The One You Feed La Sarmiento on Suffering to Acceptance
Apr 15, 2022
La Sarmiento, a seasoned practitioner of Vipassana meditation and guiding teacher of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ sanghas, shares powerful insights on moving from suffering to acceptance. They explore the importance of mindfulness in fostering belonging and connection amid differing beliefs. La emphasizes embracing imperfection, being comfortable with discomfort, and nurturing authenticity in teaching. They discuss the need for inclusivity in spiritual spaces and the impact of identity on community dynamics, encouraging deeper connections through open dialogue.
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Connecting Across Differences
- La Sarmiento describes meeting Mary, a Trump supporter, at a Dharma retreat.
- They connected despite differing political beliefs, highlighting the power of open-mindedness.
Early Gender Dissonance
- From a young age, La Sarmiento felt discomfort with traditional gender roles, preferring pants and boys' toys.
- Puberty intensified this feeling, leading to an early understanding of being queer and not fitting neatly into the gender binary.
Coming Out at 38
- La Sarmiento came out as gay to her conservative parents at 38.
- Her parents surprised her by saying they had been waiting for her to come out, showing acceptance and love.