The following talk was given at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California.

Please visit our website at adioderma.org.

Good evening.

Welcome, welcome.

So I'd like to start us off tonight with a poem, but it's not so uncommon to be read by Dharman teachers.

And then I like to take a theme that we, from the poem and build on it.

So perhaps you've heard this before.

The poem is called autobiography in five short chapters by Portia Nelson.

Autobiography in five short chapters by Portia Nelson. Autobiography in five short chapters by Portia Nelson. Chapter 1.

I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk I fall in. I'm lost. I'm helpless. It isn't my fault. It takes me forever to find a way out.

Chapter 2. I walk down the same street. There's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don't see it. I fall in again. I can't believe I'm in the same place, but it isn't my fault. It still takes a long time to get out. Chapter 3. I walk down the

same street. There's a deep hole on the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in. It's a habit. My eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately.

Chapter 4. I get out immediately.

Chapter 4.

I walk down the same street.

There's a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

Chapter 5.

I walk down another street.

This is a way that, just pointing to you, right,

there's this deep hole in the sidewalk,

and these are different relationships to it.

...