Guest guest Posted March 8, 2002 Report Share Posted March 8, 2002 I found my book that has info on Yeshe Tsogyel. Early in her story while still training she says: "Inadequate women liek me with little energy and an inferior birth incure the whole world's hostility. when we go begging the dogs are hostile. If we possess food or wealth then thieves molest us. If we are attractive we are bothered by fornicators. If we work hard the country people are hostile. Even if we do nothing at all the tongues of malicious gossips turn against us. If our attitude is improper then the whole world is hostile. Wheatever we do the life of a woman on the path is a miserable one. To maintain our practice is virtually impossible and even to stay alive is very difficult" Later when she performed her "final austerity" she exchanged her karma for others: "To the childless I appeared as sons or daughters, bringing them happiness; to men desiring women I appeared as attractive girls, brining them happiness; to womena desiring husbands I appeared as handsome men, bringing them happiness..." I find the passages interesting as they address from the point of view of a woman practitioner or devotee the great difficulties of mere existence and does so very frankly. Then also, she exhibits a compassion equal to a Goddess at the end of her earthly life. In fact some of the motifs from Hindu Goddess texts seem to be implied in her story. I got this information from an essay by Rita M. Gross in a book called "Feminine Ground: Essays on Women and Tibet" I see that Ms. Gross has published a number of books that are available on Amazon.com. They look interesting, but I haven't read any of them. Blessings, prainbow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2002 Report Share Posted March 9, 2002 Nameste Prainbrow Thank you. This is very interesting. Something a must for me to read. OM Parashaktiye Namaha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 10, 2002 Report Share Posted March 10, 2002 prainbow, thanks for sharing information on Yeshe Tsogyei with us... what a contrast between the two passahes; one was depressing and the other was reassuring. "Inadequate women liek me with little energy and an inferior birth incure the whole world's hostility. when we go begging the dogs are hostile. If we possess food or wealth then thieves molest us. If we are attractive we are bothered by fornicators. If we work hard the country people are hostile. Even if we do nothing at all the tongues of malicious gossips turn against us. If our attitude is improper then the whole world is hostile. Wheatever we do the life of a woman on the path is a miserable one. To maintain our practice is virtually impossible and even to stay alive is very difficult " you know, prainbow ? this is the plight of many women in some parts of india... if they are 'poor' it is hard for them to get 'married' because of 'dowry' demands; if they are attractive and poor , they may be be lucky to get a husband often as a second wife of an old man with several kids. if they are a widow, young and beautiful, life is miserable as these women have to face social ostracism and criticism....... no wonder, the birth of a female child is frowned upon and female 'infanticide' is common in some parts of rural india... all this in a country which worships the divine femnine... i guess there is a big gap between 'practice' and 'philosophy' but, i think, this situation is slowly changing with literacy and social reforms! you have really raised some very thought-provoking questions with your post... regards.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 12, 2002 Report Share Posted March 12, 2002 Dear Adi, I just now tried to read your post and a REAL BIG BUNCH of advertising appeared with your post (the first few paragraphs) showing in a tiny tiny little column on the left while a GREAT BIG advertisement was in the MIDDLE of your post!!! Is this how it is now on ? This is really not good or readable, and extremely distracting. Don't know if there's something I need to know to move the advertisings over or what, but a few weeks ago the "messages" (posts) did not show up this way, I don't think. Also, if Gopalan is reading this message, please know that I emailed you but I think with this account my message never reached you. Please email me again if you can, as I don't have your address.. Thanks, Kathy Celestial_Saraswati- -- In , "adi_shakthi16" <adi_shakthi16> wrote: > prainbow, thanks for sharing information on Yeshe Tsogyei with us... > > what a contrast between the two passahes; one was depressing and the > other was reassuring. > > > "Inadequate women liek me with little energy and an inferior birth > incure the whole world's hostility. when we go begging the dogs are > hostile. If we possess food or wealth then thieves molest us. If we > are attractive we are bothered by fornicators. If we work hard the > country people are hostile. Even if we do nothing at all the tongues > of malicious gossips turn against us. If our attitude is improper > then the whole world is hostile. Wheatever we do the life of a woman > on the path is a miserable one. To maintain our practice is > virtually > impossible and even to stay alive is very difficult " > > you know, prainbow ? this is the plight of many women in some parts > of india... if they are 'poor' it is hard for them to get 'married' > because of 'dowry' demands; if they are attractive and poor , they > may be be lucky to get a husband often as a second wife of an old man > with several kids. if they are a widow, young and beautiful, life is > miserable as these women have to face social ostracism and > criticism....... no wonder, the birth of a female child is frowned > upon and female 'infanticide' is common in some parts of rural > india... > > all this in a country which worships the divine femnine... > > i guess there is a big gap between 'practice' and 'philosophy' > > but, i think, this situation is slowly changing with literacy and > social reforms! > > you have really raised some very thought-provoking questions with > your post... > > regards.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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