We had a lovely conversation with the author of Girl in a Box, Paldrom Collins! Paldrom’s memoir walks us through her early days as a young woman who is seeking her own path in Oklahoma to her time in a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in New York. Paldrom’s path is winding, full of wisdom, compassion, and the most surprising twists and turns. We enjoyed this insightful and honest chat about following yearning and trusting self. 

Show Notes:

• Only Breath by Rumi
• paldrom.com 
• Girl in a Box by: Paldrom Collins 
• How the Worst Day of My Life Became the Best by: Andrea Gibson 

Takeaways

• Following your inner knowing can lead to unexpected paths and growth
• Ritual and repetition serve as somatic practices that deepen spiritual awareness
• Non-dualism emphasizes interconnectedness beyond dualistic thinking
• Reciprocity is rooted in the natural interconnectedness of all life
• Embracing resistance and difficulty can hone spiritual resilience

Chapters
00:30 Transforming Pain into Art
02:36 The Journey of Becoming Findable
03:34 The Call to Write: A Spiritual Journey
06:59 Exploring Spiritual Backgrounds
09:23 The Meandering Path of Spirituality
12:46 Rituals and Repetition in Spiritual Practice
18:04 Interfaith Dialogues: Buddhism and Christianity
22:02 The Quest for Acceptance and Worthiness
26:11 Understanding Tibetan Buddhism's Teachings
30:34 Navigating Dualism and Non-Dualism
32:40 Reciprocity in Spiritual Journeys
34:39 The Knowing Beyond Knowing
37:23 Embracing the Unknown
42:22 Yearning and Creativity
45:12 Responding to Suffering in the World
47:31 The Ongoing Story of Life
51:04 Finding Shelter in Each Other's Stories