Description

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"One pleasure of discovering the lives and teachings of the rare women we find in the history of Buddhism is seeing how they take up the tragedies in their lives and transform them. Because their stories are less accessible---finding someone like Rengetsu is a great gift. To sit with the poems of Rengetsu is to allow a teacher into the depth of one's mind."--Bonnie Myotai Treace, spiritual director of the Zen Center of New York

At 33, Otagaki Nobu renounced a world that had visited great tragedy upon her (after losing two husbands and two infant children) and was ordained a Buddhist nun, taking the name Rengetsu (Lotus Moon). Lotus Moon is a selection of her finest poetry presented in John Stevens' elegant translations and includes illustrations of her artwork and pottery.

About the Author

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Rengetsu (Lotus Moon) was born in Kyoto, Japan in 1791 the illigitimate daughter of a samurai and a young geisha. By age 33 she had lost two husbands and two infant children and she renounced the world and became a Buddhist Nun. To support herself she became a potter, poet and artist. Her work in these arts is still revered in Japan. Rengetsu (Lotus Moon) was born in Kyoto, Japan in 1791 the illigitimate daughter of a samurai and a young geisha. By age 33 she had lost two husbands and two infant children and she renounced the world and became a Buddhist Nun. To support herself she became a potter, poet and artist. Her work in these arts is still revered in Japan.