Ani Ngawang Pema – 45 years solitary retreat
(By Tsem Rinpoche)
Yesterday, I was sent this incredibly inspirational person by a friend. The video was of a beautiful nun who stayed in solitary meditation for 45 years!!
When she was younger, she was sought after by many suitors because of her beauty. She was known as the most beautiful girl in the Khumbu region (northeast of Nepal). Sons from many rich and famous families would seek her marriage… There was one particular wealthy merchant who had the power to demand for her marriage. Instead of jumping at the chance to live a potential life of wealth and luxuries, she instead escaped that life through hole of a cliff-side latrine! She then ran to a monastery to practice Dharma. Imagine, with no way to escape she went through a hole in the ground filled with urine and excrement…
Being in solitary retreat for 45 years, she became a legend in the region. Every traveler towards Mount Everest would go pay homage at her hut… receive blessings, recite prayers, circumambulate her small hut etc. But they would never see her.
No one had seen her, no one had ever had the chance to interview or take photographs of her till the filming of National Geography’s documentary called “Light at the Edge of the World”.
The beautiful nun’s name is Ani Ngawang Pema. She was a student of His Holiness Trulshik Rinpoche. On 19th November 2012, she entered tugdam (controlled death of a highly realized being) after a long illness… and after she entered tugdam, Trulshik Rinpoche instructed for her body not to be touched for 7 days. Only her personal attendant and another monk were allowed into her retreat house during this period. After that, the public were allowed to enter to pay their last respects.
This holy nun did what I wanted to do my whole life which is to enter retreat. I was not given permission by my teachers to do so. I have asked many times but was not given permission. I would love to enter retreat. As a young boy in New Jersey, I use to seek places in nature to meditate. I like forests near lakes. I would go often to meditate in parks near lakes or just on my bed at home. I liked the mountains. I have always wanted to live in the mountains to enter retreat. I feel a draw or a calling to go to the mountains as if this is my real home, where I belong.
Seeing this blessed video brought tremendous tears to my eyes as she has not wasted her life and I wished so much to follow her example. She has blessed me and given me so much inspiration to do the same. To do the same would be my wish.
Tsem Rinpoche
Ani Ngawang Pema seen for the first time in 45 years
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/Light-at-the-Edge-of-the-World-45-year-solitary-retreat.mp4
See this short video of her. It’s wonderfully blessed!
Light at the Edge of the World – Full Documentary
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/Light-at-the-Edge-of-the-World.mp4
Beautiful nun… Ani Ngawang Pema
Ani in her small hut…
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Very inspiring nun Ani Ngawang Pema a Tibetan Buddhist who stayed in solitary meditation for 45 years. Once in a while it’s good to remind ourselves that there are true spiritual seekers in the world today. She was a student of H.H Trulshik Rinpoche. She was known as the most beautiful girl when she was young in the northeast of Nepal. Many rich and famous families would seek her marriage but she chose a monastery life instead to practice Dharma. Later she stayed in a small hut in solitary meditation for 45 years where nobody see her at all. Soon she became a legend and every one who passed her hut to receive blessings, recite prayers and even circumambulate her small hut.
Thank you Rinpoche for this inspiring post.
Her name is always in my mind and I will come back to this article from time to time and I rejoice for her sincerely..
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing about her path to enlightenment.
Wow……amazing how Ani Ngawang Pema did her 45 years solitary retreat in a removate place up in the mountains.Inspiring …. she did it to benefits others and all sentient beings from sufferings. That is really wonderful which i do admired her.Practicing Dharma almost her entire life for 45 long years.
Its a good video which i do enjoyed watching her courageous and determination self interviewed.
Thank you for sharing the beautiful story of Ani Ngawang Pema.
This is amazing and inspiring to stay in solitary meditation for 45 years!!
We should be grateful that if we have the chance to do retreat. As per Rinpoche’s teachings, do retreat on our ego. Through the retreat, we can see our mind, observe our mind and eventually transform our mind. This is important because it is very beneficial and help us to live away from ignorance.
Thank you Rinpoche for this nice sharing.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the story of Ani Ngawang Pema. It is really amazing to have a 45 years solitary retreat. She did it purely to practise dharma and reciting mantra to benefit others. So compassionate. Doing her very best to relieve the suffering of others.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing the story of Ani Ngawang Pema and the documentary video.
