“What Do You Call the World?” – Practicing with the Expanding and Contracting of our Life of Care: Audio Dharma Talk by Sarah Dōjin Emerson (7/11/2026)

Recorded on July 11, 2026, at Boundless Mind Temple in Brooklyn, NY Sarah Sensei begins with an invitation to become aware of one’s body, asks those present, “What do you want or need that brought you here?”, and collects individuals’ responses.  Sarah’s dharma talk considers the koan “Dizang Planting the Fields” (The Book of Serenity, Case 12), in which Xiushan asks, “What are you doing in the world?”, and Dizang responds, “What do you call the world?” Sarah reflects on the practices of awareness of, and acceptance of responsibility for, our interconnectedness with all that is our world at each moment, including harm that has occurred. She discusses, in particular, her experience as a trans-racially adoptive parent. This podcast includes the question and response portion of the talk, with express permission of the questioner. The asker describes grappling with remorse over experiences in his youth as a student at an Israeli yeshiva in the occupied territories. Sarah’s response acknowledges the pain that arises from holding the complexity of being a human being who is part of this world, and how this pain belongs in our practice as a sangha, so that we might hold it together. The BZC Podcast is offered free of charge and made possible by the donations we receive. If these teachings have benefited your life, please consider supporting the program with a donation (suggested $2-7/episode, or whatever feels right for you!). You can donate to Brooklyn Zen Center at brooklynzen.org under ‘Giving.’ Thank you for your generosity!