Mahaprajapati: The Woman Who Raised the Buddha
Tuesday December 7, 6:30pm-8:00pm
This class will be in-person and online (Diane will be teaching online from home).
How to attend:
In person: 2791 24th Street Room 14, Sacramento CA 95814 (upstairs, parking lot in back)
Be sure to follow the Diamond Light COVID-Protocols.
Join live online with Zoom: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/2247358115
(Meeting ID: 224 735 8115)
For more info: http://www.diamondlightsac.org
Mahaprajapati was the Buddha’s mother (actually his aunt who nurtured and raised him). Oddly, little was written about her or her influence over her son, or the establishment of the female sangha — both lay and monastic. Ancient stories about her made their way to China, Sri Lanka, Tibet and Thailand but were excluded from the Pali Canon except for one volume, the Therigatha – “versus of the elder nuns.” Her life experience, her approach to teaching and her relationship with the women of her sangha was generally ignored by the monks of her time, and even now. New research and access to ancient “herstory” are now slowly becoming available. What this new information offers is a picture of a compassionate woman, a gifted leader — who was beloved by her entire community. Mahaprajapati and her community of women had to approach the Dharma with a different sensibility due to the misogyny of that time. Their approach to the Dharma, which we will discuss, may be what is needed in today’s world as Buddhism continues to evolve.
Cost: Suggested donation of $10-$20 per class to cover the cost of the class and support the teacher. No one turned away for lack of funds. You can give online: https://www.diamondlightsac.org/donate/ or through our business page on Venmo (@diamondlight)
About the teacher:
DIANE WILDE (Community Teacher and Buddhist Minister)
DIANE WILDE was born in Verona N.J. In her mid-twenties, she moved to California where she married, had two sons, and was a small business owner for thirty-five years. In 2001 she was a founding member of Sacramento Insight Meditation. In 2003 she began attending yearly Vipassana silent retreats, and also began annual thirty day silent solo self-retreats at her home. Her eldest son was sentenced to prison on drug related charges just prior to her husband’s death. This event caused her to volunteer in prison as a meditation teacher for over eighteen years. She became a Buddhist prison chaplain and in 2010 founded Buddhist Pathways Prison Project (aka Boundless Freedom Project). She completed a two year mentorship program at Sacramento Insight Meditation in 2006 where she is currently a Community Dharma Teacher. She is a 2008 graduate of Sati Center’s Buddhist Chaplaincy program and in 2012 graduated from Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s Community Dharma Leadership Training Program. In 2015 after two additional years of study, she was lay-ordained as a Buddhist minister by Gil Fronsdal. Her Pali/ordination name is Reverend Vimuttipala, meaning “Defender of Freedom.” She is a board member of Sati Center for Buddhist Studies in Redwood City, as well as the Sacramento Dharma Center.