GIRL IN A BOX
Seeking Enlightenment as a Tibetan Buddhist Nun
A memoir of devotion, disillusionment, and what remains
By Paldrom Catharine Collins
Book Description
Girl in a Box: Seeking Enlightenment as a Tibetan Buddhist Nun is a memoir of spiritual longing—and the search for an end to suffering.
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As a wide-eyed spiritual seeker from Oklahoma, Paldrom believed enlightenment would free her from the messiness of being human—that she could somehow rest in a cloud of bliss. So she took monastic vows, shaved her head, changed her name, and agreed to forgo worldly pleasures.
With vulnerable candor, she recounts her effort to become a stellar nun—at least as she imagined one should be. Her five-year immersion in the paradigm-altering world of a traditional Tibetan Buddhist monastery and retreat center revealed the depth of her commitment. But the path was not what she’d expected.
Both the transcendent experiences and the shattering disillusionments continue to lead her to a deeper understanding:
never lost, already home
Praise for Girl in a Box
“Girl in a Box asks, How do I find relief from suffering? and How do I find a home for my heart? Reading Paldrom’s memoir is like taking a long walk with a dear and wise friend—one who tells her story with the kind of vulnerability that helps you to see and tell your own.”
— Emily Conway
Writer, spiritual companion, and creator of A Thin Space and the Threshold podcast
“A candid, unflinching look at one woman’s search for peace and love in the midst of being human. Drawn to Tibetan Buddhism, she takes vows as a nun—only to discover that the sanctuary she sought cannot be found by leaving life, but by turning toward its most tender places. Girl in a Box is a moving journey of devotion, self-discovery, and surrender.”
— Cathy Krizik
Editor of Refuge: Voices of Courage & Resilience for a Fractured World
“Reading this memoir is like stepping onto a path you’ve never traveled before. Paldrom’s portrayals of unfamiliar people and experiences are deeply engaging and illuminating, offering wisdom that gently turns you back toward the truth that the home you seek is already here within you.”
— Joanna Quintrell
Founder & Executive Director, Journey Center Association
“Girl in a Box shifted my perception in a deep and lasting way. It helped me release things I didn’t realize I was still holding and showed me how to meet myself with more compassion.”
— Daniel Brown
Director of Rapid Results at Neulia