The now-classic exploration of the role of women and the feminine in Buddhist Tantra
,br/> The crowning cultural achievement of medieval India, Tantric Buddhism is known in the West primarily for the sexual practices of its adherents, who strive to transform erotic passion into spiritual bliss. Historians of religion have long held that this attempted enlightenment was for men only, and that women in the movement were at best marginal and subordinated and at worst degraded and exploited. In Passionate Enlightenment, Miranda Shaw argues to the contrary and presents extensive evidence of the outspoken and independent female founders of the Tantric movement and their creative role in shaping its distinctive vision of gender relations and sacred sexuality. Including a new preface by the author, this Princeton Classics edition makes an essential work available for new audiences.

Passionate Enlightenment: Women in Tantric Buddhism, Miranda Shaw, Princeton Classics, Paperback, 307 pages, $22.95

Miranda Shaw, Ph.D., Harvard University, is a Buddhist scholar known for her inspiring and groundbreaking work on women in Vajrayana Buddhism, chronicled in her renowned book Passionate Enlightenment, which has been translated into seven languages. She is also the author of Buddhist Goddesses of India, a thorough and fascinating historic and iconographical study based on extensive research and deep engagement with the feminine divine. Dr. Shaw is currently completing a companion volume, Buddhist Goddesses of Tibet and Nepal, and writing a book on Vajrayana dance to be titled Dancing Enlightenment: Tantric Buddhist Dance of Nepal. She is Professor Emerita of Religious Studies at the University of Richmond and continues to explore and convey her discoveries about the profound sacred arts and embodied spiritual practices of Himalayan Buddhism.

CONTENTS: Passionate Enlightenment: Women in Tantric Buddhism
List of Illustrations		ix
Acknowledgments		xi
Guide to Transliteration		xv
Chapter One. Seeking the Traces of Sky-Dancers		3
	Scholarly Contexts	4
	Theoretical Considerations	8
	Methodology	12
Chapter Two. Tantric Buddhism in India: Religious and Historical Introduction		20
	Tantric Buddhist Thought and Practice	21
	Cultural Background of the Tantric Movement	30
Chapter Three. Women in Tantric Theory: Powerful and Auspicious		35
	Numinous, Sky-Borne Women	37
	Respect and Honour	39
	Consequences of Disrespect	47
	Classifications of Women	53
	Mothers, Sisters, and Daughters	58
	Dancers, Courtesans, and Low-Caste Women	59
	The Dancer and the King	63
	Tantric Gender Ideology: A Gynocentric Balance	68
Chapter Four. Women in Tantric Circles: Adepts and Experts		74
	Challenging Androcentric Readings	75
	Magic and Ritual	78
	Tantric Feasts	81
	Envisioning Deities and Mandalas	84
	Inner Yogas and Perfection Stage	86
	Realization and Enlightenment	87
	Women as Gurus	97
Chapter Five. Women in Tantric History: Founders and Pioneers		101
	Vajravati and Wrathful Red Tara, a Female Buddha	102
	Niguma and a Cakrasamvara Healing Mantra	107
	Laksminkara and Severed-Headed Vajrayogini	110
	Mekhala, Kanakhala, and Severed-Headed Vajrayogini Inner Yoga	113
	Siddharajini and the Buddha of Infinite Life	117
	Siddharajini and the Lord Who Dances on a Lotus	122
	Bhiksuni Laksmi and Avalokitesvara Fasting Practice	126
	The Mothers of the "Founding Fathers"	130
Chapter Six. Women in Tantric Relationships: Intimacy as a Path to Enlightenment		140
	Tantric Union: Centerpiece of the Tantric Paradigm	142
	Union with an Imagined Partner	147
	Tantric Union and Tantric Metaphor	149
	Union as Worship of the Female Partner	152
	The Inner Yoga of the Yogini	159
	Inner Fire Offering	163
	Intimacy and Tantric Union	166
	Women's Competence for Tantric Union	168
	Reciprocity and Tantric Union	173
Chapter Seven. Spontaneous Jewellike Yogini on Passion and Enlightenment		179
	The Teachings of Spontaneous Jewellike Yogini	182
	Spontaneous Jewellike Yogini, the Woman	190
Chapter Eight. Conclusions		195
	Historiographic Issues	195
	Iconographic Issues	201
	Buddhological Issues	203
Notes		207
Bibliography		265
	Tibetan Sources	265
	Sanskrit and Western Language Sources	269
Index		283