by Zenju | Jul 27, 2014 | dharma-notes
Once a student asked a teacher at a retreat for people of color, “Can racism and other forms of oppression cease to exist?” The teacher nearly shouted, “Yes, racism will one day cease to exist.” My mouth flew open. Not at what the teacher said but at my own inner...
by Zenju | Apr 6, 2014 | dharma-notes
When I entered the path of Dharma, I came with a collective sense of suffering. I had been raised in a black church in which the members were gathered not only for religious purposes but to heal from the suffering of systemic oppression. They were there because they...
by Zenju | Mar 3, 2014 | Uncategorized
If you missed joining Zenju Earthlyn Manuel at San Francisco Zen Center on February 19th, you can listen to the podcast. Go to: https://zenju.org/videoaudio/ and scroll to Audio to The First Thing You Do When You Wake Up Take what is helpful and leave the...
by Zenju | Feb 10, 2014 | dharma-notes
My father, who was sixty-years older than me, used to sit and stare off into space quite often. It seemed as though he would stop blinking. As a child I would ask, “Daddy, what are you thinking about?” He would drop his head, then look at me and say with...
by Zenju | Nov 4, 2013 | dharma-notes
(calligraphy by Alain2) At times in my life I sought out this particular Seer when I was confused about situations in my life. Every time I would go to her house she would say in a soft voice, “You will experience many disappointments in the next months.”...
by Zenju | Oct 4, 2013 | dharma-notes
As I head towards my 61st birthday on October 31st, I have been stripped of all I know myself to be. I see clearer than ever before the core of my life. I’m not sure if this is what occurs at this age because there is not much time or energy to become this or...
