Rita M. Gross is a scholar and practitioner of Buddhism

Buddhism

Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...

, a pioneer and author on issues concerning Buddhism and gender

Gender

Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...

. She was Professor Emerita of Comparative Studies in Religion

Comparative religion

Comparative religion is a field of religious studies that analyzes the similarities and differences of themes, myths, rituals and concepts among the world's religions...

, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. She was a president of the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies and co-editor of the Journal of Buddhist-Christian Studies

Buddhist-Christian Studies

Buddhist-Christian Studies is an academic journal covering the historical and contemporary interrelationships between Buddhism and Christianity...

.
Currently, she is a Lopon (Acharya

Acharya

In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...

) at the North American centre of Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche

Khandro Rinpoche

Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche is a rare example of a female Tibetan Buddhist lama...

.

In her latest book, Gross characterizes her quest for truth like this:

"This Garland of Feminist Reflections represents my lifelong concern to live deeply immersed in exploring and understanding questions of ultimate significance. It also represents my lifelong concern with how women have pursued such questions, or have been prevented from pursuing such interests by the prison of gender roles specific to their culture. The first concern is core and the second is adventitious."

Life and work

Gross was born as the only daughter to a family of farmers in northern Wisconsin and studied at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and the University of Chicago

University of Chicago

The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...

, where she finished her dissertation in 1975 on the topic of "Exclusion and Participation: The Role of Women in Aboriginal Australian Religions".

After a decade of the study and practice of Judaism

Judaism

Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...

, Gross felt attracted by Buddhism in its Vajrayana

Vajrayana

Vajrayāna Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Vehicle...

 expression. Having moved to Eau Claire

Eau Claire

Eau Claire is the name of a number of locations and features in North America. The name is pronounced as if it were spelled "O'Clare".-Communities:*Eau Claire, Calgary, a neighborhood in Calgary, Alberta...

in 1973 she entered extensive studies of Asian religion and philosophy, started to practice meditation and eventually converted to Buddhism.

Brushes with the law

Over the past 5 years, Gross has had several brushes with the law. In February of 2009, Gross was charged with a First Offense Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. As part of a plea agreement, the charge was later reduced to Reckless Driving - Endanger Safety. In July of 2009, Gross again was charged with an OWI - this time, Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance. She pled guilty to the charge and received a fine and lost her license for 6 months. In June of 2010, Gross was sued in Wisconsin (Eau Claire) Small Claims Court by a former tenant who asserted that he had been unjustly evicted by Gross. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum of money. In May of 2011, Gross received a ticket for Driving without a License in Jackson County, Wisconsin - a penalty for her OWI in June of 2010.

External links

• Rita M. Gross
• Buddhist Studycenter Lotusgarden)