October 1, 2024
Homecoming – An Impromptu Poem
– He Zhi Zhang, written in 744, Tang Dynasty
I left my hometown when I was young and came back in my old age.
Although my local accent has not changed, the hair on my temples has turned gray.
When the children in my hometown saw me, no one recognized me.
They smiled and asked me: “Guest, where did you come from?”
Dear Friends,
How have you been this month? This past Friday night, I attended Anu Gupta’s book launch for Breaking Bias, and it was a profound experience. His deep exploration of various biases resonated deeply with me, prompting reflection on my own immigrant journey and my biases surrounding rootedness and stability.
When I arrived in NYC at age 12 from China, my family moved six times within the first three years. I attended fifth grade in Brooklyn, sixth grade in Chinatown, and returned to Brooklyn for seventh and eighth grades. Each school defined graduation years differently, so I graduated three times in four years. This instability continued through high school as my father was trying to find a meaningful way to make a living when he couldn’t speak English and used his education and skills.
The uprooting from a stable and prosperous home in China to an unstable and struggling home in a new country, and the years of alienation and assimilation that followed, instilled in me a deep desire for rootedness, belonging, and financial stability. In college, I pursued East Asian Studies and political science, taking classes in international relations and interning at organizations like Human Rights Watch and Council on Foreign Relations. I dreamed of a career in the U.S. State Department, but I was disheartened to learn that since I was born in China and not in the US, it would prevent me from serving a post in China. Yet being bilingual and bicultural, I would want to be posted in China. This was the first time I would relinquish a career aspiration but not the last.
Home, hometown, familiarity, and belonging always mean so much. Yet, as Buddhism teaches, change is the only constant, and our identities are fluid. There is no inherent fixed identity both externally and internally. This March, I visited extended family in Guangzhou for the first time in a decade. Eager to speak Cantonese in my hometown, I was taken by surprise when many stared at me detachedly and responded back in Mandarin. Turns out as China developed, much like New York, most of the city’s service workers came from distant regions. From cab drivers, to waiters, to hotel concierge, they didn’t know much about my hometown or speak Cantonese. They were migrant workers who had their own uprooting experience and made up almost half of the city’s population. My hometown has been changing also.
I have long come to realize that belonging is a state of mind, and home is wherever you experience that state of mind. It’s not confined to a place or time. It made me reexamine my bias toward rootedness and what it means. As in most things in life, I landed on “both and” and paradoxes. While there is much beauty and depth that comes from being rooted, there is also beauty and growth that comes with wandering and seeing new worlds. We don’t have to choose one path over the other; we can embrace both. Ultimately, belonging resides within our hearts, and when we feel that, we can navigate life’s paradoxes with grace and freedom.
And exploration and transformation will be the core themes of the Soulcentric Midlife course. I’ll lead this course again this November. This is my third time teaching this course and my understanding and approach continue to evolve. If you’re in your 40s or 50s and interested in exploring meaning and purpose in your second half of life, join me and let’s explore together!
A week ago the urban farm staff was teaching our ecodharma class how to save seeds for the next season. And here I am, planning and planting seeds for many new classes for next year, including hikes and walks, cycling meditation trips, urban farm ecodharma, offerings for BIPOC and AAPI community, and a nature weekend retreat! Will share more soon in the upcoming months.
In addition, my friend Sebene is offering her amazing course Ancestors to Elements starting in October. Sebene has been instrumental to my growth in the past few years, as a person and as a teacher. This class examines one of her central teachings – the paradox/fundamental truth that we are not separate AND we are not the same. It uses ancestors & the elements (earth, water, fire, air, and ether) as metaphors and frameworks for how to understand and embody this truth. Every week includes meditation, a lecture & slideshow, journaling & discussion, and music. It will be juicy! Check it out when you have a chance – registration closes on Oct. 4th.
May you bask in the beauty of the fall energy, and take good care of yourself.
Blessings and love,
Lin
Photo: Meditative Garden, The Battery Park, September 2024
Good News Roundup
We are so often inundated by negative news daily. It’s a practice to recognize the positive trends and acts of kindness happening worldwide, helping us develop compassion, equanimity, and resilience. That’s why I’m delighted to introduce the “Good News Roundup,” a dedicated space to celebrate goodness from across the globe!
Kindness to Animals: Squirrels Were Struggling in a Heat Wave so She Made Them a ‘Squirrel Spa’
Kindness to Plants:
Conservation partners and Indigenous communities working together to restore forests in Guatemala
Kindness to Humans: Saved My Life on the Brooklyn Bridge
Kindness to the Planet: Why the era of China’s soaring carbon emissions might be ending
GoFundMe: 2025 -2027 Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leadership Training
Pay it forward: I’ll be joining the next Community Dharma Leadership (CDL7) training at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. This program includes five retreats over two years and costs ~$14,000. Your contribution will help me cover these expenses. No contribution is too small—every donation is deeply appreciated. Thank you for your support!