Picture this: Ani Choying Drolma, clad in robes the colour of pomegranate, shaved head and beaming smile, sings with purity in the language of the Nepalese monks; her backdrop, the mighty Mount Everest, Sagarmatha, and the mountains of the Himalayas. Miyolangsangma, the Tibetan Buddhist Goddess of Inexhaustible Giving, perched atop Everest, smiles down upon her.

Picture this: Anh Do returns to Vietnam, his place of birth. The land that had years ago driven his family away. He is now reconnecting in the most positive way possible.

One could ask, “What is it that these two people, one a Nepalese nun, the other an Aussie comedian, “The Happiest Refugee,” are now giving to themselves?” Perhaps a more pertinent question is, “What are they giving the rest of us?” Actually, it’s a number of things:

Humour – both are great story tellers who make people laugh –easily, naturally;
An appreciation of beauty, as we listen to Ani Choying Drolma’s lyrical voice, as we follow Anh Do across the intricate landscape of Vietnam;
A positive radiance shining off their faces;
And moments of clarity.

Listening to ABC radio talkback came a flow of comments about Anh Do’s new travelogue show, Anh Does Vietnam. The program defied the odds and was a rating hit for Channel Seven. What was it that was so appealing? Was it the food? The culture? The landscape? Time and time again the answer was the same; it was Anh Do himself they had sat down to watch.

How do we name their appeal? Can we put a tangible label on them? It is difficult to articulate exactly and yet both these people strike you as having their own sense of Inexhaustible Giving.

Reconnecting with place, reconnecting with self. These are things of value; things we should all spend more time doing. To give ourselves a taste of our own positive radiance.

Ani Choying Drolma – will be touring Australia in November.

And reading Clarity in Time can help you find those moments.