At 90, Ratnasuri is far and away the oldest and most distinguished member of the resident community at Taraloka Buddhist Retreat Centre for Women, in Shropshire, UK.

To mark her 90th birthday, her friends published a book of her poetry, Shoes Full of Butterflies, which was launched at the recent UK and Ireland Area Order Weekend for Women, held at Taraloka earlier this month.

In this 20-minute video from Clear Vision, Varasahaya launches the book and talks to Ratnasuri about her extraordinary life, with readings by Dassini, Subhadramati, Kulajalini, Maitreyi, Sagarasri and Padmasara.

You can order Shoes Full of Butterflies from Varasahaya at £5.00 plus postage.

Ordained in 1983, Ratnasuri is a founder member of Taraloka, having moved there in 1985 at the start of the project. As one of the earliest women preceptors in our Order she conducted the first women's ordinations in India. In her retirement she enjoys poetry, amongst many other interests.

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