Being in 45 years of solitary retreat is no joke. From the video, I understand that she does only Avalokiteshvara’s mantra and sincerely pray for the liberation of all sentient being’s suffering. She told the interviewer that she keep it simple in her practice and remain in the Buddha’s mind, Buddha’s nature.
Her advice is very profound. There are many practices in Buddhism that we can do but the most important thing is to tap into our buddha nature. Even with one simple mantra, we can acheive results like Ani Ngawang Pema’s.
Humbly,
Chris
While reading the story of Ani Ngawang Pema makes me remember the incredible stories of Nangsa Obum, Karma Wangpo, and Shungsep Jetsun (https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/3-yoginis.html), especially so for the story of Nangsa Obum.
Ani-la’s story is similar in the sense that she was being forced to get married with a rich merchant as well just like Nangsa, but Ani-la is very lucky to be able to have escaped from the marriage to practice what she likes which is dharma. It is really incredible as even at an older age when the video is being filmed, she is still very sharp and full of energy unlike the elders that do not practice the dharma.
Just by watching and looking at her pictures, it really brings tears to my eyes. The kind of energy that she gives off is just amazing. It is really true that from retreats one is able to find that inner self that brings us peace and happiness.
To be afraid of the loneliness is just a form of our negative karma that is arising. As through retreats, the sense of peace that we are able to get is way more then what our samsaric want of company can give us. Personally when I did my retreats, there was no urge of wanting to be talking to people. It is like when being quiet and left alone, it feels even better as there are no worries of creating negative karma while doing the retreats as well.
Here are some of the tips that we can make use when we do retreats: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/kechara-13-depts/5-practical-tips-for-a-spiritual-retreat.html
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this story. This made me think about what is the meaning of life. When I thought about how can this beautiful nun did this? How can she bear the loneliness? Then suddenly I found out that probably the ordinary people feel the loneliness as we have attachment and expectation, that is why we are lonely, when we let go everything, that is no fear and loneliness, but so sad to say that is not easy to let go especially nowadays people have so many commitments but since I know attachment is not gonna make me happy, I try and I learn to let go.
Dear Rinpoche,
Ani Ngawang Pema stayed in Solitary Meditation for 50 years. She passed away at the age of 82 (I guess).
At the time of her death, she stayed in Thukdam for eight days.
Thank you.
Urgen Sherpa
Ani Ngawang is my grandmother’s youngest sister and I regret that I never got to meet her and take her blessings.
Chimmi
If any human had a quality that is of value and distinguishes them from others, not many people will run away from such an ‘easy’ life. But this Ani sure did that, which in a way quite similar to what Shakyamuni did to leave his comfortable home, palace and comforts. Her renunciation is very powerful.
不以美貌为傲；不被世俗价值观牵绊；45年的闭关禅修，Ani Ngawang 的勇气和毅力让她找到了心灵上的快乐与宁静，也得到了怔悟。她将一生奉献给佛法并利益众生，是值得很多人去学习的榜样。
一些地方激烈戰争，有些遭嚴重疾病威脅,帶耒极度伤害痛䒷。有些地方充滿法喜,
,Ani Ngawang Pema选擇放弃短暂的快乐．争取闭关坐禪修。
混在种种的杂事、杂念、搖晃、混乱、恐犋中或相反的清澈的思绪、內心的寜靜、周遭的清静。
(为什庅是45年? 不是4.5年) 也把祈愿回向众生。
谢谢仁诐切这篇贴文。
Dear Venerable Rinpoche, pls enlighten me why your teacher discouraged you to enter retreat? In fact, the nun could still meet people after so many years in solitude. She can teach better by good example. Your exposure to many years of mundane life can allow your to teach much profound Dhamma teaching.
I had attended a 10 day retreat at the age of 30 but I reached the state of calm that I could not sensed my breath and body on the fourth day. A decision came to me whether I should renounce or go back to assist others like my mum or friends to reach this stage of bliss. Once I am back to daily life, there is so much duties and it is difficult to help myself, not to mention others because I may have the blessing to have a glimpse of the path but I am not walking it. Now I am 44. Life is shortening….
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing. I admire for Ani Ggwang Perma for her consistency, compassion and imprint that she was able to retreat in an isolated hut for 45 years to dedicate her prayers to free all sentient being from inner and outer suffering.
Same to Rinpoche, we would like to thank you Rinpoche for your compassion, kindness and the hardship that you have to endure to pursue and teach Dharma in order to benefit all sentient beings. May Rinpoche healthy, happy, long life and continue to turn the wheel of Dharma.
