Dharma Wheel

Female Masters of the past.


Yours nameless blessing protection!

Mayadevi

Venerable Gotami

Bodhisattva Dolma

Five Female Budhhas

Vajrayogini

Vajravarahi

Princess Mandarava

Lady Tsogyal

Jetsun Niguma

Khandroma Sukhasiddhi

Gelongma Palmo

Machig Drupay Gyalmo

Machig Lhakyi Dronma

Rechungma

Paldarbum

Sahle Aui

Tseringma

Jomo Menmo

Jetsunma Mingyur Paldron

Jetsunma Thrinley Chodron

Jetsunma Shukseb

Sera Khandro Deway Dorje

Khandro Urgyen Tsomo

Jetsunma Tsewang Lhamo.

http://www.tilokpur.org/kdtl6.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"Yeshe Tsogyel, Dakini Queen, is the expanse of wisdom appearing as the action of Love. The emptiness spoken of in Buddhism is not a mere nothingness but a luminous expanse of divine fullness whose essence is beyond any concept or quality and whose nature is a luminous radiance - these two in union give birth to the ceaselessly arising magical appearances. To sing the praises of Khandroma Yeshe Tsogyel is to invite your own deepest nature of reality into your being and world".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIirGRRh ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Laksminkara

Sahajacinta Yogini

Mekhala

Kankala

Lilvajra

Bhiksuni Kungamo

Leyki Wangmo

Yid Thogma

Sakhya Devi

Kalasidhhi

Tashi Chidren

The Fifteen Female Disciples of Guru Rinpoche

Dombi Yogini

The Arrowsmith Woman

Nangso Obum

Sahle Aui

Khandro Losel Drolma

Drigug Khandro

Ayu Khandro - Dorje Paldrön

Tare Lhamo

Sangyum Kusho - Dudjom Sangyum

Homage!

great thread. and replies!!!!!!!!!!!!!



wonder, gladness, peace-
J

and if there's someone... saying to doubt me lol! ! i'm just expressing honestly - this is beauty.

'what is enthusiasm? enthusiasm is ... something... in wholesome deeds,' shantideva. hehe

good wishes to all!!! every one.

peace and love,
J

And this is just part of the list from the Vajrayana lineages ... would love for someone to offer names from other traditions.

I do not know very much about Theravadin women. One very famous comes to my mind: Ayya Khema.

We can assume, there is a huge tressure of wonderful wise women hidden in Thai culture for example. They hide their wisdom in order to stick to the cultural traditions of their country:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maechi

Historical Female Masters of Dzogchen:

Before 600 CE

1. Princess Barani: realized Dzogchenma listed as the 3rd holder of the Dzogchen Semde Lineage (the lineage leading up to Shri Simha [19th], teacher of 8th c. Vairocana). She received “the transmission of the essence from the Nirmanakaya Garab Dorje” and was the teacher/transmitter of Nagaraja (Lui Gyalpo Gawo, Lui Gyalpo Jogpo) who was the teacher of No¨djyinmo Changchubma.

2. No¨djyinmo Changchubma: a princess and realized Dzogchenma, 5th holder of the Dzogchen Semde Lineage (the lineage leading up to Shri Simha [19th], teacher of 8th c. Vairocana) and teacher/transmitter to Metsongma Parani.

3. Parani (Metsongma Parani, Arali the Courtesan): a sudra prostitute (metsongma, smad ‘tshong ma), daughter of Bhahuta (father) and Gaden Dhari (mother), student of No¨djyinmo Changchubma, 6th holder of the Dzogchen Semde Lineage (the lineage leading up to Shri Simha [19th], teacher of 8th c. Vairocana), and a teacher in her own right. She is also called Arali the Courtesan and with that name is listed as a Dzogchen lineage holder in Wellsprings, p. 361, wrote a scripture on the Great Perfection called Luminosity of Awakened Mind, was the teacher of Nagarjuna Garbha.

4. Princess Gomadevi: Oddiyana, main transmission of Mahayoga Karmamudra, 9th holder of the Dzogchen Semde Lineage (the lineage leading up to Shri Simha [19th], teacher of 8th c. Vairocana)

5. Dagnyidma (Metsongma Dagnyidma, Metsongma Buddhamati, Delongma [Bhiks€uni] Dagnyidma): a prostitute (metsongma, smad ‘tshong ma) [yet one of her names also designates her as a monastic! A nun-prostitute or prostitute-nun!], 13th holder of the Dzogchen Semde Lineage (the lineage leading up to Shri Simha [19th], teacher of 8th c. Vairocana), and a teacher in her own right.

Fifteen Female Disciples of Guru Rinpoche

(I erroneously mentioned 25 in my first post; Om Vajrasattva Samaya ...)

1. Me‘long Za Rinchen Tso (Malgonza Rinchen Tso, Mistress of the Jewel-mirror Lake): dressed in cloths of rainbow light

2. Tshan-ma Za Dorje Tso (Mistress of the Hot Vajra Lake)

3. Tshom-bu Za Pema Tso (Mistress of the Mandala): harmonizing body, breath and mind, discovered unchanging bliss

4. Tshe‘-nam Za Sang-gye Tso (Life-sky Mistress of the Indestructible Lake): radiant self-awareness, became a body of effulgent light

5. Shel-kar Za Dorje Tso (Crystal Mistress of the Thunderbolt Lake): surrendered herself like a plant on a river to the stream of devotion

6. Ru¨ Thog Za Tho¨nrubma (Mistress of the Thunderbolt Clan)

7. Shubu Za Sherpa-Ma: was able to effortlessly memorize the Sâtras and sÅstras

8. O-che‘ Za Kar (Mistress of Primordial Starlight): whenever in doubt, conversed with the deities

9. Yamdrok Za Cho¨kyi Dro¨lma (Liberated Mistress of the Turquoise Lake)

10. ‘Dzem-ma Za Lhamo (The Divine Blushing Mistress): whenever hungry, received nectar from the heavenly realms

