Save a Ghost

How do we practice saving a ghost, when that ghost seems to be everywhere?

In the zen buddhist tradition we have the archetype of the hungry ghost—a being who is often depicted as having a large belly and a teeny-tiny throat and a tongue of fire. The hungry ghost is always wanting, yet never, never satisfied.

Sound familiar?

We all host parts of ourselves that seem to be constantly wanting & never satisfied—often these parts come with shame and perhaps secrecy.

During this dharma talk we explore the archetype of the hungry ghost, and how to turn towards our wanting. We also explore how to practice nourishment and satisfaction. Embracing the hungry ghost with compassionate awareness is an important on-going part of dharma practice.

It is tempting to try to suppress or deny these parts of ourselves, but that doesn’t work and isn’t dharma practice.

Dharma practice invites us to turn towards, embrace, bring curiosity to places of suffering and through that process we find liberation, love—and humility.

This talk ends with the kanromon, a short ceremony and song for embracing the hungry heart.

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