Vicki MacKenzie’s Cave in the Snow

By Mira Kingsley

“Why does one go into retreat? One goes into retreat to understand who one really is and what the situation truly is. When one begins to understand oneself then one can truly understand others because we are all interrelated.” - Tenzim Palmo

“Cave in the Snow” is the biography of Tenzim Palmo, one of the first Western Buddhist nuns, and a must-read for anyone interested in retreat. The amazing Tenzim Palmo is a retreat Master, who spent 12 years in solitude meditating in an isolated mountain cave. During the retreat, she was nearly buried alive, had her food source cut off for periods of time, and suffered illness without any medical assistance. She says without any irony yet great humility that these were some of the happiest years of her life. “Cave in the Snow” is based upon numerous interviews with this radical nun. She has taken a public vow to get enlightened in a female body in order to counteract the strong history of women being treated as second-class spiritual citizens. The text is a great history book, particularly for those interested in the movement of Tibetan Buddhism to the West. It follows Tenzim Palmo’s journey from a flirty teenager in 1960s England to her current status as a trailblazer not only for western Buddhist women but also for any women on a spiritual quest.

The book is packed with phenomenal stories of Tenzim Palmo’s experiences in retreat and breathtaking insights into the practice of Mahayana Buddhism. What resonates and empowers the reader long after finishing the book is Tenzim Palmo’s extraordinary and palpable joyful effort. She states early on that she was fascinated and driven by the idea that one could reach a state of perfection. It is clear that she truly believes this is possible. When asked what her greatest obstacle was in retreat, Tenzim Palmo answered, “laziness.” This statement, from a woman who slept sitting upright in a small meditation box for 12 years on an isolated mountain peak, should give a healthy kick in the behind to those who are still struggling to get on the meditation cushion for 20 minutes each day. May we all aspire to Tenzim Palmo’s level of laziness. May her love and faith in the practice inspire us to increase the capacity of our own compassion.

Following her time in retreat, Tenzim Palmo has taught worldwide and opened Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in India. To find out more about Tenzin Palmo and her teachings, please visit: http://www.tenzinpalmo.com