Words, Bridges, and the Buddha

San Francisco Zen Center Dharma Talks

10/09/2024, So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson, dharma talk at City Center. This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple by So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson. Words are powerful, but they can also lead us astray—especially when teachings cross cultures and languages. In this talk, we’ll explore how mistranslations and misunderstandings of Buddhist concepts shape our practice and how we can move beyond intellectualization to a deeper, more direct experience of the Dharma.