Buddhism and Gender Perspectives in Sikkim: Historical and Contemporary Approaches

The talk explores the historical and contemporary influence of women in Sikkim from a Buddhist perspective Sikkim is a former Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas that was once blessed by Padmasambhava and prophesied as a so-called sbas yul, a sacred hidden land. So far, the lives and deeds of Tibetan masters who visited and helped shape Sikkim have been collected and analysed. But what role did women play in Sikkim from a Buddhist point of view? Which gender perspectives prevail? And perhaps most importantly, how are Buddhism and gender related in Sikkim and why is this topic relevant at all? This talk will place historical and contemporary perspectives on gender issues in the context of Buddhism in Sikkim.