Post 80’s girl practices Buddhism as a nun in snow-capped plateau
Dear friends,
This is a wonderful recent story to share with you and lighten your heart. Please read it and share with others.
I agree with Tsechen Wongmu that it is not hard to do what she did because as she says, upon finding gold, you can just let go of the scrap iron.
Tsem Rinpoche
2014-06-12
“I set off with my dream,
Mercy is my ship and wisdom is my sail.
I’ll return in a day
Through the rugged path after thousands of years,
If the treasure in my heart
Is appreciated.”
The poem is found on the Weibo page of Tsechen Wongmu, or Ma Ying, before her conversion into a Buddist. The 25-year-old graduated from Qingdao University and, now practices Buddism as a nun in the Xinlongdongzhi Temple amid the snow-covered mountains of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Region in Sichuan province, 4,200 meters above the sea level.
Tsechen Wongmu with Lama Tsongkhapa’s statue
Born in Shandong’s capital Jinan city, Ma learned about Buddhism from her grandmother since childhood. She started practicing Buddism in 2009. Three years later, she shaved her head and became a nun.
“July 2012 was my second travel to the sacred mountain (the mountain where her master stays). I didn’t think about becoming a nun before the trip, but as I climbed the mountain, I felt as if I was getting ashore and, when I look back, it was all whirlpools underneath. The next morning when I woke up, I heard myself say: I don’t want to descend the hill anymore,” Tsechen Wongmu told sina.com.
Many Weibo bloggers praised Tsechen Wongmu for her courage to make the decision and detach herself from secular life, to which she said: “I often replied that it doesn’t need any courage, just like you throw away scrap iron when you get gold. As you learn and practice more of Buddhism, you’ll find every word that the Budda says is right and wise. The decision was not difficult at all.”
Like other Buddhist monks and nuns, Tsechen Wongmu also aims at delivering all living creatures from torment. She wants to help people “in every second”.
Tsechen Wongmu told a story of a Korean man who became a monk at the age of 24 after receiving his PhD in Princeton University. He prefers to be a “community monk” rather than a monk who lives in the mountain and talks “nonsense”. Tsechen Wongmu said a “community nun” is also her goal.
Tsechen Wongmu also hopes to spread the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism, especially to the rural areas.
“Villagers, particularly senior villagers, are mostly kind and honest, but not many of them can get enlightenment from Buddhism.”
As for the question that whether Tsechen Wongmu would resume secular life in the future, she said “When a man wakes up, he cannot dream on as if he were sleeping.”
She also mentioned the movie The Matrix, in which the hero Neo was given a choice from two pills: choose the blue pill he’ll live on in a virtual world, forgetting about everything; and choose the red pill he’ll learn about the reality and face various challenges.
“I’ve chosen the red pill. But I found that comparing to the reality in The Matrix, our reality is much more beautiful,” said Tsechen Wongmu.
(179xizang.com has contributed to the story)
Source: http://english.sina.com/culture/2014/0612/708826.html
Weibo page of Tsechen Wongmu
Ma Ying before she became a nun
Ma Ying before she became a nun
Ma Ying before she became a nun
Tsechen Wongmu (Ma Ying)
Tsechen Wongmu with her parents
Parents of Tsechen Wongmu support her idea of becoming a nun
Tsechen Wongmu in a temple
Buddhist ceremony held by the temple where Tsechen Wongmu stays
Tsechen Wongmu in a snow mountain
Xinlongdongzhi Temple, where Ma Ying became a nun
Xinlongdongzhi Temple is 4,200 meters above the sea level
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Inspiring a college-student-turned nun from Xinlong Dongzhi temple in Sichuan province . She wrote a poem and diary, posted in social media has won public attentions. She started to practice Buddhism and took decision and moved to the temple on the snow-covered plateau 4,200 meters above sea level. Admired her courage to make the decision and detach herself from secular life. She believes that Buddha says right things, which is her only answer to the question why she wants to be a nun.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with us this inspiring and beautiful story of Ma Ying. She is inspiring because at a very young age, she has already realised the samsasa is a delusion. She was born in a very wealthy family, her life is very comfortable and easy but she knew it is a delusion so she decided to become a nun.
