December 25th 2024.
In March 2024, Emma Slade found herself in an unexpected situation - she was embracing His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India. This was a far cry from her previous life as a high-flying banker, working in London, New York, and Hong Kong, managing accounts worth millions of pounds. Despite her successful career and high salary, Emma's life took a dramatic turn after a life-changing event.
During a business trip to Jakarta, Indonesia, Emma was robbed at gunpoint in her hotel room. She was forced to crouch on the floor while the suspect ransacked her belongings, with a gun aimed at her head. It was a terrifying experience, and it was hours before armed police came to her rescue. Emma describes it as one of the most terrifying moments of her life. This incident was a turning point for her, prompting her to travel to Bhutan and become ordained as a Buddhist nun.
Emma, who had studied at Cambridge University, now lives in Whitstable with her family. She spoke with Metro about her journey towards Buddhism and the valuable lessons she has learned. According to Emma, there is a lot that the West can learn from Bhutan, especially their vision of Gross National Happiness. One of the key aspects is how the Bhutanese take care of their minds through their daily lives. They make time for prayer and go on pilgrimages, approaching life in a mindful and deliberate manner.
Although they face the same stresses as everyone else, their mental approach to challenges is something that the West could benefit from. They have a deep understanding of impermanence, which allows them to let go of things and maintain a state of contentment and wisdom. Emma believes that this is a lesson we could all apply in our own lives.
It took Emma years to learn from the Bhutanese. Before becoming a nun, she had a successful career as a senior financial analyst in Hong Kong during the 1990s. Her days were spent analyzing numbers and understanding global markets. However, the robbery in Jakarta made her realize that she could die without making a real difference in the world or connecting with others in a meaningful way.
She remembers the night vividly, opening her hotel door to find a man pointing a gun at her. The fear was overwhelming, but amidst it all, she felt a profound sorrow. She realized that she had never truly loved anyone, and this realization stayed with her long after the event. It planted a seed in her heart, leading her to commit to serving others to the best of her ability.
Becoming a nun was not without its challenges for Emma. She had to take a vow of celibacy and embrace a life of discipline and simplicity. For her, it is a pure and meaningful way to live, but it also means not having a partner to share life's ups and downs. The absence of someone in her corner has been difficult at times, especially because there are few who understand the unique experience of bridging the East and West like she does.
Emma, also known as Lopen Pema Deki, founded a charity called Opening Your Heart to Bhutan, which received royal support from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their visit to Bhutan in 2017. She also wrote a book about her journey, titled "Set Free: A Life-Changing Journey From Banking to Buddhism in Bhutan." Emma's story is a testament to the transformative power of turning towards a more mindful and compassionate way of life, and her experiences in Bhutan have enriched her in ways she never could have imagined.
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