感谢仁波切的分享,真的佩服 Ani Ngawang Pema 的勇气及决心, 進入闭关長達45年，幾乎一世人的时间，尤如進入终生監禁般。她为了造福人群,一心求法，望却自身的五官享樂，可是菩提心的化现 .
Thank You Rinpoche for sharing such inspiring story of Ani Ngawang Pema who had been doing solitary retreat for 45 years. It is definitely not easy, we can not even perform meditation for 15 min to calm down our monkey mind.
The thing we care most in the world is our body and beauty. Ani Ngawang Pema was willing to give up her beauty, her going to be wealthy life and maybe “happy” marriage for 45 years retreat. She even escaped through the toughest route, going through a hole in the ground filled with urine and excrement on the cliff-side latrine. Again, it showed her strong determination of pursuing Dharma teaching which we need to learn from her.
We need to stay strong in learning Dharma teaching from Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and put it into practice in our daily life. There is no reason at all why we can not learn or practice Dharma in conducive environment like Kechara Forest Retreat. Thank You Rinpoche
Ohhh how I wish I could have known her. I wish I could have sat at her feet and learned from her. She is my hero. Has anyone tried to find her tulku? Has there been any attempt to write a larger biography? I wish I could do that. I wish I could write about her. She was so wonderful. The world needs to know more about her.
Thanks rinpoche and Pastor Adeline for the short and beautiful clip. Unbelievable that it broughts me to tears halfway reading a few of the paragraph.
I admired the nun’s devoted mind to practice dharma most in her life to benefit all the sentient being. I wish to escape like her too when the rightly time, permission granted from guru, and opportunity have arrived to enter retreat. We shall not look back or too far ahead. I shall practice dharma at this very moment to beat my ownself enemy and helping people surrounding me. 🙂 _/|\_
This is my business address.
After viewing this documentary I am more & more confirme my own Guru & all the Holibeings no difference then living Buddha they are all one. I humblely thank you Rinpoche shareing these all precious documetary’s & other artical. By the power of the three jewels & the all the holi beings bleesing may i achieved the inlightment for the sake of aal sentaince beings well being.
After reading the above, how much I hope to have such merits and wisdom to understand and do like her. Maybe not exactly but at least short retreat. We are just full with delusion and unable to sit still even for a short period. This is really a inspiring real life story. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this story with us.
I remember watching the Light at the Edge of the World long time ago. It amazes me then how one person can dedicate her life by staying in solitary retreat. Now that I’ve watched it again, I long for what Anila did and know this is the best way to spend one’s life. Being in solitary retreat for sure is not the way to run away from responsibilities, work etc. Imagine you have no distractions from outside and have no place to go when you’re bored or distracted by your thoughts. You’re all alone looking within, “forced” to deal with your demons from within. Imagine that! I feel very blessed and blissful to have watched it again and to remind myself of the purpose of my life! Thank you Rinpoche!
Dear H.E.Tsem Rinpoche, May all your wishes come true. We are the fortunate to receive your bountiful and vastly beneficial teachings while you are among us in the world. Thank you from my bottomless heart for all that you do,
with hands folded i offer my care, love and deep gratitude,
Oya
I learned about her a couple of years ago when I was surfing youtube about Tibetan Buddhist nuns. I have been in awe of her ever since. I wish I could have known her. I wish I could have been her student. I would have joyfully sat at her feet and practiced with her. I am still so in awe of her. She was a living Tara quietly practicing for the benefit of all beings. She is such an amazing example to me. I wish I could write her full biography. Her Dharma journey must be told in order to benefit all beings.If I cannot write it, I pray someone does, soon. Her story must be told.
Every day I think of her and every day, I wish so much I could go away into such a retreat. I’m just so moved by her courage to leave behind everything people say she SHOULD want, and instead move so strongly towards something everyone says she SHOULDN’T go for because it’s a waste of time…and ultimately, just through the results of her practice, she proved that her decision was the correct one. Just look at her face…how can anyone say that her 45 years were a waste of time? So she doesn’t have material wealth or success that the whole world can judge her by. But for those people who DO have wealth and success, are they as happy and content as she is?
May I be her one day, sooner rather than later, and may there be many more Ani Ngawang Pema’s in this world.
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This is so inspiring to dedicate one’s life solely for others! In Tibet and the Himalayan Region, there are many Yogin and Yoginis who spent most their life in retreats. Some were asked to return to attend to sentient beings’ needs, some went into clear light. As much as I admire their practice, knowing how beneficial it is to be in retreat and wanting to do so myself, on behalf of all sentient beings, I humbly request Rinpoche to remain and continue to turn the wheel of dharma for all sentient beings!
