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Buddhist Women in the 2020’s (Online Course)
June 4, 2021 - June 6, 2021
Buddhist Women in the 2020's
Stepping into greater awakening potentialWhile there may be frustration, grief and rage about historical gender inequity in Buddhism, we can use Buddhist methodologies to transform these conflicting emotions into greater compassion and wisdom.
Join Catherine Pawasarat Sensei for this course, hosted by Menla, on how we can adapt and shift our traditional perceptions of gender as Buddhist practitioners.
All are welcome.
Image: Thangka of Yeshe Tsogyal, fully awakened consort of Padmasambhava. © C. Pawasarat

A Menla Online Course
Buddhist Women in the 2020’s
Stepping into greater awakening potential
Gender Perceptions in the Buddhist World in the 2020’s
As classic Buddhist teachings emerge in the global mainstream, it adapts to cultures where women enjoy relative equality with men. In such contexts many practitioners may naturally feel that women and men have the same opportunities to awaken.
Historically, however, birth in a female body was considered the result of bad karma, and the lowest and youngest monks enjoyed greater formal status than the most realized nun. Western women and men are unlikely to embrace this part of Buddhist tradition.
This confluence of cultures presents a transition ripe with opportunity. While there may be frustration, grief and rage about historical gender inequity in Buddhism, we can use Buddhist methodologies to transform these conflicting emotions into greater compassion and wisdom.
Furthermore, we can re-examine how different Mahayana and Theravadin practices—from Tantra to celibacy—can foster healthier sexuality. We can use sex scandals and discrimination as part of our practice, to cultivate more integrated views and relations among all genders. Along the way, we co-create what global spiritual awakening looks like in the 20th century.
Catherine Pawasarat Sensei, a contemporary dharma teacher, attendant, consort, co-teacher via Planet Dharma and co-founder of Clear Sky Retreat Center shares her unique views, experience, and practices regarding this contemporary and planetary Triple Gem.
Photo © D. Steinbock
Meet the Teacher
Catherine Pawasarat Sensei
Catherine Pawasarat was a student of metaphysics, Western spiritual traditions, and the ayahuasca sacraments in the 1990s. She worked as an advocacy photojournalist and studied traditional Japanese arts in Kyoto, Japan for 20 years.
Since 1998 she has trained daily with Buddhist teacher Achariya Doug Duncan in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that’s rare in the modern West. Transmitted from the remarkable Namgyal Rinpoche, they are both lineage holders of these teachings.
With Doug, she is co-founder and resident teacher at Clear Sky Retreat Center in the British Columbia Rockies. There Catherine has spearheaded an innovative and sustainability-oriented culture and organization. Together Doug and Catherine also teach through a virtual vehicle, Planet Dharma. In 2018 they wrote the best-selling book Wasteland to Pureland.
Catherine has recently written and published the first English guidebook to Kyoto’s famous Gion Festival, a gigantic collection of ancient and diverse spiritual rituals.
Course Details
Fees and Dāna
This course is offered by Menla, NY. There are three price tiers: Sponsor – $150, Individual – $108 and Reduced – $78.
Registration
To attend, please register via the button below. This course and the free talk Buddhist Women in the 2020’s – Introduction (May 27, 2021) are both hosted by Menla Online.
Dates & Times
Location: Online at these times:
- Friday, June 4th:
- 5-6pm MST (7-8pm EST)
- Saturday June 5th:
- 9-10:30am MST (11am-12:30 EST)
- 2-3:30pm MST (4-5:30pm EST)
- Sunday June 6th:
- 9-10:30 MST (11am-12:30 EST)
- 2-3:30 MST (4-5:30pm EST)
Green Tara Guided Meditation
Green Tara Guided Meditation (Free Audio)
Add your information below to receive the guided meditation of Green Tara and other dharma content from Planet Dharma. This Green Tara sadhana is shared by Catherine Pawasarat Sensei. When you join our list, we will be kind to your inbox.
Troubleshooting: Sometimes this button may not look like you’ve pushed it. However, you most likely have and we have received your request. If you don’t hear from us within an hour, please let us know via [email protected] and we’ll make sure you get access. Thank you for your patience.