The first biography of Ruth Denison, a pioneer in female Buddhist practice in the West
Ruth Denison was one of the great innovators in the early years of Buddhism in the West. In this portrait of her extraordinary life, from a youth in Nazi-dominated Germany to the center of the counterculture in the sixties and seventies, Boucher captures Denison’s distinctive voice and the journey of her remarkable spirit.
“[A] stirring yet unsentimental spiritual biography.” -Bernadette McGrath, Dragonfly Review
“[Denison] brought a strongly feminine, body-centered approach to spiritual practice at a time when this was regarded as radical if not subversive . . . Boucher’s life repeatedly intersects with Denison’s, making this a dual tale of development and discovery and, therefore, doubly compelling.” -Whitney Scott, Booklist
“Dancing in the Dharma skillfully conveys Ruth Denison’s full humanity: her formidable gifts and charm and her puzzling contradictions . . . [A] riveting and deeply rewarding portrayal of a great teacher.” -Shane Snowdon, Turning Wheel
“Author and Denison student Sandy Boucher gives an intimate portrait.” -Shambhala Sun
“Ruth is one of our most amazing Buddhist elders, whose vision has helped plant the Dharma in the West. And this is her story, compellingly and beautifully told.” -Jack Kornfield, cofounder of Spirit Rock Meditation Center and Insight Meditation Society, author of After the Ecstasy, the Laundry