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The Saffron Road: A Journey with Buddha's Daughters
A brief meeting with a Buddhist nun in India made a deep impression on Christine Toomey. It sent her on a two-year, 60,000-mile odyssey to learn more about the contemporary women choosing in their thousands to become part of a long tradition of female spirituality that stretches back through the centuries and now embraces the radical possibility that the next Dalai Lama could be female. In The Saffron Road , Toomey follows in the footsteps of earlier generations of Buddhist nuns to trace the routes by which the philosophy has spread from a solitary order in a remote area of India in the 5th century BC, via 1950s San Francisco where Zen was popularised by the Beat generation, to the globally-renowned practitioners of mindfulness of today. Beginning her journey in the Himalayas, close to the birthplace of the Buddha, Toomey travels from Nepal, to India, through Burma, Japan and on to North America and Europe, along the way visiting contemporary nunneries to meet the women who practise there. Amongst those she talks to are a group of "kung fu" nuns, an acclaimed novelist, a princess, a concert violinist, a former BBC journalist, and a one-time Washington political aide. Through these conversations, the daily reality of the Buddhist existence is gradually revealed, together with the diverse spiritual paths leading these women towards nirvana. Combining travelogue, history, interviews and personal reflection, The Saffron Road opens the door to a rarely glimpsed world of ritual, discipline and enlightenment.
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2015
19 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Christine Toomey
1 book2 followersChristine Toomey is an award-winning journalist and author who has reported from over 60 countries worldwide, covering foreign affairs for The Sunday Times for more than twenty years. Previously based as a correspondent in Mexico City, Paris and Berlin, her journalism has been syndicated globally and she has twice won Amnesty International Awards for Magazine Story of the Year.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 12, 2019
music: Gaden Lhagya - Nuns From Jangchub Choeling Nunnery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpCEp...
I don't come so frequently across book about Buddhist *nuns'* experiences, but this one is a gem. The author truly knows how to write, and no chapter feels overlong or burdened with out-of-place moods. She traveled to places in the East (Nepal, India, Burma, Japan) and West (North America, British Isles, France), observing life in hermitages, Buddhist centres, monasteries, temples, and nunnies. The book includes map of the places, and some further reading at the end.
It is a view to the world of these nuns, and also former nuns (former for various reasons). We get to see their sufferings and strengths, changes and continuation, decline and flourishing. We get a view of their path with its spiritual rewards, solitary or public, and the various challenges. I learned much more about some things that I hadn't known much of before, like situation in Burma (Ms Kyi is still not revealed as the hypocrite she is; and the biggest WTF in what the monks there have treated some nuns belongs to this part of the book), or how various the Buddhism can be in the West (even varying depending on the country, or part of the country).
The issues nuns face in the book include of course types of sexism, sexual abuse/harrassment from monks (esp. Tibetan and Zen branches have that), government tyranny (China, where some end up burning themselves to death, or being tortured/imprisoned; Burma, with also goverment-approved monks keeping tyranny against full ordination), and ever-present lack of money for some.
But there is plenty of beauty, of encouraging scenes (kung fu nuns, nuns visiting prisons and caring for the dying etc.), and showing what these nuns get from choosing this spiritual path, which for some means finding more depth that in just practising as a lay person.
You don't read much stuff on nuns' lives in books (or at least they are less visible sometimes), but this gives you a good peek at how they live, what they do, what changes are being made... how great it is to know you're on a path that belongs to you and your life! Smooth reading, and a good experience.
I don't come so frequently across book about Buddhist *nuns'* experiences, but this one is a gem. The author truly knows how to write, and no chapter feels overlong or burdened with out-of-place moods. She traveled to places in the East (Nepal, India, Burma, Japan) and West (North America, British Isles, France), observing life in hermitages, Buddhist centres, monasteries, temples, and nunnies. The book includes map of the places, and some further reading at the end.
It is a view to the world of these nuns, and also former nuns (former for various reasons). We get to see their sufferings and strengths, changes and continuation, decline and flourishing. We get a view of their path with its spiritual rewards, solitary or public, and the various challenges. I learned much more about some things that I hadn't known much of before, like situation in Burma (Ms Kyi is still not revealed as the hypocrite she is; and the biggest WTF in what the monks there have treated some nuns belongs to this part of the book), or how various the Buddhism can be in the West (even varying depending on the country, or part of the country).
The issues nuns face in the book include of course types of sexism, sexual abuse/harrassment from monks (esp. Tibetan and Zen branches have that), government tyranny (China, where some end up burning themselves to death, or being tortured/imprisoned; Burma, with also goverment-approved monks keeping tyranny against full ordination), and ever-present lack of money for some.
But there is plenty of beauty, of encouraging scenes (kung fu nuns, nuns visiting prisons and caring for the dying etc.), and showing what these nuns get from choosing this spiritual path, which for some means finding more depth that in just practising as a lay person.
