Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, Barre, MA A Residential Retreat for Mothers and Daughters
with Kate Johnson

Oh, my heart.
You don’t have to go it alone.
Train yourself to train
Just a little more gently.

—Jenta Bhikkhunī

The roles, relationships, stories, and voices of women in Buddhism have too often been neglected and obscured. But we know they were there. Their realization, teaching, and leadership—of women who were also mothers and daughters, queens and courtesans, widows and wives—is described in the poems of awakening found in the Therigattha, the earliest extant text of women’s spiritual experiences, in which Jenta Bhikkhunī’s voice is one of many awakened ones.

In this program for mothers and daughters, we will explore women’s unique expression of spiritual life in a contemporary Buddhist space. Our time together will blend meditation instructions and periods of silence with dharma talks recounting the lives of our early female ancestors, chanting, sharing circles, guided movement, mandala drawing, and time in nature. The teachings will focus on the cultivation of heart-based, relational practices, including interactive inquiry, compassion, gratitude and forgiveness.

We are delighted to invite mothers and daughters (16 years and older) to join us in celebrating women’s wisdom, tenacity, tenderness and joy. This program is open to mothers and daughters who identify as women, including those who are trans or gender non-binary.