When I asked my first Zen teacher about becoming a monk, he said, “Monasteries are places for desperate people.” Many of us are drawn to the spiritual path because of the suffering we experience as the result of early-life trauma, be it childhood abuse or neglect, life-threatening experiences, or repeated situations where our physical or emotional survival or integrity seem to be at stake.

Compared with the ordinary range of painful life experiences, trauma has a unique impact on the psyche and the nervous system that can complicate the awakening process and leave us feeling especially frightened, isolated, or unintegrated. 

In this satsang, we’ll explore how to relate to the effect our trauma continues to have on our lives, in the context of awakening. Includes teachings, guided meditation, and dialogue.

To register, visit opencirclecenter.org/online-events-2/.