Embodying Our Truth: The Perfection of Queer Wisdom - Liên Shutt

Rev. Liên Shutt explores how the Buddhist path of wisdom can help us fully celebrate and embody our identities as queer people. The concept of prajna (wisdom) is not an abstract theory, but as an interactive way of being that honors our lived experiences. Liên breaks down the traditional three levels of wisdom and maps them onto the queer journey, showing how we move from simply seeking information about our identities to reflecting on our shared stories and, finally, to an embodied presence. The "perfection of wisdom" is found in how we carry ourselves—without defensiveness or shame—fully alive in the moment and comfortable in our own skin.Drawing on her own history—from navigating the "cluelessness" of her youth to finding belonging in the queer Vietnamese community of the Bay Area—she describes the transition from being an "object" defined by society to reclaiming oneself as a "subject". Liên emphasizes that the heart of meditation practice is discernment, which allows us to recognize the stories we tell ourselves and choose a path of kindness instead. She invites listeners to view their queerness as a gateway to understanding the interdependence of all things, highlighting several key frameworks for this development:Three Levels of Wisdom:Learning/Knowledge: Absorbing information and searching for representation.Reflection: Processing experience through shared coming-out stories, community symbols, and discussion.Meditation (Bhavana): Developing an "embodied wisdom" that allows one to live fully and authentically without apologies.Subjectivity and Value: Moving beyond the internalized idea that being "different" is bad, and instead realizing that all phenomena—including ourselves—are worthy and valuable subjects.Non-Egocentric Awareness: Practicing a "looseness" of self where our queerness is seen as both deeply personal and part of a larger, collective whole.Discernment as a Tool: Using mindfulness to notice when we are becoming reactive and instead consciously "turning toward" kindness and friendliness______________ Liên Shutt (she/they) is a priest lineage holder in the Shunryu Suzuki tradition. Born to a Buddhist family in Vietnam, she received her meditation training in the Insight and Soto Zen traditions in the U.S., Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam. She was a founding member of the Buddhists of Color in 1998 and currently is the guiding teacher of Access to Zen, an inclusive, anti-oppression sangha and non-profit in the SF Bay Area. She lives on Ohlone land, currently called Oakland, with her partner, exploring waterways and forests as often as they can. Visit https://accesstozen.org/ for ways to connect and practice together. ______________  To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/There you can:   Donate  Learn how to participate live  Find our schedule of upcoming speakers  Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy over 900 recorded talks dating back to 1995CREDITSAudio Production: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter