Introduction (Better late than never!)
Nima is a Tibetan nun. She is now forty-eight. Although childless, she maintains close with her surviving family. Her father was a ritualist before her, and her mother was successful in the art of healing, where Nima has a strong interest, though she is primarily a ritualist. Nima incorporates the art of healing into her ritualistic practices quite often. Although she predominantly resides in a cave-type dwelling, Nima often leaves to be with her fellow practicers in the nearby nunnery or with her brother in a close by village, to consult those in need of her spiritual help, or to aid those in rituals pertaining to protection and healing.
Nima was born in a far away village and was raised by her mother and father, but upon the untimely death of her father, was also raised in part by her older brother, who is also a ritualist. Through her upbringing, Nima gained experience in ritualistic practices, as she often spent many days with her brother while he studied before he joined a monastery in another village. Nima also gained a lot of knowledge in healing practices through her mother, who regularly had visitors to their home, who required healing or protection from various evils. In her learning, Nima learned the significance of protective amulets and talismans, and currently keeps many in her home. She also paints murals of protective symbols in her cave, which her mother also taught her. Upon the death of her mother when she was thirty, Nima was left in a state of confusion, and was unsure of her desire to continue pursuing a spiritual lifestyle. Nima then spent time travelling, learning of various cultures in the area, while also studying alternative medicine, which closely related to the healing her mother practiced.
After many years of travel, and not staying in one place for too long, Nima grew tired of the lack of stability in her life. She had lost contact with her brother, who was now a senior in the monastery in which he lived, and had wanted to again find meaning in her life. Around this time, Nima was introduced to a lama in a small village in the Himalayans, while performing healing rituals using herbs and natural remedies for the protection of expectant mothers. The lama inspired her to reach back to her roots and brought her to a small nunnery in a village near the area where she was raised, and also not far from the residence of her brother. After a few months of reluctance, Nima joined the nunnery, where she slowly advanced into becoming a ritualistic adept, which she discovered was her true calling. Her largest influence in her learning of ritual was a lama who had brought her there and frequented the nunnery, often staying there to share his teachings with her and others. Upon his death, Nima left on a pilgrimage to find inner peace, as the deaths of her parents and the lama who had taught her so much had left her sad and again confused. On this pilgrimage, Nima incorporated her understanding of healing with ritual practices, with a specialty in protective practices.
Upon her return to the village where the lama had initially brought her, Nima moved to a nearby cave on the outskirts of the village. Although often displaying introverted behaviour, Nima has a great desire to help those in her community by providing other members of her community with rituals or protective amulets, talismans, and charms. Nima merely resides in this cave as a means of furthering her spiritual development, without the distractions of luxury. In this choice of lifestyle, Nima is often alone in her practice, which she believes allows her to truly better herself with the hope of true enlightenment.
Just the other day, Nima was made aware of the possibility of an upcoming hailstorm. Nima purchased an amulet, with the hopes of protection of her home. She also painted a mural of protection in her cave, and also wears protective amulets regularly, to protect herself should her home be destroyed. Nima wears a mandala, blessed by the lama who taught her so much as a young woman, tucked under her robes. Nima was worried that her amulets would not be enough protection, so she decided to travel to Deer Park to acquire some, and though the trip to Deer Park was tougher than planned, she decided to seek refuge with her brother during the hailstorm, which had begun during her travels. Upon meeting her brother at the monastery where he lives, she proceeded to chant mantras and meditate, while continuously praying for the safety of her fellow community members, those at the monastery, and for her home.