She must have a very strong Dharma imprint that leads her to walk on the spiritual path at this young age. She reminds me of Tenzin Palmo who was also ordained at a very young age. She is also very lucky in the sense that she was born in a family that supports her decision. I truly rejoice for her. Not many people can give up a comfortable and easy life to live simply and to work hard for others without getting anything back in return.
I like how she used the scene in Matrix to describe her decision to be ordained. She said we have 2 choices, 1 is to continue to live in a delusional world; 1 is to learn about the reality and face various challenges. It is hard to face challenges or to see the flaws in us, but if we overcome them and transform, we will become better and that will liberate us from the sufferings we create for ourselves.
Inspiring there are young people who can let go of their samsaric life just like that. I suppose the teachings have really sunk into her and she realises there is no essence to her worldly life. The movie Matrix whether it was intentional or not, does point to the fact that there is reality that is hidden from our sight. Anyways I do rejoice in her taking the monastic vows to benefit sentient beings.
Rejoice to Tsechen Wongmu for letting go of worldly objects, inspired by the her determinations and thus encouragement to us for grasped as much of Dharma teachings and practises in this very much precious lifetime. Thank you, Rinpoche for sharing this.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this story. This story reminded me that money and attachment is not important in our life. Spiritual practice should be the most important things in our life.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.
She is so brave and determine. Rejoice for her.
I like to wash movie Matrix as well. If I were given the pills: I would like to choose the red pill as well. But I not enough determination, wisdom and compassion to do that yet.
Tsechen Wongmu’s past life imprints must be very strong for her to begin her spiritual practice early in her life and with good motivation. I truly rejoice for her.
I like the Tsechen Wongmu’s statment : “I often replied that it doesn’t need any courage, just like you throw away scrap iron when you get gold. As you learn and practice more of Buddhism, you’ll find every word that the Budda says is right and wise. The decision was not difficult at all.”
Simple yet profile.
Thank you Rinpoche for this story. Indeed, Ma Ying is an inspirational to all of us in this day and age. All of our members applauded for her firm decision to become a nun. It is not easy for most of us especially in this degenerate time. She has everything but she has chosen to walk the Buddha’s path. Besides, we admired her straightforward yet truthful replied, when she was being asked the reason for her decision. Indeed, Dharma is ‘gold’ and everything else are scrap iron. May we treasure this ‘gold’ too. May many more sentient beings will be touched by her story and especially by her works.
Attendees:Soon Huat, Kong, Kai Lynn, Swee Ching, Kat, Louis Lit and Jacinta.
Rejoice to Tsechen Wongmu. She’s such a courageous young girl with such supportive family. There are obstacles around us in our dharma path & she has managed to overcome it & detached herself from the worldly ‘scrap iron’ because she has found her ‘pot of gold’ .
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with us such an inspirational story.
did post Ma Ying story on my facebook when I came across in local Chinese newspaper, last months ago. It is Inspiration story that such a young girl who willing let go secular life to become nun, which very rare case happened nowadays. May I wish Ma Ying continue propagating Buddha teaching and achieve liberation.
Tsechen Wonmu’s view has such great clarity and resolve. The part where she describes her journey up to the sacred mountain where her Guru lived as climbing ashore, away from the “whirlpool” of samsara was very powerful. Many of us have had the opportunity to ascend from the “whirlpool below” but, due to our three poisons of ignorance, ego and anger, we find ourselves descending back into the uncontrolled turmoil os samsara.
Tsechen Wongmu is a great example to all of us as she embarks on a journey dedicated to benefitting others and in pursuit of inner peace and happiness.
Thank You Rinpoche for sharing such wonderful and inspiring story with us. I truly rejoice to Tsechen Wongmu for her big decision. She can hold her vow so strongly and faithfully. I like her two sentences: “just like you throw away scrap iron when you get gold” and “When a man wakes up, he cannot dream on as if he were sleeping.”
