gold buddhist statue in front of forest-covered mountains

Learn about the women in Buddha’s life with Siegal Lifelong Learning Program remote course

Join the Siegal Lifelong Learning Program for an upcoming remote course titled “Retrieving Lost Voices: Women in the Buddha’s Life.” Taught by Vanessa Sasson, professor of religious studies at Marianapolis College, this course will be held on Mondays Sept. 13–27 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. ET.

In this course, participants will study some of the women in the Buddha’s life:

  • His biological mother Maya, who dies seven days after she gives birth; 
  • His wife Yasodhara, who is left behind when he makes his Great Departure; and 
  • His stepmother Mahapajapati Gotami, who raises him after Maya’s death and eventually follows him into a life of renunciation, becoming a female leader herself. 

A session will be dedicated to each of these formidable characters to learn some of their stories, read some of the texts that tell these stories, and explore the question of why these women matter.

Register to participate in this course.