Getting Beyond Fear and The Illusion of Differences

Pine Wind Zen Community Audio

Getting Beyond Fear & The Illusion of Differences initiative arises directly from the Great Bodhisattva Vows: to alleviate the suffering of every human being; to put an end to all self-serving desires; to profoundly study and realize the Dharma; and to perfectly manifest this real truth in every aspect of our lives. Tonight we will examine how the Dharma can illuminate the persistent forms of bias that shape our experience of the world. The Dharma teaches that all beings are equal, and yet each day we encounter injustice, hatred, and violence that stem from a sense of self and other as divided and unequal. Transformation emerges from cultivating and nurturing awareness in every moment of our lives. When we clearly see how our preconceived notions and deep conditionings are functioning in our relationships with others, we can begin to dissolve the boundaries that we create between ourselves and others. Then we can relate to each other from the recognition that all beings, regardless of our apparent differences, share the same essential nature, all beings possess "Basic Goodness".