Another perspective

One may say that I am a bookworm and I confess I love reading and I love being truly inspired by amazing people. My parents are both avid readers and my mother in particular is wonderful at finding inspirational stories, which she then passes on to me. Thanks Mum!

Last night I finished a book she recommended titled ‘Singing for Freedom’ by Ani Choying Drolma. Ani is a Buddhist nun, the female equivalent of a Buddhist monk, from Kathmandu, Nepal. She starts the story recalling as a small child, the abuse and physical violence dealt out so thoughtlessly by her father. She remembers cowering in their small house which consisted of one room only and watching while her drunken father beat her mother continuously.

Ani suffered regular beatings, and even more regularly watched her mother be beaten to within an inch of her life. She was made to do all the chores and work tirelessly for her father. She often took over many of her mother’s roles when her mother was too injured to look after Ani’s two younger brothers.

Ani was consumed by her anger and vowed that she would never allow a man to treat her that way again. She despised her father and her hate grew until she eventually despised the entire male population. Ani’s mother was her strength, she helped her understand and see that tolerance is a virtue and, regardless of the situation, you still have choices.

As soon as Ani was old enough she ran away, however, never having been outside her small town area she had no where to go, and certainly no one to run to. Back home she went, yet she was persistent in looking for another way out. Around the age of 9, Ani’s mother planted the seed that Ani should consider becoming a nun and join the Buddhist way of life. Finally Ani felt she had the answer!

The book tells a beautiful tale of how Ani turned the abusive relationship she had with her father into one of complete love, respect and compassion. She speaks of her energetic youth and the way she was treated in the monastery for breaking with tradition and following her own heart.

Ani takes an amazing personal journey and deals with the anger she has held within her for years. She becomes a better person, puts down her armour and sheds her hate and even meets His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. The most remarkable thing about the story, and Ani in particular, is that she is a real person. Often we think of monks and nuns as perfect, however Ani tells of her imperfections, she explains that her feelings are often irrational and she battles with the emotions that arise uncontrollably.

My favourite quote from the book is something her teacher says to her. He says “Think about this too. The lotus is born in the mud, but its flower is always white and clean. This is our greatest challenge; to live at the heart of the problem and not be undermined by it. That is the joy of freedom.”

Ani goes on to do amazing things in her life and have a considerable impact on those around her, in particular her father. The book is an absolute gem and, if you’re ready to be inspired, learn more about the Buddhist way of life and are interested in getting a cultural insight along the way, this is the perfect book for you.

If you don’t have the time or inclination to read the book, take a little time now to think about the abuse you’ve suffered in your own life and how you could forgive - not for the other person, but for yourself. 

The next workshop is on Thursday 27 August on ‘The Balancing Act’.

In just two hours you will:

  Create your own definition of work/ life balance
  Discover areas of your life that are out of balance
  Understand how values drive your choices
  Learn how to maintain a calm state of mind
  Find practical solutions to create work/ life balance
  Create a sustainable plan to retain balance in your life

Workshop Details:

Location: Wollongong Golf Club
Date: Thursday 27 August, 2009
Time: 5.45pm – 8pm
Cost: $55 (Includes audio CD)
Bookings: Phone: 0409 224 303
Email: Jodie@advancedcoachingsolutions.com.au to reserve your place.

To check out workshops available and what’s scheduled for the rest of the year, go to www.advancedcoachingsolutions.com.au/Workshops.html