Waking up to Racism I am often asked when talking about racism in Buddhist circles to be specific, give examples. In part, this longing emerges from the reluctance of white people in power to accept, and see clearly by opening their eyes, that white supremacy informs the shaping of Buddhist communities, individual interactions, publications, etc.… Read More Western Buddhism is Saturated with White Supremacy
Next on my list of readings on foundational Buddhism is Daniel Ingram’s Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha. Ingram calls it “hardcore dharma” of the “Interdependent Universe.” This book is free as a PDF on the web: https://egagedbuddhism.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/68d43-1347785055665.pdf I’m also reading Surya Das’ Awakening the Buddha Within, Eight Steps to Enlightenment. I really connected with Surya Das in… Read More Daniel Ingram—Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha
In response to this NEB email of last week, please find below a message from the Grand Chief Serge Simon of the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake addressed to all of the Indigenous intervenors in this NEB Energy East process. —- She:kon Nation leaders and representatives, I wanted to take this opportunity to reach out to… Read More Grand Chief Serge ‘Otsi’ Simon on NEB Review of Energy East Pipeline
I went to see Krishna Das and the Kirtan Wallah tour at St. Mary’s University yesterday. It was a thrilling musical and spiritual event. At the start of the concert, tears welled up and I started to cry. So that was completely unexpected. I cried through the first two kirtans. I thought I would cry through the whole… Read More Krishna Das Comes to Halifax
http://whiteawake.org/waking-up-to-race/ White Awake is a mindfulness-based program, founded by Eleanor Hancock, to become aware of racism and white privilege and become capable of dismantling racism. The following are the foundations of understanding white privilege and institutional racism. “When something has come to be, we have to acknowledge its presence and look deeply into its nature. When… Read More White Awake: Waking up to Race
The Whole of the Spiritual Life Two nuns, Thubten Chodron and Ayya Tathaaloka, discuss the vital importance of friendship. Venerable Thubten Chodron (left) and Ayya Tathaaloka (right) speak at Sravasti Abbey in Newport, Washington. In the popular imagination the Buddhist monastic is solitary. Hours spent studying, chanting, and meditating leave scant time for that most… Read More Friendship: The Whole of the Spiritual Life, Pt. 2
The Whole Earth is My True Body: Buddhists March in Rome for Climate Justice Thousands of faith-based and environmental activists descended on St. Peter’s Square last Sunday in Rome, showing strength in diversity in the wake of the Pope’s encyclical on climate change. Pope Francis welcomed the Una Terra, Una Famiglia (One Earth, One Family) marchers during… Read More Buddhists in Rome for Climate Justice
