Description
Book SynopsisBy combining the spirit of fiction with the fabulism of Indian mythology and in-depth academic research, Vanessa R. Sasson shares the evocative story of the Buddha from the perspective of a forgotten woman: Yasodhara, the Buddha's wife. Although often marginalized, Yasodhara's narrative here comes to life. Written with a strong feminist voice, we encounter Yasodhara as a fiercely independent, passionate and resilient individual. We witness her joys and sorrows, her expectations and frustrations, her fairy-tale wedding, and her overwhelming devastation at the departure of her beloved. It is through her eyes that we witness Siddhattha's slow transformation, from a sheltered prince to a deeply sensitive young man. On the way, we see how the gods watch over the future Buddha from the clouds, how the king and his ministers try to keep the suffering of the world from him and how he eventually renounces the throne, his wife and newly-born son to seek enlightenment. Along with a foreword fro
Trade ReviewSasson's
Yasodhara and the Buddha explores the emotional dimensions to the story of the Buddha while also making new connections in familiar material ... to brilliant effect. * Times Literary Supplement *
Yasodhara and the Buddha by Professor Sasson is a seminal and original contribution to Buddhism literature in terms of the life of the Buddha. An inherently fascinating, impressively informative, exceptionally well written, and thoroughly entertaining,
Yasodhara and the Buddha is especially and unreservedly recommended for community, college and university library collections. * Midwest Book Review *
Sasson’s book is a page-turner, an enchanting fairytale, and at the same time grounded in the realities of the human condition. I was captured and pulled into the events of a time and place to which I was already predisposed. It opened my eyes to the human side of Buddha’s story. * Shambhala Times *
Vanessa R. Sasson combines the spirit of fiction with the beauty of Indian mythology and in-depth academic research. She shares the evocative story of the Buddha from the perspective of a forgotten woman: Yasodhara, the Buddha’s wife. * Integral Yoga Magazine *
Yasodhara and the Buddha is splendid for conjuring visions of floating, of gods and a tree watching over Buddha, of doors of flowers in the forests, or of love walking in the form of a man as it speaks about human ways of comprehending life. * Asian Book of Reviews *
A feminist rendering of an ancient myth,
Yasodhara and the Buddha lovingly revives the story of the Buddha’s spouse for modern readers. Written by a religious scholar, the novel comes complete with scholarly sources, tracing its roots to the tradition of epic Indian religious storytelling. Marvellous. * Historical Novel Society *
Table of ContentsIntroductory Note Foreword, Wendy Doniger Prologue 1: Beginnings 2: Monsoon Rain 3: Adjustments 4: Durga 5: Festival Day 6: Surpanakha 7: The Choosing 8: The Peacock Garden 9: The Competition 10: Wearing the Red Line 11: Soil and Suffering 12: News 13: The First Sights 14: The Fight 15: In the Arms of a Tree 16: Departure 17: Sadness 18: Tapestries 19: Holding on and Letting Go 20: Out the Gates 21: Devadatta 22: Splendour 23: The Return 24: Overcoming Obstacles 25: Departures Study Questions Notes
