Buddhism’s Foremothers: Stories of Courage, Compassion, and Leadership

October 9th - 11th, 2026

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Arrival: Oct 9, 2:00-5:00 PM

Departure: Oct 11, 1:30 PM

Tiered Tuition:
$200/$225/$250
+ 4 nights lodging
Combined at checkout

Meals & drinks included
Inc. V, VG, GF

Add extra nights at 50% off

Tiered Tuition:
$200/$225/$250
+ 4 nights lodging
Combined at checkout

Meals & drinks included
Add extra nights at 50% off

About the Retreat

For too long, Buddhist women—particularly laywomen—have had few role models to turn to for inspiration and guidance. Drawing from early Mahayana and Pali texts, this retreat invites practitioners from all Buddhist schools to learn extraordinary accounts of our shared foremothers, the first generation of Buddhist women who played an essential role in the formation of the Buddhadharma. Long overdue for the recognition they deserve, this unique cohort includes the mothers, wives, and consorts of young Siddhartha, and later disciples—lay and monastic—of the Awakened One. Their inspiring stories reveal the courage and skillful means with which these women thwarted the patriarchal status quo of the time in pursuit of personal agency and the Dharma, in many ways mirroring challenges faced by Buddhist women today.

During this immersive retreat, storytelling will mingle with group discussion and shared insights into personal and contemporary meanings, while revealing a more complete and gender-balanced view of Buddhism’s origins. Together we’ll explore the spiritual legacy of our shared foremothers, inviting their wisdom into our own lives and practices as guidance for navigating today’s difficult and unjust world.

Discussions will include a lecture about the historic 9-day pilgrimage Wendy led in 2023 with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, “In the Footsteps of Gautami and the First Buddhist Women,” tracing their journey through sacred sites in Nepal (Buddhism’s “Motherland”) to Vaishali, India where they received the Buddha’s permission to ordain as nuns.

Who is this retreat for?

Buddhists at any level of experience from all traditions, all genders.

What will participants get out of this retreat?

An appreciation of women’s courage and wisdom at the inception of Buddhism through storytelling and discussion. As the women who witnessed the lifetime of the Buddha and birth of Buddhism, they are pre-sectarian, the foremothers to all Buddhist schools. Many are powerful role models who should be remembered and valorized today.

Retreat Faculty

Wendy Garling

Wendy Garling is a writer, independent scholar, and authorized dharma teacher with a BA from Wellesley College and MA specializing in Sanskrit language and literature from UC Berkeley. She is the author of Stars at Dawn: Forgotten Stories of Women in the Buddha’s Life (2016, Shambhala Publications) and the award-winning The Woman Who Raised the [...]

Lodging

Rigden Lodge also hosts some of our programs in the Rigden Shrine Room, and has a large common area next to the shrine room where guests can spend their time, make a cup of tea, have conversations, or just relax. Programs may continue in the Shrine Room until up to 10:30 pm each night. Rigden also boasts a large deck area where you can relax, practice yoga or meditation, or simply enjoy the mountain view

We have several accommodations to choose from during checkout.
All options include our healthy meals and drinks. Inc V, VG, GF.

Dormitories
Rooms with beds for up to 7-8 people. Gender-segregated with men in their own dorm and women in another. The dorms use a shared bathroom down the hall, which is also equipped with shower stalls.

Monk Rooms
A cost-effective option for participants looking for indoor, solitary lodging, but who don’t mind using a shared bathroom or are looking for a more affordable retreat solution. These rooms are in the same hall as the Ridgen Dormitories, but offer more privacy than the dorms. In addition to a bed, bedding, a private room and closet, the monk rooms also have a large window and a desk and desk chair for added comfort.

Single and Double Rooms
The perfect choice for a retreat where you want both your own space and your own bathroom. Each room offers a little more space, a dresser and closet, and a 3/4s bathroom (toilet, sink, and shower, no bathtub) attached to each room.

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