Jan Willis Boeken

Jan Willis represents the first wave of Westerners who encountered exiled Tibetan teachers in India during the late sixties, finding her spiritual and academic home among them. She has engaged with many prominent Tibetan Buddhist scholar-practitioners and was recognized by Time magazine as one of six "spiritual innovators for the new millennium" for her academic achievements and cultural relevance. Her writing addresses contemporary issues faced by Buddhist practitioners in America, particularly those from marginalized groups and dual-faith backgrounds. This collection of 18 essays reflects her lifetime of experience, focusing on the relevance of Buddhism to everyday people outside the dominant white male culture. Organized into four sections—Women and Buddhism, Buddhism and Race, Tantric Buddhism and Saints' Lives, and Buddhist-Christian Comparative Reflections—the essays raise provocative questions relevant to all Dharma practitioners in America. They explore themes such as women's agency in lineage formation, the empowerment of female ancestors, the experiences of Black Buddhists, and the potential for Buddhist Dharma to foster freedom for both dominant and subordinate groups. Additionally, Willis examines the sacred narratives of tantric Buddhism and highlights the universal principle of love shared by both Buddhist and Christian traditions, inviting dual-faith practitioners into the conversation.