This program is brought to you by sounds true.com.

At sounds true.com you can find hundreds of downloadable audio

learning programs, plus books, music, videos, and online courses, and events.

At sounds true.com, we think of ourselves

as a trusted partner on the spiritual journey,

offering diverse, in-depth, and life-changing wisdom.

Sounds True.com, many voices, one journey. You're listening to Insights at the Edge. Today my guest is Zenju Earthland Manuel.

Zenju is an author and ordained Zen Buddhist priest. She combines Zen meditation, intuitive knowing, and indigenous wisdom in a path of liberation.

She applies spiritual teachings to our lived experiences in the context of race, sexuality, and gender, and at the same time holds these experiences as gateways to absolute freedom.

After seven years of following Buddha's teachings,

a lucid spiritual dream led to the creation of the Black Angel cards, 36 oracle cards and messages which are being used around the world as a tool to help access one's true nature and to ease suffering.

In her recent book, The Way of Tenderness,

awakening through race, sexuality, and gender, she reveals that dry wisdom alone is not sufficient to heal the wounds of the marginalized.

An effective practice must embrace the tenderness found where conventional reality and emptiness intersect.

In this episode of Insights at the Edge,

Zenju and I spoke about her experience of racism within

darma practice communities and what she calls the fiery

gateways that she had to walk through as part of her spiritual journey. We also talked about how oneness does not mean

sameness, and the importance of acknowledging our differences, even as we simultaneously recognize our unity.

And we talked about the different levels of tenderness and what Zenju means by complete or liberated tenderness.

Here's my conversation with Zenju Earthland Manuel. begin just by welcoming you and thanking you for making the time for this conversation

with me and what sounds true. Thank you. Thank you. The subtitle of your book, The Way of Tenderness is Awakening Through race, sexuality, and gender.

...