A Buddhist Nun and a Catholic Priest walk into …

an auditorium in L.A. and it’s awesome.

Sounds True produced this gathering with world-renowned Tibetan Buddhist teacher, Pema Chödrön, Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, and moderated by Jose Arellano Co-director of Case Management & Navigation for Homeboy Industries.

The theme was cultivating courage in difficult times. Both of these folks are my beloved teachers so I’m not surprised that two people from very different religions can be such good friends with deeply held beliefs in common. And they are hilarious. So are the men and women from Homeboy who got up to speak a little about their experiences.

I’ve watched this nearly 2-hour presentation I don’t know how many times. I came upon it during one of the most difficult times in my life (last fall) and it brought me to tears every time. Cathartic heart-opening-truth-embracing tears. So yeah, the good kind.

If you are feeling overwhelmed and distanced during our current storm of multiple storms, I invite you into this space to be reminded of the transformational power of kinship, compassion, and our innate and unshakeable goodness.

I ❤️ Pema! When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times is life changing and worth reading over and over.

I ❤️ Father G! His first book, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion was life changing to me. Fr. G offers the best of Catholic beliefs without the shadow of the dogma and patriarchy.

Homeboy Industries provides paths to healing for formerly gang involved and previously incarcerated men and women so they can redirect their lives and become contributing members of society. With the belief that free access to resources such as mental health services, educational classes, and mentorship provides a more holistic approach to reentry, Homeboy Industries helps its clients own their pasts and transform their futures.