Let's hear it for the early Buddhist women! Mahāpajāpatī was the first Buddhist nun and leader of the women's ordained sangha, and her two chief disciples were Khema and Uppalavanna. Maitrisiddhi explores some challenging material - and also very inspiring texts around the beginning of the bhikkhuni sangha. Talk also features Mara - the embodiment of everything that holds us back. How do we free ourselves from his insidious whispers? Talk given at Tiratanaloka 'Daughters of the Buddha' weekend. Unfortunately Maitrisiddhi's introductory talk was not recorded. Let's hear it for the early Buddhist women! Mahajapapati was the first Buddhist nun and leader of the women's ordained sangha, and her two chief disciples were Khema and Uppalavanna. Maitrisiddhi explores some challenging material - and also very inspiring texts around the beginning of the bhikkhuni sangha. Talk also features Mara - the embodiment of everything that holds us back. How do we free ourselves from his insidious whispers? Unfortunately Maitrisiddhi's introductory talk was not recorded. As well as Bhikkhu Analayo's 'Daughters of the Buddha', MAitrisiddhi refers to Alice Collett's 'I Hear Her Words'

Is there life after death? The Buddha taught rebirth, but what exactly did he teach? What’s the evidence for rebirth? Do we have to believe in rebirth to be a Buddhist? What can modern writers, philosophers and scientists add to the debate around life after death? In this series of six talks Vaddhaka will guide us on an exploration of these and other questions to help us develop our own beliefs and views on what might happen when we die. --------------------------------- To understand the Buddha’s teaching on rebirth we first need to ask who we are, right now, alive in this world. Is there a real me, a permanent essence of self, a soul? Do persons exist? Or are we an illusion?