Escape From Darkness tells the story of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap’s younger daughter, Shenza Nechung. Translated from the medium-length hagiography of the Buddha, the Do Zer Mik, this book chronicles the gripping journey of Shenza Nechung from princess, to prisoner, to spiritual leader among her father’s disciples. Lacking the power of true understanding and stable faith, she was led astray by delusion as a youth. Her mother gave her advice, but it was of no avail.

“My daughter Shenza Nechung was restless, and her mind was not steady. She even had an inauspicious dream. I asked her to pick flowers in the garden and make an offering of them to the temple along with prostrations. I sent her to pick flowers. Her return was taking too long, and when I went to the garden to look for her, she was not there. The garden was empty. I looked for her in the four directions, and she was nowhere to be seen. I called for her in the four directions, and there was not a single trace of her. Now all of you must search for her in the four directions.”

— Extract from Escape from Darkness: The Spiritual Journey of the Buddha’s Daughter, Shenza Nechung

Shenza’s story has been translated from the Tibetan into English for the first time by Sangmo Yangri, Ph.D. She received her Ph.D. in Bön and Buddhist studies in 2013 and has published various articles and taught at Ratna Menling Nunnery. Dr. Yangri is currently a teacher and translator for Lishu Institute in Northern India.

Escape from Darkness, published by Sacred Sky Press, can be purchased through this link: http://www.lulu.com/shop/sangmo-yangri/escape-from-darkness/paperback/product-24121255.html

All translations and content by Raven Cypress Wood ©All Rights Reserved. No content, in part or in whole, is allowed to be used without direct permission from the author.

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