11. ‘Bar Za Lha-yang (Barza Lhawangma, Mistress of Blazing Melody): understanding the way to liberation, illumined the Dharma for others

12. Cha-rog Za Changchubma (Compassionate Mistress of the Ravens): transformed herself into fire, water, and wind

13. Rong Za Siddhi (Mistress of the Siddhis)

14. Trum Za Shel Ma (Trumza Shelman, Mistress of Crystal Constellations): inspired many visions by showering flowers in celestial space

15. Khu Za Peltsun (Mistress of the Glorious Wrath)



Names of Other Female Disciples of Guru Rinpoche
A complete list from Padmasambhava Comes to Tibet,

(Some of these are duplicates of above and some are unique)

Rubza Dondribma who subdued the twelve protectresses, was able to accomplish whatever she wished (p. 184)

Yaragza Chokyi Drolma continues to receive praise in the heaven realms from all who study her teachings (p. 184)

Droma Pamti Chenmo, free from attachment, traveled in the sky of awareness like a bird (p. 184)

Rongmanza Shultrimdron (could this be Rong Za Siddhi?), became able to transmute rocks into sustenance

Khaza Palzhunma (could this be Khu Za Peltsun?): liberated countless beings through the power of the phurbu

Aro Za Druk-tsal Shedrakma (A-Tasting Dragon Radiance Mistress of the Crystal Crag)

Kharchen Zhonnu Dro¨lma: a disciple of Yeshe‘ Tsogyal

Dewamo (Chonema): Yeshe‘ Tsogyal initiate

Mo¨nmo Tashi Chhi’dre‘n: one of the 25 disciples of Padmasambhava and one of his five main consorts

Kumudara: taught the visualization practice of black Bhairava to Dam-pa-skor

Dinakara: Vajrayogini and Heruka practice, could evoke visualization

Padmalocana and Jñanalocana: Maitripa’s huntress-gurus who acted in concert with Savari

Gangadhara: Maitripa’s spiritual companion

Gangabhadri: one of 10 gurus who introduced Padampa Sangye to the nature of mind

I just discovered two relevant audio programs distributed by the Shang Shung Institute UK; they are lectures given under the auspices of SOAS.

One is a free download on Women Lineage Holders in the Bon Tradition:

http://ssits.org/v1/index.php?page=shop ... &Itemid=44

The other is also an audio download (for a small fee) on Female Tibetan Masters:

http://ssits.org/v1/index.php?page=shop ... &Itemid=44

There is some interesting literature on some of the early Buddhist Women:
'Psalms of the Early Buddhist Sisters'
http://static.sirimangalo.org/pdf/rhysd ... isters.pdf
'The Therigatha'
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/thig/
'Recollection of the Foremost Arahant Bhikkhunis'
http://saranaloka.org/wp-content/upload ... ook-47.pdf

Khemā Therī
Uppalavaṇṇā Therī
Paṭācārā
Dhammadinnā
Nandā Therī
Soṇā Therī
Sakulā
Kuṇḍalakesī Bhikkhuni
Bhaddā Kapilāni
Bhaddā Kaccānā Theri
Kisā Gotamī
Sigālamātā Bhikkhunī

Female Tertons are unique and interesting women too (some have been mentioned before)

Sera Khandro- 19th/20th C terton, consort of Drime Ozer (son of Dudjom Lingpa)
Instructions on Nyingmapa practice by the Realized Adept Sera Khandro Kunzang Dekyong Wangmo (1892-1940)
http://www.vbatoronto.org/en/associatio ... Texts.aspx
Kunga Bum - 14th C adept , one of those named in the 100 major tertons
http://khyungmkhar.blogspot.co.uk/2012/ ... other.html
Jomo Memo - 13th C. terton and consort to Guru Chowang
Khandro Sangwa Kundu a gongter of Jamyang Khyenste Wangmo was given to Ayu Khandro as the teachings Jomo Memo received from Vajravahari as an earth terma and it is the practice she attained rainbow body with
Dechen Chökyi Wangmo - 19th/20th C Bon pratitioner who revealed Mandarava Terma and terma that had 16 hagiographies of female practitioners
Jetsun Khacho Wangmo - died aged 117 in 207 (also a delog)
Do Dasel Wangmo - granddaughter of Do Khyenste Rinpoche in Eastern Tibet
Dorje Phagmo Rinpoche -in Bhutan presently (separate from the Samding Dorje Phagmo line in Tibet) recognised by Sakya Lama Rikey Jatrel and resides in Thangtong Dewachen nunnery at Zilingkha

(worth mentioning too that a female partner is usually neccessary to unlock terma, so a great number of women partake in the revelation yet are not named)

lapis108 wrote:There is some interesting literature on some of the early Buddhist Women:
'Psalms of the Early Buddhist Sisters'
http://static.sirimangalo.org/pdf/rhysd ... isters.pdf
'The Therigatha'
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/thig/
'Recollection of the Foremost Arahant Bhikkhunis'
http://saranaloka.org/wp-content/upload ... ook-47.pdf

Khemā Therī
Uppalavaṇṇā Therī
Paṭācārā
Dhammadinnā
Nandā Therī
Soṇā Therī
Sakulā
Kuṇḍalakesī Bhikkhuni
Bhaddā Kapilāni
Bhaddā Kaccānā Theri
Kisā Gotamī
Sigālamātā Bhikkhunī

My heart wells up in gratitude for these names and lives and practices.