Practicing with Habit Energies: Excerpts from A2Z Kindness Retreat with Rev. Liên Shutt

Excerpts from Dharma talk on Day 2 of Access to Zen's (A2Z) Kindness of the Ancestors Retreat. Rev. Liên draws the connection between Kind, or Loving, Speech and the avowal of "all my ancient karma" in Jukai, the Lay Precepts ceremony. In this talk, she give a brief overview of karma (or "habit tendencies" or "habit energies" are ways Rev. frames them) and how to work with sense desire and ill-will from the 5 Hindrances. Relatable, real-life examples on how to recognize and practice with sensual desire and ill-will when they impeded us from being present fully are shared.