In religious hierarchies around the world, women traditionally take second place. Buddhism is no exception to the rule---other than increasingly in the West, where women make up the majority of those who attend Buddhist centers and practice meditation. This book rights the balance by exploring the key, but usually silent, role of women in Buddhism past and present and in America as well as abroad. Spanning three Buddhist traditions (Theravada, Zen, and Tibetan), it features powerful writings by historical and contemporary Buddhist women. It also interprets Buddhist scriptures, the lives of saints, and traditional religious art in the light of feminine archetypes and perspectives. Subjects include female Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, women as "unofficial" Buddhist teachers, male and female symbolism, and how to harmonize masculine and feminine values in our daily lives. What we find is the essence of female Buddhist wisdom---a treasure in itself that is as relevant today as it has always been, although it has rarely been so visible as it is now. Distribution is limited to North America.