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12 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE

Bringing Joy to our

Pandemic World

By Venerable Ayya Yeshe

Ayya Yeshe Bodhicitta ordained as a nun in 2001. She discovered
Buddhism whilst travelling in Nepal and India at the age of 17 on a
search for the meaning of life. Coming back to Australia after a year of
study and practice in monasteries, she helped run a Buddhist Centre in
Sydney and trained with her teacher Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe for
five years whilst working as well.

Upon ordaining as a nun at the age of 23 Venerable Yeshe, found like
the majority of Western monastics before her that there was very little
care or support for Western monastics, people preferring to access
Tibetan Lamas who are already trained. She had no where to live
and had to beg on traditional alms round to get food, she stayed with
various friends and in garden sheds. She engaged in teaching Dharma
in HIV hospices, schools, drug and alchohol rehab centres and trained
as a yoga teacher.

Coming to India in 2004, Venerable Yeshe studied for two years in a
monastery, but felt a need to make Buddhism accessable and socially
engaged, whilst still trying to maintain her contemplative way of life.
She met Indian Buddhists in 2005 and has been working with them
ever since. Her teachers are Sakya Trizen (the second highest Lama in
Tibetan Buddhism) and Ven Thich Nhat Hanh, the nobel peace prize
poet and peace activist.

Ayya Yeshe Bodhicitta is the author of ‘Everyday Enlightenment’
published by Harper Collins and is featured in the documentaries ‘life
beyond the begging bowl’ and ‘Through the Eastern Gate’. She is also
made a Buddhist chanting CD with one of Australia’s top world music
groups - India Jiva called ‘Dakini’.

Despite her very hectic schedule, she was able to grant an on-line
interview to Eastern Horizon when requested by Benny Liow. The
following is an extract of the interview.