…statue’s torn back and painted her. The statue, as well as Elga, started a new life. Elga’s becoming a monk was not a continuation of a fanatical religious life, rather it was the answer to a question of many years duration “Is that all there is to life?” In her life she had everything, but this “everything” led to a longing for more. “In the beginning I thought – I’ll go to college and get a good job. Then I thought I’ll get a Master’s degree. Go…

…ddhism there are lay members who train in the everyday world and those who enter the priesthood (become monks) and undergo formal training. The phrase ‘leaving the world’ is sometimes used in reference to those who have entered a monastery, but except for a small percentage of monastics, ‘leaving the world’ indicates more of an attitude of mind then a lack of contact with those outside the monastery gates. In fact, the monastery is a world of sort…