Action and Contemplation
Since its inception 2,500 years ago, Buddhism has been concerned with social justice. For instance, the Buddha abolished the caste system within his monastic community. And, in a move revolutionary in his time, women were able to ordain and live as free women within their community of nuns.
Today, this legacy continues with Buddhist leaders such as Thich Nhat Hanh and the many others engaged with issues such as climate action, social justice, anti-racism, economic equality, environmental protection, and Indigenous rights. Now, more than ever, there is an urgent need for social action grounded in contemplative wisdom.
Here are a few resources you may find helpful:
Climate Change
The mission of One Earth Sangha is to support humanity in a transformative response to ecological crises based on the insights and practices of the Buddhist tradition. Through its Virtual EcoDharma Center, it inspires, informs, and guides its members in actions intended to end ecological violence.
One Earth Sangha offers EcoSattva training. The EcoSattva training course has been specifically designed to support self-paced and self-scheduled participation, with core video teachings, contemplations, and inquiries. Participate as an individual or member of a small group and then, once a month, join all participants in live gathering to connect with the global community of EcoSattvas-in-training.
Racism
Unwinding Whiteness is an online program initiated by Jeanne Corrigal of the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community. The eight-month group has meetings every 3-5 weeks and provides facilitated and peer support for European heritage/white people to explore and unwind racist conditioning. These affinity groups have been identified as one of the key and powerful actions that the white community can take in this journey.
White Awake is an American online platform focused on popular education for people who are classified as “white”. White Awake offers an online course called Roots Deeper than Whiteness that is designed to help people socially categorized as white build a healthy sense of self rooted in liberating knowledge and practice.
TheWhite Awake site contains many articles that explore how the roots of systemic white supremacy are based in white peoples’ own collective history of multigenerational trauma. Included among the topics are:
Why white peoples’ attempts to “help” Indigenous people usually do more harm than good.
The vast and beautiful world of Indigenous Europe.
A Jewish woman reflects on empathy and privilege in an interdependent world.