Ani Ngawang Pema, a unique being who must have, in her previous lives, practiced the dharma and realized the preciousness of having a human life. She did not let her life go to waste but fueled by her previous imprints she continued her practice at an early age. Very inspiring.
Ani Ngawang Pema recited only the mani mantra during her long retreat. This is the case of someone who has dedicated her life for others. Although she lived alone, her prayers and mantras were dedicated to humanity. Her story is inspiring and I hope I will also be able to go on solitary retreat one day.
This short video is very inspiring in the sense that we can see in this day and time there are still people who treasure the value of spirituality. Although Ani Ngawang Pema had good looks in her younger years, she did not use it for personal gains but instead chose to go into retreat to pray for the benefit of mankind.
Hopefully this video will inspire more people to treasure the Dharma especially in this time and day where it is rare. The benefits of being in Dharma definitely outweighs living this life indulging in ourselves.
She is different because of her choice to cut down the three poisons within herself, and we are so ordinary because we don’t want to improve ourselves for the benefits of others. We remained ourselves to wait for help, and we use excuses to tell the whole world we can;t do this or that. Therefore we don’t have to learn and cut down the three poisons that keep us suffer and taking rebirth endlessly.
Ani Ngawang Pema is such a beautiful and brave lady. She is beautiful because she has a heart to benefit others. She is brave because her choice is not for herself, the choice is for others. Thank you for sharing Sharon and Rinpoche!
She is so so different to the old people who surround us. Have you ever seen a senior sangha member who has dementia? No, because Manjushri keeps their mind sharp. Have you ever seen a sangha member complain about their illnesses? No, because Chenrezig teaches them to be patient and tolerate sufferings for the sake of others.
I’m very jealous of her (in a good way!). I don’t know how anyone can say that wearing robes is a prison. Clearly being ordained and holding her vows is the reason why so much energy, wit and light emanates from her. It’s so VERY different to the old people we usually see who are still preoccupied with the things that they focused on for the last five to six decades.
It is incredible to know that there are still such devoted practitioners today. This isn’t merely a story from a long-ago Tibet, but one that has happened only just a few years ago. And even more heartwarming to know that there are many, many more like her still.
I find her story all the more fascinating for the fact that she ran away from the very thing that so many of us are so desperately looking for – wealth, status, marriage. And she ran into the things we fear so much – quietness, being alone, living barely. So why is it that she looks so much more radiant, so much more alive and beautiful than we ever do? It is amazing to me to think that someone could dedicate so much of their lives purely for others, and to achieve real happiness, peace, quietness in the process – all the very things that we spend our whole lives looking for, but in all the wrong places. Anila shows us the power of a total devotion to the world, to looking beyond ourselves and how, in being alone, she has achieved so much more for the world that the rest of us trying constantly to find company and love.
Such an inspiration! Her devotion in her practice is truly exemplary.
Wow! What an inspirational Anila! She must be quite attained by now and I am very inspired by her tenacity and single-pointed interest in the Dharma. I wish to be like her and I know I have a long way to go.
What’s amazing is that she lived in our time of tremendous distractions and yet she lives with such devotion and renunciation like the great Mahasiddhas of old. Her very existence proofs of the power of Buddha’s teachings. I am really and truly amazed. I am pretty sure that Rinpoche’s previous lives were great practitioners like that and have gained great realization. Hence, in this life is out to teach, benefit and display his attainments from previous lives.
Thanks Rinpoche for the inspiring story of Ani Nagwang Pema who devotes her whole life to her believes. This holy nun leave everyhing behind even she had chance to live a potential life of wealth and luxurie but she had choosen and put herself all the way for Dharma. She went into solitary retreat for 45 years, it is extraordinary and inspiring.
Ani Ngawang Pema amazes me by her ability to renounce all the pleasures and pursuits of samsara, which were literally at her feet. She recognized their illusory nature as well as the trap they pose for one who wishes only to attain real and ultimate peace and happiness.
It was her great compassion for all mother beings that propelled her to go into a 45 year retreat to pray for the welfare of all mother beings. Rinpoche is equally compassionate and, given his way, he would have gone into a similar solitary retreat. We need to work hard to follow all of his instructions and transform our minds, so that Kechara Forest Retreat and KWPC will arise and benefit innumerable mother beings.Only in this way can we repay Rinpoche’s kindness and allow his great love and compassion for us and all mother beings to be realized through these two institutions.
