In Search of Buddha's Daughters

A Modern Journey Down Ancient Roads

By: Christine Toomey

Narrated by: Alison Larkin

Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

In 2011, Christine Toomey met an unforgettable group of Tibetan Buddhist nuns. After hearing their stories - of prison, extreme hardship, and ultimately fleeing into exile - she resolved to learn more about the private, courageous women of Buddhism: who they are, their experience of suffering, what motivates them to seek enlightenment, and what stands in their way. Toomey's quest took on even greater urgency with the sudden deaths of her father and mother and her own search for healing wisdom in the aftermath of loss.

In Search of Buddha's Daughters introduces us to women from around the world who have come to the ordained life from every faith and career. Toomey meets a Harvard graduate who sometimes breaks into hip-hop moves after meditating, a Japanese nun who has written best-selling erotica, and a Nepalese order of nuns who practice kung fu for spiritual and physical empowerment.

Through insightful conversations with over 30 women, Toomey investigates Buddhism as an antidote to the problems of life in the 21st century and considers the status of women today worldwide and within one of our oldest wisdom traditions.

©2015 Christine Toomey (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"An inspiring and necessary addition to the body of work about modern-day Buddhism." ( Kirkus)

a sweet story

Would you listen to In Search of Buddha's Daughters again? Why?

yes they bring forth some extraordinary woman

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved all the woman trying hard to make a place for woman in Buddhism

What about Alison Larkin’s performance did you like?

Clear and concise lovely

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes very much so!

Any additional comments?

I feel it may have ended a bit abruptly but overall enjoyed very much!

not what I expected

so much more. The brief bios on these chosen women. wow.
Humbling in parts and a realization of how unaware we can be about what
goes on in the world.

Beautiful and inspiring

Any additional comments?

So much better than expected that I wanted to listen in one sitting. Beautifully written and fascinating stories of women with different background and life experiences wanting to ordain and become Buddhist nuns. A difficult and noble endeaver in a patriarchal environment. Heartfelt and inspiring. Worth the credit.

Read the book rather than listen

The stories presented in this book are powerful and often gritty and that is their strength. That some of these women whose tales we witness were able to live let alone find deep and abiding faith in compassion and loving-kindness is nothing short of a miracle. It is based on this that the story gets my highest rating.

What absolutely does not work is the use of a narrator with a little girl voice with an English accent far better suited to a polite and proper Agatha Christie mystery. I had to stop listening two chapters in because the incongruity made me wince with every sentence read.

I HIGHLY recommend purchasing the book itself and spend your time with these women on your own terms, hearing them speak in their own voices directly to your heart.

Want more like this

I would love to have more books like this. This was a fascinating book and I can see myself listening to it again.