When Cindy moves to Thailand with her husband and teenage son, she finds herself strangely adrift in a foreign culture, unprepared for the challenges she encounters there. On an impulse she signs up for a conference where she unexpectedly meets a Thai Buddhist nun, Venerable Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, who leads her on a spiritual journey from which there is no turning back. Along the way she … discovers the beauty of the Thai people and culture.
This soulful and engaging memoir is the story of one woman’s journey of physical, emotional, and spiritual healing through her connection to a loving Buddhist teacher who fully accepts and nurtures her in a way her own mother never did. Finding Venerable Mother is a testimony to the power of faith, forgiveness, and love.
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Writing a memoir is a brave act, most especially one that shares a personal and spiritual exploration of self. Cindy Rasicot’s engaging “Finding Venerable Mother” does just that. Within these pages, the reader is invited to experience, first her encounter, and then budding relationship with Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, Thailand’s first female Buddhist monk. Along the way Ms. Rasicot honestly shares her challenges, obstacles, and, ultimately, triumphs. It is a story of love and acceptance, healing and hope. Highly recommended.
I have been a Buddhist enthusiast since my early 20s and found myself coveting every step and nourishing experience along the author’s journey. She also confirmed quite a bit for me about the doctrine as I have come to understand it through the years. Rasicot not only finds herself living in Thailand (with her husband and son) she discovers an opportunity to make peace and heal parts of herself she never really knew needed mending. Some of these lines are so relatable, grabbing the reader by the heart. “I felt adrift, like a stranger in my own skin. I wasn’t an unfamiliar feeling to me, but nevertheless it took me by surprise. If you’ve ever passed yourself in the mirror and done a double take at the person staring back at you, you know this experience. I knew it was a combination of things bringing it on, but primarily an old version of myself was dying, and I didn’t know who I was.” Just brilliant writing. We learn so much about the author and her burgeoning closeness to her mentor, the Venerable Dhammananda, and observe as she finds a way to heal the pain carried over from childhood and damaged relationship with her own mother. In Rasicot’s words, “I considered my journey and the possibility that had been opened to me to heal my maternal wounds. The potential is there for any woman to heal old wounds that bind her, but she must willing, have courage, and be lucky enough to find a wise teacher who is capable of loving and accepting her just as she is. I came to understand this truth over time. When we go forward with a truly open heart, faith. forgiveness, and love are possible.” I turned the last page with a warm sensation throughout my whole being. High recommend!
I think what spoke to me the most about Cindy’s book was how unique and beautiful everyone’s healing process is. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. In this case, the universe unfolded exactly as it should for the author as her husband’s job took her from California to Thailand where she was ready to meet her teacher Dhammananda, who opened up her world to possibilities she would never have known. I enjoyed immensely going on this journey with her.
Kudos to the author for presenting an intimate personal journey of growth and healing through her willingness to be open to a new culture in Thailand, learning a new sense of spirituality, and how to forgive the mother of her past to find a new sense of motherhood in herself and in the female monk that embraces her. A lovely, lovely read.
A lovely memoir about the author’s personal journey that brought insight and healing. It’s a soothing read, not just because of her transformative experience and the peaceful aspects of Buddhism, but in part due to Rasicot’s writing style. I too was transported to the Thai monastery, captivated by and in awe of her Buddhist nun/teacher, Dhammananda, and left reflecting on my own inner truths. A beautiful and inspiring book, much needed in our troubled times.