Do you expect to have peace outside if you can’t find peace within?

Aunt Mary raised me in the Roman Catholic Church, a formal and devoted faith with a long history. My family baptized me. At age 7, I received my first holy communion, and in 8th grade, I received the blessed sacrament of confirmation.

Going up the senior steps as a freshman.

From 5th to 8th grade, I attended mass every Sunday on all holy days and weekly Catechism classes. You could describe me as devoted and faithful. I confessed even when I had no sins to admit ( I made up stuff) because you had to confess. Now, looking in retrospect, as a Catholic, I felt guilty about everything, even if I had nothing to feel guilty about. My Catholic training was to expect help from a higher power, but I needed to find inner peace.

I discovered Buddhist thought after reading Siddhartha by Herman Hesse in grade school. I Fell in love with Buddhism and wanted to learn more, but I put it on the back burner until I was old enough to decide on my religious faith and philosophy.

I became a Kadampa Buddhist nun in 2012.

Buddhist nun Ordination Day 2012

However, there was a better way for me, so I became a layperson six years later. I did not need to be a nun to find my inner peace because I lived in the real world and dealt with real people and my imperfections. I needed practice, meditation, and contemplation to achieve it.

I do not advocate for anyone to become a Buddhist; you must find what works for you and stick with it. As always, I welcome your feedback.