A concise reading of Buddhism, Feminism, and its impact on Western culture within the Buddhist community and bridging the gap between Buddhism, spirituality and its connotations in one's own community and society as a whole. It seeks to broaden the discussion as to how women and Buddhism have been defined by theistic agendas and the role that feminist thought has and can contribute to a new understanding of Buddhism and feminism in the for Western practitioners.

Soaring and Settling: Buddhist Perspectives on Contemporary Social and Theological Issues, Rita M. Gross, Continuum, Paperback, 238 pages, $28.95

Rita M. Gross (1943�2015) was an author, dharma teacher, and professor emerita of comparative studies in religion. Her best-known books are Buddhism after Patriarchy: A Feminist History, Analysis, and Reconstruction of Buddhism and A Garland of Feminist Reflections: Forty Years of Religious Exploration.