A Bhutanese nun's solo journey across 12 mountain passes ft Ven Emma Slade

Описание: Coll
In this inspiring conversation, Buddhist nun and author Emma Slade (Lopen Ani Pema Deki) shares how compassion fuels her work through Opening Your Heart to Bhutan, a charity supporting children with special needs. From surviving a life-changing hostage experience to preparing for a 37-day trek across Bhutan, Emma reveals how resilience, faith, and kindness can transform both personal suffering and the lives of others.

💪 Resilience in Adversity – Lessons from Bhutanese children and Emma’s own journey through trauma.
🌏 Compassion in Action – Why widening our hearts creates true peace and supports those in need.
🧘 Progress, Not Perfection – How practice and service are about gradual growth, not instant enlightenment.

#CompassionInAction #BuddhistWisdom #OpeningYourHeart

About the Speaker:
👤 Lopen Ani Pema Deki (Emma Slade) was born in Kent, and was educated at Cambridge University and the University of London where she gained a First Class degree. She is a qualified Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and worked in Fund Management in London, New York, and Hong Kong.

A deep seated desire to enquire into the deeper aspects of humanity arise following a life- changing business trip to Jakarta, where she was held hostage at gunpoint. She resigned from her financial career and began exploring yoga and meditation and methods of wellbeing with the ultimate aim of turning a traumatic episode into wisdom and conditions for thriving.
She qualified as a British Wheel of Yoga teacher in 2003 and, over the last 19 years, has run numerous yoga workshops and retreats.

​Her interest in Buddhism as a science of the mind strengthened after meeting a Buddhist Lama (teacher) on her first visit to Bhutan in 2011. This crucial chance meeting led to her studying Buddhism with this Lama and, eventually, led to her becoming the first and only Western woman to be ordained in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan as a Buddhist nun.

📄 Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-63

⏱Timestamps:
(00:00) – Introduction to Emma Slade: Buddhist nun, author, and charity founder
(00:47) – Opening Your Heart to Bhutan: supporting children with special needs
(01:40) – Preparing to walk the 37-day Wild Bhutan Trail for fundraising
(01:59) – Emma’s hostage experience and empathy for children lacking autonomy
(03:21) – Story of a boy walking on his knees who now trains for the Paralympics
(04:17) – Mindset and resilience: lessons from Bhutanese children
(05:14) – Struggles, fundraising challenges, and not giving up
(06:08) – Expanding compassion as mental training and peace
(07:05) – Following the Bodhisattva vow with aspiration despite obstacles
(09:11) – Skillful means: helping others when they are ready to receive
(10:49) – The “cup” analogy for openness to Dharma
(12:12) – Progress is gradual: not expecting perfection in practice
(12:44) – Redefining suffering as mental states, not just physical
(14:02) – Preparing physically and mentally for the Bhutan Trail
(14:31) – Stretching beyond comfort zones to truly help others
(14:40) – How to follow Emma’s journey and support the cause

Resources:
Emma Slade’s website: https://www.emmaslade.com/
Emma Slade’s charity fundraiser: https://www.openingyourhearttobhutan....
Facebook/Instagram: @openingyourhearttobhutan_
More about her journey being held at gunpoint: My Path To Becoming A Buddhist | Emma Slade | TEDxSevenoaksSchool

Special thanks to our sponsors:
Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong, Dennis Lee

🙏 Sponsor us: https://handfulofleaves.life/support/

🎬 Editor: Hong Jiayi
✍️ Transcribers: Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Bernice Bay
🎨 Visuals & Sound: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

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