You don't read much stuff on nuns' lives in books (or at least they are less visible sometimes), but this gives you a good peek at how they live, what they do, what changes are being made... how great it is to know you're on a path that belongs to you and your life! Smooth reading, and a good experience.
April 17, 2016
An interesting journey to meet some fascinating women.
After the death of both her parents within a short span of time, the author makes pilgrimage. But rather than visiting ancient monuments, she travels the world to meet Buddhist women monastics. Placing each within the history & place of her lineage, Toomey gives a sense of some of the travails that have brought these women to their practice, as well as the obstacles they have faced from the conservative male hierarchy and occasionally how they are creating new expressions of practice within their tradition.
Ultimately, though, I found this book unsatisfying, largely because these amazing, dedicated women monastics seem to have little impact on Toomey. She only practices with each one briefly at the most, usually at their insistence before granting an interview. Her approach very much feels like spiritual tourism. In the end, she takes a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course, visits a couple more practitioners, then bows respectfully & moves on. Toomey doesn't say whether or not these women's presence or teaching helped her come to terms with death, impermanence, sorrow, or suffering.
I enjoyed the writing, I enjoyed learning about some of the women carrying the Dharma forward. I would say this is basically an airplane read, light, engaging, undemanding, perhaps mildly inspirational. Part history, part travelogue, part interview, part spiritual memoir.
After the death of both her parents within a short span of time, the author makes pilgrimage. But rather than visiting ancient monuments, she travels the world to meet Buddhist women monastics. Placing each within the history & place of her lineage, Toomey gives a sense of some of the travails that have brought these women to their practice, as well as the obstacles they have faced from the conservative male hierarchy and occasionally how they are creating new expressions of practice within their tradition.
Ultimately, though, I found this book unsatisfying, largely because these amazing, dedicated women monastics seem to have little impact on Toomey. She only practices with each one briefly at the most, usually at their insistence before granting an interview. Her approach very much feels like spiritual tourism. In the end, she takes a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course, visits a couple more practitioners, then bows respectfully & moves on. Toomey doesn't say whether or not these women's presence or teaching helped her come to terms with death, impermanence, sorrow, or suffering.
I enjoyed the writing, I enjoyed learning about some of the women carrying the Dharma forward. I would say this is basically an airplane read, light, engaging, undemanding, perhaps mildly inspirational. Part history, part travelogue, part interview, part spiritual memoir.
November 6, 2019
Highly recommended. The author is a journalist who travels to meet and interview Buddhist nuns from a wide range of countries and religious communities. Very well written, thoughtful and interesting - I learned a lot. The women she meets are fascinating and inspiring.
February 4, 2023
Very well written, informative and a nice balance of spirituality, social anthropology and political suggestion. Highly recommended to fellow Buddhists and curious general readers alike.
August 27, 2016
The Saffron Road is as good an introduction to Buddhism as I can imagine, but then I am a complete novice. Everything in this book was new to me. As Toomey traverses the world meeting nuns from different backgrounds, she weaves in and out of the religion's social, political and ethical history. You get a slight sense of the Dharma that the nuns follow with such devotion, and an even stronger sense of current attitudes and trends in Buddhism. Toomey's journey verges on emotional and profound at points, but her sojourns feel too brief to elicit inspiration rather than mere interest. I would refer to this as a book intended to propel you to further reading (or hands-on experience). What I must say, though, is that Toomey writes so beautifully and deals with her subjects compassionately. She also doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of Buddhism, which exist just as they do in any organised religion. Overall, a fascinating read that's made me curious, which is no bad thing.
June 14, 2015
The Saffron Road is a fascinating journey to meet women around the world who have chosen the path to enlightenment over material gain or social success. Written with pitch-perfect sensitivity, the narrative takes the reader on such a journey as well, bringing to fore some key Buddhist approaches to life. Mindfulness and deepened consciousness are the goals these women have set for themselves, in renouncing careers, marriages and other achievements of the material world. Author Christine Toomey opens a rare and insightful glimpse into the cloisters of higher thought and meditation. Highly recommend for all readers!
October 18, 2020
love how Toomey peppered the history and philosophy behind Buddhism amidst the sometimes-heartwrenching sometimes-touching sometimes-inspiring stories of the nuns. i'm a Catholic by faith, but this hasn't stopped the book from piquing my interest in Buddism, coupled with the fact that the whole concept of practising mindfulness through breathwork is synonymous with my personal yoga practice make Buddhism all the more intriguing. all in all, a very thought-provoking yet peaceful journalistic work that i would highly recommend to anyone who is questioning the meaning of life or is seeking some calm amidst chaos.
