It’s no secret (and not at all subtle) that women are largely absent in usual stories of the Buddha’s life and the founding of Buddhism. Yet what we normally learn in the West comes from a very narrow portion of the large corpus of ancient Buddhist literature that spanned Asia. What more can we learn about women and their participation at the inception of Buddhism by looking across a variety of unique and equally authentic traditions? This day-long program will focus on the reemergence of forgotten stories of the first Buddhist women — their lives, agency and empowerment — with an added examination of women’s stories still dominating the narratives that were distorted by the gaze and agenda of early misogynist editors.

The Friday evening before the daylong, Wendy Garling will also be showing a presentation of her pilgrimage In the Footsteps of Gautami and the First Buddhist Women.

Program Tuition

Sustaining Level $120
Benefactor Level $155
Supported Level $85

Learn more about available financial assistance options and apply for a scholarship here. 

Installment Payment Plan Option at Registration
Understanding that everyone’s financial situation is different, Tara Mandala aims to make programs as accessible as possible. During registration, participants have the option to either pay the program fee in full or select the Installment Payment Plan. For those choosing the installment plan, a 25% deposit is required at registration, with the remaining balance automatically divided into equal monthly payments. The final payment is due 14 days before the program begins. If retreat enrollment occurs close to the start date, additional arrangements can be made. For any questions or special requests, the Finance Team is ready to assist at care@taramandala.org.

Sustaining Sangha
If you are currently a member of our Sustaining Sangha, you may apply your Online Program discount to this course. To learn more about Sustaining Sangha membership, benefits, and discounts, click here. 

Offering dana to the Teacher
The practice of offering dana, which means “generosity,” is the traditional offering the student makes to the teacher as a symbol of appreciation, gratitude, and reciprocity for receiving the precious teachings. Information on offering dana to the teacher will be provided during the program. To learn more about dana and suggested dana ranges, please click here. 

The suggested dana for this program is $20-$60.

Program Schedule
The live sessions of the program are listed below. All times are Mountain Daylight Time. Please use this link to see how this daily schedule translates into your timezone.

Saturday, April 5

• Morning Session 9am-12pm MDT
• Afternoon Session 2-5pm MDT

Recording Access
All participants will have a 1-year access period to the recordings. 

Tara Mandala Pricing Guidelines
As we work to become an equitable, diverse and inclusive community, our pricing guidelines are intended to be a map, inviting each of us to take inventory of resources that contribute to our access to precious dharma teachings. While we do ask you to look inward, please know there is no right or wrong answer. We encourage you to select the range/rate appropriate to your circumstances. To learn more about Tara Mandala’s pricing guidelines for Online Programs, In-Person Retreats, and Special Promotions, please visit this page. 

What is a Tara Mandala Online Program?
Tara Mandala offers online programming via live and pre-recorded curriculum that give you the opportunity to access dharma teachings, engage in guided practice, experience personal retreat and hands-on learning, while connecting with other participants through easy-to-use online platforms and an engaged community network. When needed, the program description and schedule will inform you in advance if and when a specific online session must be attended live if a direct transmission (Tib. lung) may be given. Access to recordings of all sessions will be available for additional viewing for one year. 

Online Programs Cancellation and Refund Policy