Its such a joy to read about people like Ani Ngawang Pema, who so willing give up potential luxurious life to enter into retreat or life as a sangha. In giving up samsaric pursuit, they are actually giving up sufferings and moving closer towards attainments on the path to enlightenment. May I have the merits to have the opportunity to enter into retreat, even a very short one, in this lifetime.
This post also saddens me as Rinpoche’s deep yearning to enter into retreat has to be put aside so as to continue benefitting us with his teachings and guidance. Imagine ourselves being denied/non fulfillment of our deepest wishes and only then will we begin to understand the depths of Rinpoche’s kindness and compassion in remaining with us.
Saying thank you, sorry or even feeling sad are just nice emptiness. We should work hard to fulfilling his visions so as to create the cause for Rinpoche to stay and not waste his incredible gift to us. To not take positive action means giving up on ourselves (that’s what I remind myself).
I admire Ani Ngawang’s courage and determination for going into a retreat for 45 years. That seems like a life sentence for most of us. I applaud her Ani Ngawang for her compassion and dedication of her life to benefit sentient beings.
Like Ani Ggawang Perma, solitary retreat is said to remain one of the most poignant practice experiences. To go on retreat is to abandon our usual routine and enter into a world of simplicity, focused meditation practice and inspired contemplation. While solitary retreats are recommended for those truly seeking realization, even those just entering the path will find retreat practice valuable. It was said that Siddartha Gautama become enlightened only after he left his teachers and ascetic companions and went out on his own. Once Lord Buddha had disciples, he often sent them into the forest to meditate by themselves. It was also said that there’s a healthy list of Legendary Buddhist masters, both past (Asanga, Budhidharma and Milerapa) and present (Mahagosananda and venerable Shengyen) who had their ultimate realisations, while meditating in seclusion. Ani Ngawang Perma is a not only a legend but also a real inspiration to many the world over, for her faith and feat!!!
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.A truly inspiring story of a person who devotes her whole life to her believes,which is the realization of true compassion through her daily practice during her 45 years of solitary retreat.She is truly an enlighten person.
Anila looks gentle,kind and humble..imaging to pursue her spiritual path, she have to escape through a hole in the ground filled with urine and excrement…I m really respect Anila
From just finished reading the three inspiring yoginis stories to this one on Ani in a retreat, solitary for 45 years! Amazing indeed. If I was not in Buddhism and did not know Rinpoche, I would probably never have come across such stories or come to know about real retreats or the existence of such discipline, commitment and devotion towards the Dharma. These yoginis are a proof that attainments can be achieved and that leading a life in Dharma is not about losing freedom but gaining TRUE FREEDOM from the delusions of samsara. The beauty of it all is that they do this fro the benefit of all sentient beings. May we be able to also have such merits and fortune to one day soon be able to go in to retreats like Ani Ngawang Pema and gain realisations. And that is exactly why Rinpoche wishes and what KFR is eventually for. With Rinpoche’s guidance and blessings may we achieve this.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspiring story of Ani. 45 years in retreat is a very very long period. Ani gives up all worldly pursue and go all the way with retreat for spiritual pursue is truly inspiring.
I have so much more to learn from her!
What a beautiful lady! She seems so energetic and alert you can tell her mind is sharp. She seems like a very kind and compassionate lady, and its very beautiful of her to dedicate her prayers to all sentient beings. Its amazing to be in solitary retreat for 45 years. Most of complain, whine and give excuse to avoid spending a small amount of time to do our prayers. I will continue to do my daily prayers as Rinpoche has instructed.
Thank you for sharing Rinpoche.
Another incredible Dharma participation spending 45 years on her life to do solitary meditation. After watching Ani Ngawang Pema interview video clip. It reading dong on my mind what was rinpoche has advice us don’t caught up our worldly affair and focusing more in our mind transformation.
Asking ourselves can we ready give up our position, wealth,name and stopping our endless delusion coming through our mind everyday. Can we spend 5 or 10 minute everyday to calm our mind through meditation. We had wasting too much time repeating all the worldly affair in our entire life. Watching this video is like the wake up call what we should focus and why we need Kechara Forest Retreat center to to up.
