New Books in Buddhist Studies Vanessa R. Sasson, "The Gathering: A Story of the First Buddhist Women" (Equinox, 2023)
Feb 1, 2026
Vanessa R. Sasson, a professor of religious studies who specializes in early Buddhist literature and women in Buddhism. She recounts retelling the story of the first Buddhist women who sought ordination. The conversation covers her research-driven storytelling approach, choice of Vimala and companions, themes of motherhood, grief, friendship, and how the living forest and communal renunciation shape the narrative.
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Unexpected Path Into Buddhist Studies
- Vanessa R. Sasson recounts arriving unexpectedly in Nepal and staying for a year, which sparked her commitment to Buddhist studies.
- That unplanned immersion led her to pursue formal academic study afterward.
Storytelling As Scholarly Method
- Sasson frames her books as academically grounded but written as participatory storytelling rather than detached analysis.
- She argues that inhabiting stories reveals new questions and insights not visible from a distance.
Following A Narrative Thread
- The Gathering continues the narrative thread from Sasson's Yashodara and addresses the unresolved question of whether others can follow the Buddha's path.
- Sasson felt compelled to tell the women's story because it's politically charged and remains relevant today.
