By Naoko and Miriam
Buddhism says there are “two truths” to our experience - we are individuals who are socially located with particular backgrounds and identities, and at the same time there is the nature of all phenomena, called non-self or interdependence.
This is what we are referring to as the paradox of identity: on the relative level, we experience the world through separate identities, while on the ultimate level, we are none of these identities. A paradox is when (at least) two issues that appear opposite, coexist. And these two perspectives - ultimate and relative - definitely co-exist. In fact, they are the same teaching.
For Naoko, as an Asian woman, and Miriam, as a white queer woman, both living in the United States, we have experienced our share of identity-based aggression. Buddhist teachings in the West tend to focus on inner transformation over social transformation, and we have both benefited from that work. However, as Reverend angel Kyodo williams Sensei says, “Without inner change there can be no outer change. Without collective change, no change matters.” This focus on inner transformation can cause two problems: 1. Inadvertently blame individuals for the suffering they experience from oppression and 2. Keep individuals and communities unaware of the power of our potential for social change. Individuals are a mirror, a microcosm of what’s out in the world; we carry systemic belief systems inside of us. We can change that impact inside us, but change must be collective to alter the systemic level.
It is true that the two of us, along with all humans, are equal in the eyes of suffering; suffering is a universal experience. However, it is also true that our individually racialized and gendered experiences have affected us deeply, and impact how we receive and interpret dharma teachings. The detrimental impacts of oppression should not be blamed on those being oppressed; rather, we need to do collective work to change oppressive systems. In Karuna Training, we talk about “intrinsic health,” which applies to individuals and all relationships, including institutions. In other words, we can work together to uncover the intrinsic health of society.
The three poisons of clinging to (passion), pushing away (aggression), and dismissing (ignorance) reality are key to suffering. Acknowledging our experience as a valid aspect of reality isn’t clinging; it’s discriminating awareness wisdom. We can both acknowledge that clinging to any identity at any level can cause suffering and, at the same time, recognize that bypassing identity to try to come to some “truer form of emptiness” also causes suffering.
These are just some of the topics we will dive into together during our live event on August 11. Join us for this two-hour introduction to contemplative psychology, through a discussion and practice around the paradoxical two truths of our identities.