Rating: 
Summary: Inspiration from Cover to Cover
Review: The story of Tenzin Palmo's search for enlightment in the Buddhist realm is an inspiration for any person looking for emotional strength in their lives. Her courage and fortitude living in isolation in a cave in the snow, high up in the Himalayas, gave me the courage to pursue my dreams down here in suburbia. This is not only a Buddhist story but a story of one woman's truimph against all odds.
Rating:
Summary: Power to women!!!
Review: This is an informational and fascinating book. Tenzin Palmo is certainly an unusual person, but she is a beacon for anyone, man or woman, who wants to achieve what the official dogma denies s/he can achieve!The writing is a bit on the clunky side, but who cares? That's not the point--the point is the Enlightenment, and the fact that Tenzin Palmo would let nothing stand between her and it. Also, even though I follow the Theravadin path, I found the descriptions and information of Tibetan Buddhism fascinating, and the Dalai Lama comes off even more wonderful and sympathetic than I've ever seen. He does care about the plight of women, in his tradition and out. A fantastic read! But it does make you want to go on retreat--NOW!
Rating:
Summary: Especially for female seekers of enlightenment!
Review: This is, for me, an unexpectedly wonderful story. Clearly written and fast-paced enough to read in just a few evenings, this book takes you on a journey into the deepest heart of Tibetan Buddhism, all from the vantage point of Diane Perry, an english woman who became the first ordained caucasian Buddhist nun and is currently the foremost female Buddhist alive today. Along the way are enchanting encounters with wolves, a Yeti, avalanches, mysterious ancient ceremonies, the Dalai Lama, and famous tulkus (reincarnations) to numerous to mention by name. There's even a near-miss path-crossing with none other than San Francisco's own beat-poet-chief Allan Ginsberg, who left Freda Bedi's Young Lama's Home School in Dalhousie only months before the young Diane Perry (aka Nun Tenzin Palmo) arrived there (in 1964) to begin her journey (perhaps many future lives long) toward becoming the first human to officially attain enlightenment in the female form. Outstanding!
Rating: 
Summary: Not enough Tenzin Palmo and too much Vickie MacKenzie
Review: This title is _very_ misleading, rather, it should have been "One Feminists Interpretation of Tenzin Palmo's Life and Work." I had high hopes for this book but found that only 1/3 of it was actually biographical. Yogins and yoginis are a tight-lipped bunch, to be sure (regarding their experiences on retreat etc.) so some of that can't be helped. What was substituted for Tenzin Palmo's experiences was the author's infusion of American feminist thought - not a problem in and of itself, but not why I bought the book. I would recommend that anyone looking for an objective biography of Tenzin Palmo look elsewhere; for those looking for a feminist paean to Tenzin Palmo, this book is for you. Despite feeling cheated in my purchase, I would say that one truly redeeming quality of this book is that a portion of my purchase goes to help Palmo build her nunnery.
Rating: 
Summary: Not enough Tenzin Palmo and too much Vickie MacKenzie
Review: This title is _very_ misleading, rather, it should have been "One Feminists Interpretation of Tenzin Palmo's Life and Work." I had high hopes for this book but found that only 1/3 of it was actually biographical. Yogins and yoginis are a tight-lipped bunch, to be sure (regarding their experiences on retreat etc.) so some of that can't be helped. What was substituted for Tenzin Palmo's experiences was the author's infusion of American feminist thought - not a problem in and of itself, but not why I bought the book. I would recommend that anyone looking for an objective biography of Tenzin Palmo look elsewhere; for those looking for a feminist paean to Tenzin Palmo, this book is for you. Despite feeling cheated in my purchase, I would say that one truly redeeming quality of this book is that a portion of my purchase goes to help Palmo build her nunnery.
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