Holy Ani Ngawang Pema was very brave,her story is so touching and inspiring. She has certainly made the right choice not bowing to riches and power and instead ran to a monastery to practice Dharma.Rich and famous are just temporary worldly pleasures,you can’t take it with you when you die, whereas Ven Ani Ngawang Pema has spent 45 years in solitary meditation retreats and achieved realization, enter into clear light and eternal bliss.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Matthieu-Ricard/108631702495366. That is Matthieu a brilliant scientist, writer, photoghapher and above all a devot monk, who was talking to Ani.
Ani Ngawang Pema’s decision to take the spiritual path rather than the samsaric one teaches us what real happiness is. She is a living Bodhisattva and 45 years in solitary retreat is something many of us cannot do. An’s life reminds me of Shakyamuni Buddha who had everything but gave up all for Dharma. Despite her age, Ani’s mind was alert and she spoke very clearly and confidently. Its a feeling of “lightness” in her mind and speech.
Thanks Rinpoche and Anila Nagwang Pema for spending life for others by showing the actual action.
I think Ani must have strong imprint about Dharma in her past lives, she is so determined for Dharma practice even she had so much chance to live a “better” life in worldly definition.
I also like the the conclusion made in the video, “Finding serenity through the Dharma is the experimental proof to validate the Buddhist Science to the mind, just as a falling apple prove to us the existence of gravity.”
Meditation and retreat surely has its function for us the achieve inner peace which leads to outer peace. May Kechara Forest Retreat manifest swiftly for more people to have a place to achieve inner peace. _/\_
To give up a life of promise of comfort and riches for a solitary retreat is extraordinary, given the harsh and difficult conditions for livelihood in Northern Nepal. Even more is her firm dedication and commitment to benefit sentient beings. Despite her confinement and age, it shows she is v alert and v humble. Ani’s example shows clearly what the mind can enable us to accept if we are clear and firm in our thoughts. The documentary is a delight to listen and learn from.
Ani Ngawang Pema chose to escape the trappings of life and its illusion. Rinpoche has told us many times that everything is an illusion. While “imprisoned” in our illusions we create more illusions which is why we worked so hard for nothing and ending up
with nothing even though we thought we have “everything”. Ani Ngawang Pema chose to break free from this illusion and it is amazing how she escaped through a hole in a latrine filled with urine and excrement.
Outer beauty does not last; our illusions are causing us more sufferings. Ani Ngawang Pema knew this even at a very young age and that is why she chose to escape.
Many people would not readily agree to go on retreat but here we have Ani who went into solitary retreat for 45 years – that is almost a lifetime for some people.
The video / pictures may depict her as small and frail but her mind is still alert.
When we are blinded by the monetary religion, we can’t see the real happiness, but Ani Ngawang Pema did not, she escape from her future luxury life to be, he went through a hole where people would not, she give up everything for her Dharma practice, to do retreat… 45 years of retreat to many people might be difficult, but that for her is like heaven, because she knows the real value..
Outer beauty is just temporary, it is not permanent, when we chase after outer enjoyment, it will bring us tremendous sufferness, Anila saw this in the begining, that is why she knows what action to take for her to gain real happiness.
It is unbelievable but she showed us that it is possible a retreat to last for 45 years. She is a very beautiful lady, very animated for her age. Her mind is active and alert even though she has been retreat for so long. Staying at one place for extended length requires patience and perseverance. We won’t be able to sit still for even short period if we’re asked, what more for years.
一些人会觉得修行太执着会入迷。可是我们不也是这样的生活吗？为了孩子，我们工作赚钱，为了赚钱，我们用一生的时间去努力追求。最后得到的是房子，车子，可是里面是否有爱，亲情，却不得而知。
同样的努力，同样的毅力，Anila 选择了闭关。最后得到的是心灵的证悟和真正的快乐。
真正的快乐是长久的。
有人觉得喝酒就是快乐，那么喝越多就就应该越快乐，可是为什么当我们喝了很多很多的酒后，反而觉得恶心不舒服？
有人觉得有孩子就是快乐，那么有越多的孩子应该很快乐，可是为什么有了一两个孩子就开始觉得麻烦，觉得有压力？可见这些不是真正的快乐。
你快乐的定义是什么？
Dear Rinpoche,
I loved the short video and at this moment I can’t open the complete documentary. I will come back later to try it again.
My wish for you is that one day you are permitted to do your retreat and you can do so. But for now your are very important for so many of us and a great teacher and can’t be missed in that position.
You are so full of compassion and reaching out to so many all over the world. You do what you have to do now and thank you for that. with love, rita