“just like you throw away scrap iron when you get gold” indicated that she is able to renounce everything for Buddhism such as youth, wealth and beauty. It reminded me the Rinpoche article “Good Investment”, we need to invest our youth, wealth and energy wisely. We should invest all our energy and time to learn Dharma knowledge and put into practice to benefit others
I love this sentence: “When a man wakes up, he cannot dream on as if he were sleeping.” Waking up from our worldly dream should be our goal.A lot of us are still staying in the dream and pursuing the worldly goals such as reputation, wealth etc. In fact, we are creating negative karma daily when we pursuing these goals and that is why we are always stuck in samsara.
Thank You Rinpoche for sharing this story with us. Tsechen Wongmu indeed is very good example for us to learn.
I truly agree with what Tsechen Wangmu said, you do not need courage nor to be brave to do so because when you realize that you are chasing for something highest of the high you will let go of those meaningless to you. Just like Pastor Jean Ai, everything just came so naturally. May I become like Tsechen Wangmu and Pastor Jean Ai soon, giving my best to others.
For some, it will be a hard decision but for her, she seemed determined.
Tsechen Wongmu, to you I rejoice from the depths of my heart.
Despite having to live and practice an ascetic lifestyle, you also aspire to become a ‘community nun’ that vowed to work tirelessly for the benefits of all sentient being. All that I can do is to put my two thumbs up, but for you, your limitless deeds cover the grounds far and wide.
To Rinpoche, I thank you so much for sharing this. It will be a joy to see more of this story especially in Kechara. It will be the greatest joy to You and for all.
Rediscovering the courage of Tsechen Wongmu. She walks the talk while I’m still aspiring.
Keep on the good work and hope you have reached the other shore ? and benefitting limitless beings.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing on this inspiring true example of a young person to become a nun or Sangha member. I truly rejoice and feel happy for Ma Ying as she receives full support from her both parents to spend the rest of her life to become an ordained person and letting go all of the worldly materials, career, secular life, entertainment, pleasures and so on.. at her very young age. At her young age, she has already renounced to the world and realize only Dharma and Buddhism can bring us out from sufferings and unhappiness in this life and many lifetimes ahead. I respect her to wish to become a community nun and brings more benefits and Dharma to the people who have yet to meet with Buddhism and yet to realize the Truth as taught by Buddha Shakyamuni 2600 years ago…
This inspiration life story of a young person leaving the secular world to practice dharma is always inspiring, especially in this degenerate age, for the continuity of spirituality and lineage.
It reaffirms the concept of instilling dharma in our minds so we may practice dharma in future lives, just like Tsechen Wongmu who have the seeds in her.
May she attain enlightenment in this lifetime.
Thanks Rinpoche for the sharing.
This is really an inspiring real life story.
Really rejoice to her that she is able to practice Buddhism and her family support her decision.
Hope that she will inspire more people to practice Buddhism in a very young age.
Thanks
Wow such an inspiring story. It is not often we get to see such a young and beautiful girl renouncing samsara and decide to live a spiritual life. She may be physically young, but her spiritual maturity surpasses so many of us.
Thank you for sharing this inspiring story with us Rinpochela. And yes, it is true that when we see the true nature and value of Dharma, we will never want to part with it and will find it natural to pursue a spiritual path instead of a samsaric one.
Ma Ying had the perfect conditions for her to meet and practice the Dharma. She met the Dharma at a young age from her grandma, studied it and very quickly understood and opened up imprints of her past life, whereby she must already have accumulated wisdom and merits to be able to renounce at such a young age. Totally rejoice for her !
众生因无明的原故，经常错误的将世间法当成长法来看待，因此遭遇了许多烦恼及痛苦。这位美丽动人的女生，马滢肯放下了世间的娱乐等而出家为僧的精神实在值得我们的赞赏。祈愿她能够顺利的将佛法传予更多的人，以便他们能够减少所面对的烦恼，产生心灵转化，最终得以早日证果。
Thank you for sharing this inspirational story about this beautiful young lady who chose to lead a spiritual lifestyle. I rejoice for her accomplishment. It is people like her that show that it is possible for people to be born in the modern age and still be great practitioners.
Dear Rinpoche,
It is such a beautiful story of such a young girl that gained so much wisdom at such a young age. Letting go of attachments and serving the community. Truly a strong act of compassion displayed in most sangha.
