Archives: Public Statements

The following letter was sent to the President of Shambhala, Nikko Odiseos on 15 Feb 2021. It is in response to this letter. Dear Mr. Odiseos We are very happy to hear that Shambhala Publications is taking steps to address the ethical issues around your publication of The First Free Women by Matthew Weingast. Thank… Continue reading Followup open letter to Nikko Odiseos, president of Shambhala Publication 15 Feb 2021

The following letter was posted to the Shambhala Publications website on 2 Feb 2021. shambhala.com/ffw-response Dear Friends, Thank you for your letters and contributions to the online discussions regarding The First Free Women by Matty Weingast, and Shambhala Publications’ presentation of it. We are taking the issues that have been raised to heart and appreciate… Continue reading Public Letter from Nikko Odiseos 2 Feb 2021

The following page was published on the Shambhala website on 31 Jan 2021. It is similar to the statement from Nikko Odiseso. (This text captured on 4 Feb 2021) The First Free Women A Note on the First Edition In February 2020, Shambhala Publications published Matty Weingast’s book of poetry entitled The First Free Women:… Continue reading Public Note from Shambhala 31 Jan 2021

Dear Shambhala Publications, I have been contacted by a large number of my students, followers and friends, raising their concerns about a recent publication of Shambhala with the title The First Free Women: Poems of Early Buddhist Nuns. They asked that I write to you to reinforce their legitimate disappointment that a respected Buddhist publisher… Continue reading Letter to Shambhala from Ajahn Brahmavamso 29 Jan 2021

Below is a link to a letter authored by Bodhipaksa and signed by a growing number of of Buddhist leaders and translators.

Several people have reported that they received the following response from Shambhala Publications regarding The First Free Women: Poems of the Early Buddhist Nuns. Dear Friend, In February of 2020, Shambhala Publications released The First Free Women, by Matty Weingast, a work of poems inspired by the Therigatha, or Verses of the Elder Nuns, that… Continue reading Stock Response from Shambhala 23 Jan 2021

Posted on Facebook 23 January 2021 Bhikkhuni Canda is the founder of Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project, UK “The First Free Women” book by Matty Weingast is immensely popular and has created controversy within Buddhist circles. In this important and highly engaging talk, Bhante Sujato clarifies why the book must not be regarded as a translation or… Continue reading Public Statement from Bhikkhuni Candā revoking endorsement 23 Jan 2021

The following is the text of an open letter written by Bhante Sujato on 20 Jan 2021. It was originally posted on the SuttaCentral discussion forum, First Free Women, a bogus translation of Buddhist scripture. A PDF is also available for download: English Indonesian Imagine if someone were to take a beloved book from the… Continue reading Open letter from Bhante Sujato 20 Jan 2012

The following open letter was sent to Shambhala Publications on 17 January 2021: Dear editors, We have been distressed to see the poems of Matty Weingast falsely marketed by Shambhala as a translation of the Therīgāthā, a sacred Buddhist scripture. Mr. Weingast’s poetry is sold under the misleading title First Free Women: Poems of early… Continue reading Public Letter to Shambhala Publications 17 Jan 2021