Girl in a Box: Seeking Enlightenment as a Tibetan Buddhist Nun is a memoir of spiritual longing—and the search for an end to suffering.
As a wide-eyed spiritual seeker from Oklahoma, Paldrom believed enlightenment would free her from the messiness of being human—that she could somehow rest in a cloud of bliss. So she took monastic vows, shaved her head, changed her name, and agreed to forgo worldly pleasures.
With vulnerable candor, she recounts her effort to become a stellar nun—at least as she imagined one should be. Her five-year immersion in the paradigm-altering world of a traditional Tibetan Buddhist monastery and retreat center revealed the depth of her commitment. But the path was not what she’d expected.
Both the transcendent experiences and the shattering disillusionments continue to lead her to a deeper understanding:
never lost, already home.
May 12, 2026 · Monkfish Book Publishing
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Media Recognition
Publishers Weekly
“A frank, refreshingly nontraditional take ..."
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Religion News Service
A conversation with Paldrom Catharine Collins about Girl in a Box.
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Lion’s Roar
An excerpt from Girl in a Box will appear in an upcoming issue of Lion’s Roar.
Advance Praise for Girl in a Box
"Deeply engaging and illuminating... gently turning you back to what is already here."
— Joanna Quintrell, Founder and Executive Director, Journey Center Association
“Like a long walk with a dear and wise friend—one who tells her story with the kind of vulnerability that helps you see and tell your own."
— Emily Conway, Writer and spiritual companion
About Paldrom
Paldrom Catharine Collins spent five years in a traditional Tibetan Buddhist monastery, an experience that continues to shape her life and work.
These days, her life is an ongoing practice of opening—of surrendering, as much as possible, to life as it is— moment by moment.
About Girl in a Box
In this video, Paldrom reflects on the path that led to Girl in a Box.