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    Monks and Me by Mary Paterson Summary

    Monks and Me
    Mary Paterson
    3.76 (486 Reviews)
    MindfulnessInspirationPhilosophy
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    Overview of Monks and Me

    After 40 days in Thich Nhat Hanh's monastery, Mary Paterson's journey from grief to enlightenment captivates readers worldwide. Endorsed by Gates Foundation's Dr. Sgaier as "magnificent," this life-changing memoir asks: Can ancient Buddhist wisdom solve modern chaos? Discover why readers call it transformative.

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    Best quote from Monks and Me

    “

    I can control my body but not my surroundings.

    ”
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    Imagine losing both parents and feeling completely unmoored from your sense of self. This profound loss drove me to embark on a forty-day pilgrimage to Plum Village, the renowned Buddhist monastery in France founded by Thich Nhat Hanh. The number forty carries deep spiritual significance across traditions-Christ, Muhammad, and Moses all underwent forty-day transformative periods. In yogic science, forty days marks the interval needed for deep truth recognition. Being forty years old when my father died added meaningful synchronicity to my journey. Under the cold November sky, I crossed an ocean to live essentially as a nun, hoping this immersion would bring healing and guidance through life's turbulent waters. The monastery revealed itself as a world apart from ordinary life. Sister An Nghiem, with her shaved head and muddy brown robes, greeted me at the train station with a serenity that immediately began dissolving my anxiety. As we drove through the stunning French countryside, rolling hills dotted with ancient stone buildings stretched to the horizon. Inside the refurbished farmhouse, shaved heads and brown robes moved with unexpected gaiety, defying stereotypes of somber monastics. My tiny room marked "EAGLE" became my cozy sanctuary, with its narrow bed, wooden desk, and meditation cushion overlooking monastery gardens. Life followed a simple yet profound rhythm-rising at 5:00 a.m. to the resonant sound of a brass gong, gathering in meditation before a magnificent white Buddha statue, sharing silent meals, and practicing walking meditation through the grounds. What struck me most was how the nuns moved with complete presence in every activity, whether sweeping floors with methodical care or serving tea with graceful attention.

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