May she touch the many lives she meets and spread the Dharma
Thank u
Very wise and compassionate young Tsechen Wongmu who gave up her youth to benefit others! May her spiritual path flourish and all her wishes be fulfilled. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this beautiful and inspiring post.
Rejoice for Tsechen Wongmu. She is lucky that she get the support from her parents and she has found her “gold” and let go of the scrap iron at such a young age. May she continue to turn the dharma wheel and benefit many beings.
Thank you rinpoche for sharing such an inspirational story.
Thank you Rinpoche for this inspiring story about this young nun. At such young age she is able to understand so much about her inner thoughts and needs. Therefore, she has chosen the spiritual path and left all her attachments, comforts and baggage behind without looking back. Really admired her decision and courage. She is indeed fortunate to have her parents blessings and support. May she has a smooth sailing path to be the benefit of many and may those who has come across this story be able to wake up and practise the dharma without any further delay.
Such an inspiring story for all of us! Thank you Rinpoche for sharing! Indeed it is easy to make life changing decision when we choose to go all the way. Difficult in making decision are due to us wanting the chance to fall back in samsara. Making decision is very easy when we see the truth and understand nothing else is more important than that!
She is an inspiration. Ma Ying is young, educated and comes from a well to do family yet she made the right choice to abandon worldly affairs and chose to be a nun. She reminds me of Pastor Jean Ai who has chosen the spiritual path at a young age. I rejoice for them!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspiring story about Ma Ying. This young nun has choose to renounce in her early age not interested in all the worldly life this is something a lot of people should learn from . Along our spiritual journey if we need to forgo something worldly I think is no big deal look at this young nun who give up everything that we think is pleasure. I rejoice for Ma Ling may three jewels bless her and may she be able to spread Dharma to more people.
Tsechen Wongmu, who was highly praised by many of the bloggers to have made the brave decision to be a nun at Xinlongdongci Temple, amidst snow-covered mountains at Sichuan Province, hopefully can later on turn-out to be another “Cheng Yen” like the Taiwanese buddhist nun of Tzu Chi Organisation, who was initially a teacher, philanthropist,and later on often being called “The mother Teresa of Asia”. Perhaps, she truly has the devotion,dedication and determination to become a successful compassionate nun, when she said in the blog, that “as you learn and practise more buddhism, you find every word that Buddha said is right and wise”. She has expressed her aims to help people every second and hope to deliver all living creatures from torment. She also has the wish to spread the pure land sect of Buddhism specially to the rural areas, and for this and her pure bright legitimate future we wish her every success! Om mani Padme Hung.
I truly rejoice for Tsechen Wongmu (Ma Ying)’s wise decision to be a nun. I pray that her path in spreading the Buddha-Dharma be smooth and victorious. May many benefit from her kindness and compassion.
In a world that is so full of distractions, and coming from a wealthy family as well as having gone to a University and graduated from it, this young lady, in her twenties,has such rare wisdom as to choose to leave her comfortable secular life,to become a renunciate, a nun to serve all beings and deliver them from suffering.
Her extraordinary wisdom and awakened state have allowed her to see that Dharma is gold and, having found gold, to just let go of the scrap iron, which are the trappings of secular life and materialism.
Yes, it must be strong imprints from past lives, and she is continuing her spiritual journey in this life, armed with such a high level of spiritual realization.
I rejoice for her and am deeply inspired by her. Indeed her story will be very inspirational,especially for young people.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspirational story on this blog.
Upon seeing ordained picture of her, I will refrain myself of writing beautiful praising words as no amount of words could justify it.(no capable of writing it it anyway)I just visualize her as a big sister, a teacher to the kids and a daughter to many elders in the nearby villages…._/\_
This young nun has inspired many people, young and old. I rejoice for her and hope she will fulfill her wish to be a community nun and bring Dharma to the ordinary people she cares so much about. This is surely due to strong imprints from her past life.
Amazing!
A young girl at her age is so determine to be a nun! Especially in this era where lots of “entertainment” and distraction, it is not easy to renounce.
She is lucky that her parents supported her on this idea. Rejoice
Oh Wow, truly inspiring…
I am SO happy for her!
