poetry written by womyn buddhists?

February 3, 2023 11:56 PM

or like, any non cis men, really! bonus if trans!
posted by Gymnopedist to Media & Arts (8 answers total)

Response by poster: for reference I historically really love Gary Snyder but I’m experimenting with limiting my intake of stuff written by cis men
posted by Gymnopedist at 11:57 PM on February 3, 2023

Maura "Soshin" O'Halloran's Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind doesn't rhyme or scan but sings nevertheless.
posted by BobTheScientist at 2:00 AM on February 4, 2023

I am a big fan of Jane Hirshfield.

Hirshfield’s work encompasses a large range of influences, drawing from the sciences as well as the world’s literary, intellectual, artistic, and spiritual traditions. Her first poem appeared in The Nation in 1973, winning what would the next year become the Discovery Award, shortly after she graduated from Princeton as a member of the university’s first graduating class to include women. She then put aside her writing for nearly eight years to study at the San Francisco Zen Center. “I felt that I’d never make much of a poet if I didn’t know more than I knew at that time about what it means to be a human being,” Hirshfield once said. “I don’t think poetry is based just on poetry; it is based on a thoroughly lived life.”

Poetry Foundation has some of her poems and a poetry sampler that she put together, Spiritual Poetry. Some of the poems don't meet your criteria but the first one does.

Although the wind
blows terribly here,
the moonlight also leaks
between the roof planks
of this ruined house.

It's by Izumi Shikibu.
posted by kingless at 3:20 AM on February 4, 2023 [2 favorites]

Not entirely poetry but you might be interested in the anthology 'Transcending' which is a collection of essays and some creative writing by trans buddhists.
posted by Summers at 4:41 AM on February 4, 2023 [2 favorites]

Diane di Prima
posted by mareli at 5:38 AM on February 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

A couple of years ago there was a small scandal because of an incredibly free translation of ancient poems by nuns (Therīgāthā) that rewrote the original words into new age mush. So, just in case.
posted by sukeban at 10:46 AM on February 5, 2023

Best answer: Yes, the OG poetry of Buddhist women is the Therigatha. Here is a complete bibliography of English translations. Actual translations.

There is also a chapter in the Samyutta Nikaya of rather famous verses by bhikkhunis, aptly named the Bhikkhuni Samyutta.

And while were here might as well point to this collection of translations of other suttas of bhikkunis.
posted by Senescence at 11:47 PM on February 5, 2023

Response by poster: thanks all, these are nice suggestions! Senescence, you get best answer because I found a link where I can mail off to request one of those translations for free from a monastery <3 also looking forward in particular to that trans Buddhist anthology Summer suggested upthread
posted by Gymnopedist at 11:37 AM on February 6, 2023