrayana Buddhism.
For any questions, you can contact womensymposium2021@gmail.com or use the feedback button on the left hand side of this page.
For any questions, you can contact womensymposium2021@gmail.com or use the feedback button on the left hand side of this page.