Wandering Nun – Inspiring Documentary Recommendation
“Abandon all the efforts. Find the silence beyond thoughts. Stay there. Just watch. Everything happens naturally.”
– Ani Rigsang
Ani Rigsang, a Tibetan nun, permanently leaves her monastery to pursue knowledge of her ancestors’ endangered spiritual traditions.
Stumbling across the free documentary TIBET, THE PATH TO WISDOM on Slice’s YouTube channel, I couldn’t help but feel delighted.
I have always been fascinated by nuns and monks from various traditions. Renouncing worldly life, they live free from its demands, willingly sacrificing modern comforts to find life's purpose while living with reverence for all of existence each day.
People might think that when someone takes vows of renunciation in a monastery, that’s where their story ends, but not for Tibetan Nun, Ani. And that’s what intrigues me about her story.
Leaving the comfort of her Lhasa convent, she sets out to seek ancient knowledge, guided by an inner call to walk across the land, from temple to monastery.
Along the way, she meets revered nuns and monks, such as ‘The Mad Saint,’ who offers her wisdom, such as, “There really is nothing to find, you understand? Whether you understand or not, it makes no difference; the mind is empty yet cognizient, unfathomable yet always present. You can recognize it only by its scent of compassion.”
And, “Learn to tame your inner energies and you’ll understand everything.”
Ani listens carefully and shares that she left the convent to go on a pilgrimage, aiming to connect her inner self with the outer world in the sacred landscape of the Tibetan mountains.
To which he responds, “The outer world is a reflection of your inner nature, not the other way around. You can walk all you want and not connect to a single thing.”
Ani affirms, “Tibetan Buddhism is linked to this sacred landscape. Walking through it preserves its memory.”
The Mad Saint quips, “I’m not so sure, who's got the time to walk these days?”
Ani remains undeterred.
We also learn that the Mad Saint has a sordid history, from which he has gained wisdom.
Throughout the documentary, we meet nuns and monks as they follow their chosen path to enlightenment. I find myself wondering if Ani will find another monastery where she feels at home. Surely, she won’t keep wandering the countryside facing harsh elements.
As the film unfolds, we see Ani humbly committed to following the invisible footsteps of those who have travelled the land before her. Content to walk alone, without seeking understanding or permission, she demands nothing; she walks for peace and the well-being of all sentient beings.
For those of us living outside convents—whether as mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, daughters, sons, friends, or members of society—we can feel overwhelmed by Western society’s expectations of what daily life should look like. The tasks are many, all focused on making ends meet.
However, we can find inspiration from Ani—discovering fulfillment in sacrifice as an act of service, pacing ourselves as we ascend metaphorical mountains each day, and staying true to our hearts while respecting others’ differing beliefs and experiences.
“Learn to tame your inner energies, and you will understand everything. ”
― The Mad Saint
In appreciation for your being here,
Shana Lee
Monastery in the mountains.