Dear Rinpoche, thank you for sharing this wonderful story with us. Her words are full with wisdom: ‘you throw away scrap iron when you get gold. As you learn and practice more of Buddhism, you’ll find every word that the Budda says is right and wise. The decision was not difficult at all.’
Dharma is the best gold in life, and it cannot be taken away by anyone and it cannot fade with time or space. Dharma is the one thing that worth to ‘chase after’. And Dharma is the one and last thing that can help us during our death. This is what Rinpoche always remind us.
The world is blessed by her decision. I’m so so happy.
Dear Rinpoche,
It amazing story , it must be previous life merit to reconnect to the dharma path. She know that dharma is a gold that why she really cherish it as treasure. Rejoice .
Very beautiful story, thanks Rinpoche for sharing this.
Not everyone in the modern society will choose this path as most of us think life is about how much materials you have. Chasing after fame and wealth is what most of us do, and thought this is the only path and ultimately I would be happy when I gain the maximum wealth.
Ma Ying sees through that, and she took one step further to show us, what’s a meaningful life. I can see how happy and fulfilled she is after she shaved and become a nun.
Thanks Ma Ying, may more people take on your path for others.
The story of Ma Ying is really an inspiration & encouraging to read. She seems to know what path to take at her very young age, when the time & condition ripen at the peak of her life she immediately took on the path as if she is just continuing what she has been doing before.
She has demonstrate much wisdom & compassion in the way she deliver her messages & reply to challenging question asked. She will be a role model to both practitioner & ordinary people to practice kindness to others.
I truly rejoice for her. I wish her well & may her spiritual journey be fruitful & benefit many.
Rinpoche, this is a very inspiring account of a young girl leaving everything to become a nun. Ma Ying is young, educated and a bright samsaric future awaiting her. Yet she has chosen to renounce the worldly affair to become a nun to benefit others. I am so happy for Ma Ying to have the support of her parents to become a nun and pray that she would inspire more young and educated individuals to the path chosen by her. Thank you Rinpoche for showing us this message.
Rejoice to Tsechen Wongmu (Ma Ying), her previous accumulate Merits become a powerful imprint that make her able to become a nun without obstacles hence have supports from her family also…
May she blessed by 3 jewels always hence have a swift Dharma path…
I knew this young nun is from social media, her family gave her strong support for her become a sangha. When she was in university study she already knew her future will not same with her friends. Deep inside she know she will go and look for what her inner needs.
The amazing thing is she is beautiful, smart and intelligent, but she too choose the most intelligent path for her rest of her life.
Now she is do prayer, sharing Dharma and give blessing to people she meet. So powerful example she is showing us. Her determination become a nun, really tell the world directly, we need to listen our inner voice rather than external noise.
I really feel happy for her determination and courage!Rejoice for her!!!
Very inspiring story. My heart felt deeply with her decision to let go the scrap that we appreciate and chasing for it. Dharma is Gold, the gold that can carry along to our next life with our mind ( centre of our heart chakra )
Thank you so much Rinpoche!
From Sock Wan: I have read about her. She is from a wealthy family and received good education. At a very young age she has already realised what normal people are chasing for, money, career, relationship etc are not bringing us to any where. She reminds me of Pastor Jean Ai, who also at a very young age already decided to pursue spiritual practice. They must have very strong imprints from their past lives. I truly rejoice!
At a young age she can let go of so much, talk about spiritual maturity. The way is she answered the questions posed to her is very skillful and showed she has much wisdom. What is perplexing or crazy is that people have the nerve of asking her whether she want to resume secular life. She just become a nun. It’s like you just become a parent and you were asked whether you’re going to be single again. There are people who would test your conviction when they see you challenging convention and their way of thinking. I wish her best of luck and and be the inspiration for others to follow her footstep to benefit others through practicing Dharma.
Thank you, Rinpoche for sharing this inspirational story about this beautiful young woman who chose a beautiful spiritual path in life. It is very refreshing to read about someone so young who is certain about what she wants in terms of spirituality. At her age, I was still grappling with a career choice. Am very happy for her and pray that she will flourish in her path.