

Reverend angel Kyodo williams: The Great Journey: From Trauma to Zen Priesthood
Sep 18, 2024
Reverend angel Kyodo williams, an ordained Zen priest, writer, and activist, shares her profound journey from trauma to spiritual leadership. She reflects on how childhood abuse shaped her keen observations and compassion. The conversation dives into the healing power of Zen Buddhism, emphasizing self-awareness and empathy. Reverend Angel introduces the concept of 'own belonging' and discusses the importance of connection in social healing. Her insights highlight the cyclical nature of suffering and the role of embodiment in meditation.
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Childhood Abuse Shaped Her Observer Lens
- Reverend angel Kyodo Williams describes being abused as a child by a babysitter and learning to observe people to survive.
- That early vigilance taught her to read incongruence between words and actions and to disappear when needed.
Façades Reflect Survival Strategies
- Williams realized people present façades shaped by survival needs rather than truth.
- That insight made her curious about multiple levels of reality and human behavior.
Finding Zen Through Art And A Book
- She found a Zen circle symbol in an art space and then discovered Suzuki Roshi's Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind.
- The book affirmed her different way of seeing the world and felt like a treasure.