Who I Am Right Now
Summary
A speaker reflects on practicing Zen amidst personal and global disruption, using the parable of the burning house from the Lotus Sutra to illustrate how we often fail to recognize our own suffering. Drawing on a recent move and memories of Jesuit novice training, the speaker explores how possessions anchor us to outdated stories and future identities. The talk emphasizes that Zen practice is not an escape from chaos but a way to sit with uncertainty and disorientation. Ultimately, it encourages turning toward others in their pain rather than seeking personal relief, embodying the bodhisatt…
Topics discussed
Welcome, introductions, and gratitude to the sangha
Living in the midst of global disruption and crisis
Personal dysregulation and possessive thinking about disruption
The Lotus Sutra parable of the burning house
Turning the lamp inward and acknowledging privilege
Moving house and memories of Jesuit novice training
Sorting possessions: letting go of past and future selves
Connecting the burning house parable to personal disruption
Zen practice as sitting with the shifting ground
Bodhisattva response: meeting others in their suffering
Closing remarks and donation information
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