I give you my life - Ayya Khema

220 pages,

Autobiography of a German Jewish Buddhist Nun.

When I picked up this book, I had expected lots of dharma lesson weaved in the life story. Interestingly, this is a very worldly story of an extraordinary person. The dharma lesson doesn't start to appear until about 3/4 into the books. Even then, one have to look out for it. It arise naturally. It give me a sense that the author doesnot deliberately choose to tell story where there are dharma lessons. The stories of her life are told as, it, all praise and warts included. If the lesson arise, it arise. One can easily believe what is being told, and not unlike other, where stories are censored or sanitized as it doesnot put the subject in a good light.

Like a true teacher, the subject did not try to portray how enlightened she is. One can feel that the writer almost have to squeeze out from the subject, her personal experience or "achievement" with regard to spiritual experience.

4 major efforts, Ayya Khema tied to lived within :

a) not permitting unwholesome thoughts to arise that has not yet arisen - ie to avoid
b) not engaging further in unwholesome thoughts that have arise - to overcome
c) Arousng a wholesome thought that has not arise ie to develop
d) engaging further in a wholesome thought that has arised - to maintain.