A Bigger Sky

AWAKENING A FIERCE FEMININE BUDDHISM

Pamela Weiss shares a personal spiritual journey that speaks to the bits of brokenness in us all, and shines a light on pathways we can walk to become whole.

A Bigger Sky explores what it means to ll the gaps of a Buddhism created by and for men, to navigate the seemingly contradictory domains of secular and spiritual life, and to walk a path through the heart of the world. Pamela Weiss shares a personal spiritual journey that speaks to the bits of brokenness in us all, and shines a light on pathways we can walk to become whole.

Through beautifully crafted prose, she explains what it means to be an ordinary Bodhisattva—describing how Buddha’s profound vision of freedom can be lived outside of institutions and rule-bund practice, and supporting us to deepen our connection—with ourselves, each other and the planet.

Like all true spiritual teachings, Buddhism offers a radical shift: from me to we, fracture to unity, and fear to love. But like most institutionalized religions, Buddhism developed under systems of hierarchy, patriarchy, and power that have become interwoven into its structure. Written by the first layperson to receive full Dharma Transmission in the Suzuki Roshi Soto Zen lineage, A Bigger Sky explores what it means to fill the gaps of a Buddhism created by and for men, to navigate the seemingly contradictory domains of secular and spiritual life, and to walk a path through the heart of the world. Reorienting Buddhist practice through a wider, more inclusive feminine lens, Pamela Weiss’s personal and spiritual journey speaks to the bits of brokenness in us all, shining a light on the different pathways we can walk to become whole. Blending memoir, Buddhist practice, and cultural observation, Weiss explores the illness that led her to seek healing and brought her to Buddhism; life at Tassajara Zen Mountain monastery; feelings of helplessness amidst the legacy of intergenerational trauma; her husband's near-fatal accident; her work translating mindfulness and Buddhist principles to a broad lay audience; and stories of Buddhist women, past and present.

Through beautifully crafted prose, Weiss shares what it means to be an ordinary Bodhisattva—describing how the Buddha’s profound vision of freedom can be lived outside of institutions and rule-bound practice, and supporting us in deepening our connection—with ourselves, each other and the planet. A Bigger Sky illuminates how integrating a more feminine approach to Buddhist teachings can be applied in spiritual practice, in community, in relationships, and in day-to-day life.

“With intimacy and immediacy Pamela weaves together her unique lived experience with wise and compassionate Buddhist teachings. She beautifully illuminates the power of the strong feminine and its essential role for us all in personal and planetary healing. In the process she shines an unflinching and much needed light on the misogyny that has characterized the tradition’s history, and presents a contemporary way of integrating the masculine and feminine into a more complete spiritual path.”

— Frank Ostaseski, author of The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully

“Straddling the “quiet depths of Zen” and the “dynamism of corporate America,” suddenly thrown into the crucible of her husband’s devastating accident and many months of constant caregiving, Pamela Weiss undergoes a mysterious transformation into wholeness. A Bigger Sky takes the reader on a profound, groundbreaking, and totally engaging journey of awakening and healing. Bringing into vivid everyday life the model of the bodhisattva, she teaches us that nothing is outside of our spiritual practice and lays out the secret of how alchemy happens and true transformation takes root. She reveals a path of profound surrender, embodiment, and engagement with the world. In a time torn apart by patriarchal psychopathy, this book is a lion’s roar to bring us back to our senses. Throw open the windows. Step into your life.”

– Kittisaro & Thanissara, authors of Listening to the Heart: A Contemplative Journey to Engaged Buddhism and Thanissara,
Time To Stand Up: The Buddha’s Life and message through Feminine Eyes