Degna Chikei Levister, Senior Lay Student
Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, Thursday 06/23/2022
From a poem, “Friend”, by an early Buddhist Nun, Mita.
How do we know when we are acting out of our conditioning? Are we always aware of our emotional drivers, our fears? From the Early Buddhist nuns to Master Dogen to our contemporaries, Chikei shares her inspiration to diligently and continuously practice everything in our life (“Don’t waste your suffering.”), be vigilant of our conditioning (“Know thyself.”) and remember to hold ourselves with compassion (“Make everyone a friend, especially ourselves.”).