June 28, 2018
I only made it halfway through this book before giving up on it. Toomey visits Buddhist nunneries to speak to women who have chosen to become nuns. She meets fascinating women who have very diverse backgrounds and she tries to tie them together as one larger picture. Unfortunately, I didn't really feel like it was working. The nuns don't seem all that interested in talking to Toomey about their past. It sounds fascinating on the surface: a princess who chose to become a nun, a woman who walked thousands of miles from Tibet (bowing the whole way) across the Himalayas, and the famous nun who went into solitude to meditate in a cave for 12 years before being told she had to come out of solitude because her visa was set to expire. These are interesting stories in themselves, but there's not much depth to the stories, either because the women didn't want to share much more than these details, or they didn't trust Toomey, or maybe both. Toomey does try to shed some light on the plight of women within Buddhism and the ways that some nunneries are trying to change this by educating their nuns in philosophy, logic, and even, in one case, kung fu.
I feel like this topic is interesting and even the snippets of background on the women Toomey met are interesting, but I think I'd rather she have spent a longer amount of time at one nunnery and really gotten to know the nuns and write about their experiences there rather than traipsing all over the place to try to tell a bunch of different stories. Because what happens, is comparing one nun's experience in a certain buddhist tradition to a completely different experience of another nun in a different buddhist tradition. The stories sort of run parallel instead of intersecting into one story. I just got exhausted from reading it and trying to figure out how these women relate to each other in any other way except by being nuns.
I feel like this topic is interesting and even the snippets of background on the women Toomey met are interesting, but I think I'd rather she have spent a longer amount of time at one nunnery and really gotten to know the nuns and write about their experiences there rather than traipsing all over the place to try to tell a bunch of different stories. Because what happens, is comparing one nun's experience in a certain buddhist tradition to a completely different experience of another nun in a different buddhist tradition. The stories sort of run parallel instead of intersecting into one story. I just got exhausted from reading it and trying to figure out how these women relate to each other in any other way except by being nuns.
July 23, 2018
An eye opening (I could say "enlightening") look at the women who decide to wear the robes of a Buddhist Nun. Women from so many different backgrounds are interviewed. Each one has her own reasons and ultimately it is a very personal decision. These women came alive and filled in blanks that had been there before. Beautifully written. Ms. Toomey does a wonderful job of allowing the women to speak for themselves while holding space for them to do so. It's an honest portrayal and a gripping read.
July 22, 2025
I found this such a valuable read! It covers a broad account of ordained Buddhist nuns across the world, and their varied experiences. Also learnt plenty about historical and political context to Buddhist practise in different countries and how that affects women.
My copy is a proof which may account for some of the slightly clunky writing, which was the only negative
My copy is a proof which may account for some of the slightly clunky writing, which was the only negative
December 2, 2019
So interesting to read about Buddhist nuns around the world.
June 11, 2020
I enjoyed reading these journalistic stories but got lost in the sphere number of examples.
January 1, 2021
A brief insight into Buddhist nuns and the search for enlightenment amongst a select group of women. Good intro to the concepts of mindfulness and Buddhist principles.
September 8, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is very well written and it immediately captured my attention. The author has researched the topic throughly. It was fascinating to read about the different forms of Buddhist nun practises.
It was truly inspiring to read about a group of women across the world, who believed in their calling in underrepresented and sometimes uninvited old tradition.
It was truly inspiring to read about a group of women across the world, who believed in their calling in underrepresented and sometimes uninvited old tradition.
February 17, 2017
An invaluable, intimate peek into the lives of Buddhist nuns in various traditions.
February 26, 2016
I've become increasingly interested in Buddhism & the practices that it teaches around mindfulness, meditation & living in the now. This is a beautifully written book that charts the history, tales, struggles & remarkable accomplishments of many Buddhist nuns. I really liked the way in which the book was divided into sections. It gave a very insightful look into the different branches of Buddhism & how they vary. Loved it!
November 18, 2015
This book is interesting because it shows the depth of commitment of women in Buddhism - both nuns and lay. The story of Tibetan nuns spending ten years prostrating across Tibet was so moving. - these are amazing women in Asia and the West and it is a book you can derive benefit from, regardless of your religious orientation
January 17, 2016
A book filled with some stories of overcoming extreme hardship but most importantly this is a book filled with hope, love, determination, courage, light and belief. A truly beautiful book and one that can have a great impact on one's life.
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July 3, 2016Brilliant book
Brilliant book! Enjoying every sentence in it. Great life stories of Buddhist nuns around the world, written so vividly, that almost for every nun I was looking for more information in Internet or ordered their books. Really powerful and insightful book. Thank you
Brilliant book! Enjoying every sentence in it. Great life stories of Buddhist nuns around the world, written so vividly, that almost for every nun I was looking for more information in Internet or ordered their books. Really powerful and insightful book. Thank you
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews