North American Buddhist Alliance

3/20 Webinar: Peace and Peace Building
2019-03-22 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
RSVP today for Peace and Peace Building: through the lens of Buddhist social action: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/75fc205f22b69ae4dc2040ba88984b7b.

Block // Build // Be: a Path to Collective Liberation

March 20, 2018 starting 11 AM PST / 2 PM EST with Katie Loncke and LiZhen Wang, Buddhist Peace Fellowship, their special guest Shubha Bala.

The Dharma is a path of freedom, not just for each of us individually, but for all of us collectively.

Throughout the Buddha's teachings, we may find signposts guiding us toward liberation, such as the Bodhisattva vows,
the first of which is the promise to liberate all sentient beings, innumerable as we are.
Or in the Karaniya Metta Sutta: The Buddha's Words on Loving-kindness, the Buddha says,
"Even as a mother protects with her life her child, her only child,
so with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings, radiating kindness over the entire world."

If collective liberation is our north star, how then do we get there?

At Buddhist Peace Fellowship, we follow the Block // Build // Be model as our journey guide:

We vow to Block harm and oppression.
We strive to Build inspiring alternatives.
We commit to Being in alignment with the values we hold dear.

We need all three of these strategies for change to happen -- Block Build and Be -- and we’re interested in finding ways they can support each other, not be in opposition.

In this webinar, we will explore contemporary examples of how BPF-ers and other Buddhists are organizing for racial justice, invoking all three energies of Block Build and Be:

Buddhists applying nonviolent direct actions to stop police militarization
Diasporic Asians decolonizing sangha spaces
Buddhists in the US working in solidarity with indigenous-led campaigns for sovereignty.

Breaking it down through the Block Build Be lens, we'll examine how our spiritual practice can support us in building peace in the world,
and we'll get rigorous about putting our dharma into action.

Webinar registration here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/75fc205f22b69ae4dc2040ba88984b7b

Buddhists for Racial Justice Call for All: Awakening Together
2019-02-19 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Next Unified Racial Justice Call: May 21st

The next POC Quarterly racial justice calls open will be 5/21/19, starting 11 AM PST.
Ann Uyeda and NABA's racial justice co-facilitators will lead this call to explore Larry Yang's book Awakening Together: The Spiritual Practice of Inclusivity and Community.
From the Buddha's teachings of interdependence, our life experiences and practice, we know that liberation is a collective process. My awakening is tied to your awakening regardless. At the same time, we know that liberation and awakening do not come from bypassing the profound impacts of systemic oppression, power, and privilege on our interpersonal and collective relationships. How then do we, in Larry Yang's wise words, "embrace diverse identities and experiences within our spiritual communities, building sanghas that make good on the promise of liberation for everyone" while also working towards a world based on mutual respect, care, and appreciation rather than hierarchy and division?
Please read up to chapter 1 or more in preparation for this call and make notes on any content that particularly inspired questions or insights for you. These pages in the earlier part of the book are available via Kindle store/app or via Google preview.
We would love it if you can commit to being on the entire call so that everyone may be fully immersed, though we understand you have busy lives and may not have two full hours on Feb 19th, so just come and go as unobtrusively as you can.
RSVP Here for Quarterly Calls in 2019
Racial Justice Calls Open to All
11 AM - 1 PM PST / 2 - 4 PM EST

Nov. 20: Joint Buddhists for Racial Justice Call
2018-11-20 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Quarterly racial justice calls open to all. Looking forward to joint learning, practicing, and taking of action based on the Dharma of impartiality.
For November 20th, both POC and white facilitators will lead the call, inviting into query about internal struggles and external best practices.
We will use the East Bay Meditation Agreement for Multicultural Interactions in general: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/diversity/
And for deepened conversation, Dr. Mark Jones's Hear, See, and Love Guidelines
sourced from His Holiness the Dalai Lama: "Everyone needs and wants to be heard, seen, and loved."
1. To hear: paraphrase, summarize in your own words.
2. To see:
a. ask for the stories behind his/her/their emotions.
b. watch for signs of nuggets (i.e., "more to the story").
c. verify with your conversation partner if you're understanding right.
3. To show love: demonstrate empathy and interest in core values and deeper meaning.
We would love it if you can commit to being on the entire call so that everyone may be fully immersed,
though we understand you have busy lives and may not have two hours on November 20th, so just come and go as unobstrusively as you can.
Register here for 2018 & 2019 calls:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/c65d218977ab5468dc2040ba88984b7b
--
A truly diverse group of Buddhists committed to anti-racism joined NABA's last call on Sept. 18 led by the POCs.
Here are some comments from our hopeful participants:
“AMAZING! Thanks so much.”
“Thank you, so much.”
“Yes, yes, yes...”
“Thank you so much. So grateful!”
“All good questions”
“How to get others to start internal work.”
“I would love to be part of the group.”
“It was wonderful to be on yesterday's NABA call with all of you. After the call ended, I could feel a renewed sense of energy for my dharma work!”
“Building safe enough sanghas can happen!”
“I am grateful to this group and to the multiracial call we just had with the POC group. I felt growth, hope and heart opening after the call.”
Watch for follow-up action items that resulted from this call!
RSVP Here for Quarterly 2018 & 2019
Racial Justice Calls Open to All
11 AM - 1 PM PST / 2 - 4 PM EST

On Inclusion! A Buddhist Intrafaith Gathering
2018-10-31 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Toronto) | Toronto, Canada
On Inclusion! NABA's gathering for Buddhists across traditions. Also a pre-Parliament of the World's Religions event in Toronto, Canada.
All Buddhists in Toronto on this day, whether attending the Parliament of the World's Religions or not the next day are welcome. This day-long conference is a blessed opportunity to connect with Buddhists from diverse backgrounds and introduce to one another issues especially pertinent to the North American region.
Mark your calendar for October 31st, Wednesday, 10 AM to 5 PM Toronto time.
Lunch is on your own around University of Toronto's St. George campus.
https://ueat.utoronto.ca/campus-locations/
Debate Room, Upstairs of Hart House, 7 Hart House Cir, Toronto, ON M5S 3H3, Canada
http://harthouse.ca/large-rooms/#debate
Please RSVP and show your support here: https://naba-on-inclusion.eventbrite.com

"Beyond Identity" - race, class, power ... and winning the world we need
2018-06-23 17:00 - 2018-07-01 00:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Online Workshop Series presented by White Awake
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-identity-online-workshop-series-tickets-45068768901
Facilitators: Eleanor Hancock and Andy Banks

Three sessions: May 26, June 9, and June 23 (Saturdays)

Each session: 3-5pm ET / 12-2pm PT

$70 for whole series

No one is turned away for lack of funds.

Live sessions will be held as video conferences via Zoom

Sessions will be recorded and shared with participants

White Awake is a nonprofit organization. If you would like to make a donation above and beyond the cost of your ticket, you can do so here.

Questions, or to request a scholarship, write us at: info@whiteawake.org

“If their strategy is to divide, ours has to be to unite.” - Andy Banks, labor organizer
Have you ever wondered just what it would take to end white supremacy? You are showing up as an ally in anti-racist struggle, you are doing your part to dismantle your socialization as a white person … but is it enough? What are our long term goals, and are we taking the steps we need to get there?
Forged in the cauldron of the 13 colonies and soon to be United States, white supremacy redirected centuries of resistance by European peasants and laborers to economic exploitation by a small ruling class, effectively paving the way for capitalism as we know it today. We are left with the ravages of racism, genocide, colonialism and imperialism, consuming our lives and the natural world in order to further consolidate economic power in the hands of a very small number of people.
It is this base of economic power that has to be disrupted and replaced if we are ever to escape the devastation and build the world we need. And yet many people who enter social justice spaces are met not with a broad analysis of capitalism and power, but rather a list of rules and a tight control of interpersonal interaction that can be stifling or even harmful. While understanding and correcting how we have been socialized is important, a rigid focus on identity and “right and wrong” ways of acting will not build the collective base of power necessary to topple something as powerful as global capitalism, complete with national armies and private mercenaries to protect the interests of a few and maintain the horrific, white supremacist agenda that is enmeshed within it.
This workshop series focuses specifically on the relationship between racism and capitalism. The goal is to help participants develop a strong political and historical analysis that can direct our energy into social movement spaces that are focused not on infighting or trying to “get it right,” or even forcing small improvements to the the current social/economic order, but on a complete and radical change. Change that takes us beyond what may seem possible, all the way to what we need.
In this workshop series, White Awake Director Eleanor Hancock and long time labor organizer Andy Banks will help participants:

Strengthen your understanding of the relationship between capitalism and white supremacy
Learn principles of organizing around solidarity (mutual self interest as opposed to guilt or obligation) that can make it easier to talk to other white people about social change and provide a solid foundation for multiracial, coalition work
Fortify yourself against shame, blame, and coercive tactics sometimes used in dogmatic social justice spaces
Apply an analysis of white racial socialization within a broad vision of radical social change
Reflect on People’s Platforms as an organizing tool to help win “the world we need” - one where the economy and other social systems are based not on extraction and exploitation, but on care for each another and the planet

No one is an expert. We hope to learn and grow together!

White Awake focuses its work on the education and transformation of people who are socialized and racially categorized as “white,” and sometimes holds white caucus spaces. This series is explicitly open to anyone who is interested in the topic and comfortable with a focus on white identity in a larger political context.

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Date and Time

Sat, May 26, 2018, 3:00 PM –
Sat, Jun 23, 2018, 5:00 PM EDT
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Refund Policy

Refunds up to 1 day before event

Organizer: White Awake
Organizer of "Beyond Identity" online workshop series

White Awake combats white supremacy by focusing on educational resources and spiritual practices designed to facilitate white people’s engagement in the creation of a just and sustainable society.

Organizer Profile Contact

Block Build Be 2018
2018-06-21 00:00 - 2018-06-24 00:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
http://www.buddhistpeacefellowship.org/bbb-2018/
Applications Now Open: Block Build Be 2018

Do you get down at the intersection of social justice and Buddhism? Looking to build community with other folks who feel the same? Join BPF in summer 2018, celebrating our 40-year anniversary bridging spiritual and social liberation.
BLOCK harm and oppression.
BUILD inspiring alternatives.
BE in alignment with dharma — spiritual values of wisdom, compassion, and freedom.
Apply today for our Annual Block, Build, Be Leadership Retreat! To continue combining our superpowers for love and justice, BPF is assembling a select, three-day gathering in Northern California on June 21 – 24th, 2018.
This retreat of 35 people fills up quickly with a LONG waiting list, so apply soon!
Apply Here
Applications due by March 9th

ABOUT THE BLOCK BUILD BE RETREAT
Please note that this is not a silent meditation retreat or intensive Buddhist study. Rather, it’s a chance to practice #MakingRefuge together, in the words of BBB alum Ed Ng. Sometimes this is quiet, and sometimes it is loud! We are a multi-lineage crew and welcome folks from many traditions — Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana, all their branches, and more. Some of us were raised with Buddhism, some have been studying and practicing for years, others are brand-new to Buddhist teachings or meditation, and still others identify equally or more closely with other spiritual traditions.
Coming from all these streams, we’ll sit and swim, plot and play, connect, reflect, and rejoice together in gorgeous Petaluma this summer as we examine what each of us offers — Blocking, Building, and Being — at the intersection of Buddhism and social justice. Our days together will include

Exploring the Block Build Be framework
Investigating how wisdom (Buddhist and otherwise) can support us in social movements
Sharing our hopes and inspirations, holding space for our challenges and frustrations

This retreat is deeply interactive. Together, we will explore the questions tugging most strongly at our hearts, engage in collective deep inquiry about our social change work, and draw upon the wisdom of the dharma to support us in meeting the issues of our times.
This retreat is facilitated by committed dharma practitioners, some of whom have studied or received transmission to teach Buddhist wisdom. However, it is not designed as a dharma teaching retreat, and we want to emphasize that it is open to people of all faiths, lineages, and beliefs.
The retreat will begin Thursday, June 21st in Richmond, California. We will caravan to Walker Creek Ranch, and will conclude the retreat at Sunday, June 24th.
LODGING & FOOD OPTIONS

“From each according to ability, to each according to need.”

We are committed to making this retreat hella accessible and fantastic — more and more every year! Our host Walker Creek Ranch has wheelchair-accessible, low-scent facilities with vegan and vegetarian food options, as well as other dietary options according to your needs.
For the health and safety of fellow BPFers with chemical sensitivities, we ask that you please arrive and remain fragrance-free throughout the weekend. Here’s more on how to become fragrance free.
4 DAYS, 3 NIGHTS

You can choose among 3 lodging packages for the 4-day, 3-night stay. (Prices include all meals for the weekend.)
CAMPING: $375
DORM ROOMS: $525
(DORM ROOMS w/ your own linens & blanket: $475)
SEMI-PRIVATE: $595
In our efforts to stay consistent with anti-capitalist, sharing-based values, we will ask for contributions on a sliding scale according to what you can afford to offer. Full and partial scholarships are available for any of the lodging packages, and some assistance may also be available for travel.
The Application Form has more information about how to offer or request financial assistance or other supportive magic. We’re happy to try to find creative solutions so don’t be shy if there’s something you need. <3
3 STEPS TO REGISTER

1. Complete Application Form
Your application form will let us know more about you, and about your needs and preferences for the retreat — including lodging selections, dietary needs, accessibility, travel scholarships, and all that jazz.
Apply Here
Applications due by March 9th
2. If Accepted, Pay Deposit ($60)
Once you apply, please wait patiently to hear from us about whether you’re accepted. We’re doing our best to respond to everyone speedily! If you are accepted into the retreat (likely by March 30th), we will be in touch and work out your registration fees.
To hold your place at the retreat, you’ll be asked to pay a $60 deposit, which goes toward your meals and lodging. The deposit is non-refundable, so please do not pay the deposit until you have heard from us that you are accepted into the retreat. If you are not financially able to pay this deposit, please email lizhen@bpf.org to talk about waiving it.
3. Pay Balance (Due May 1, 2018)
Once your deposit is confirmed, complete your registration by paying your remaining balance by May 1st.

We hope this retreat will leave you feeling inspired and ready to renew your great offerings, personal and political, creative and radiant, in a web of radical dharma friends who have your back.

Aware of the unnecessary suffering
Caused by racism, sexism, ableism, war,
economic exploitation, imperialism,
and other forms of systemic oppression,
We strive to bridge our practice in the Buddhadharma
with our work in the world
To further collective liberation for all beings.
As buddhists, we do not seek state power
or religious leadership within mass movements.
Instead, we want to hone and improve our contributions
(individual and collective)
to social movements as they arise and evolve.

*Block Build Be is an annual leadership retreat coordinated by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, designed to gather leaders working at the intersection of Buddhism and social justice. Together, we explore the questions tugging most strongly at our hearts, engage in collective deep inquiry about our social change work, and draw upon the wisdom of the dharma to support us in meeting the issues of our times.

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A People of Color Meditation Retreat
2018-05-24 00:00 - 2018-05-28 00:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Windhorse Hill Center Retreat
Mindfulness Meditation & Community, May 24-28
https://engagedmindfulness.org/events/poc/

Sanctuary Buddhists and Activists in Solidarity
2018-04-13 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Buddhist Church of Oakland
Buddhist Peace Fellowship presents: Sanctuary: Buddhists and Activists in Solidarity An evening of dialogue between Buddhist teacher Rev. Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, and grassroots leader Eddy Zheng. This year, Buddhist Peace Fellowship celebrates a 40-year legacy of bridging Buddhism and social justice. The combination of internal and external, spiritual and political, is essential to our work. Ancient wisdom nourishes us with inner sanctuary while anti-deportation activism strives boldly to protect communities under attack. Join us for a conversation about the relationship between dharma and community defense, and what gives hope, strength and sanctuary in harrowing times. DOORS OPEN AT 5:30PM. Arrive early to browse t-shirts, books and more before the talk. ACCESSIBILITY For accessibility, **please plan to arrive fragrance-free.** This supports community members with chemical injuries or sensitivities. It applies to laundry detergent, fabric softener, shampoo / conditioner / hair styling products, cologne, perfume, and more sadly, anything manufactured to smell good. Even essential oils can trigger severe allergies and illness similar to cat, bee, or peanut allergies We will send out more information to ticket buyers on how to prepare for a fragrance-free space, centering fragrance-free products designed for people of color The venue is wheelchair accessible, and will have reserved seating near air filters. Please reach out to us at events@bpf.org if you need ASL or other translation. Childcare will be available by request; please contact us at least 5 days in advance at events@bpf.org with the number, ages, and any access needs of the children coming with you. SOLIDARITY TICKETS If you can't attend but would like to sponsor a ticket for a community member to be nourished by this dialogue, we welcome your generosity! Please choose a Solidarity Ticket option ($75) in ticket sales. SPONSORS & ENDORSERS We are grateful for community support that makes the weaving together of inner and outer sanctuary possible. Thank you to these sponsors and endorsers for supporting this event with event space, publicity and feedback, and financial sponsorship. Buddhist Church of Oakland Spirit Rock Meditation Center San Francisco Zen Center Institute of Buddhist Studies Ella Baker Center Peacock Rebellion Critical Resistance (Oakland) Hella Organized Bay Area Koreans (HOBAK) API Equality Parallax Press East Bay Meditation Center Clear View Project There are still opportunities for financial sponsorship, starting at $200. Would your group like more info? Contact Dawn at dawn@bpf.org to learn more. Bios: REV. ZENJU EARTHLYN MANUEL Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, Ph.D. is an author, transformative learning circle facilitator, dharma transmitted Zen priest, spirit song leader, and drummer of African Congolese rhythms and Native American hand and round drum. The essence of all her transmissions come together in her talks and books, including: + Sanctuary: A Meditation on Home, Homelessness, and Belonging + The Way of Tenderness: Awakening Through Race, Sexuality, and Gender + Black Angel Cards: 36 Oracles and Messages for Divining Your Life Her upcoming first novel, The Water Monarch: A Story of Resistance and Love, won second place in Kimbilio's First National Fiction Prize, reviewed by acclaimed author Edwidge Danticat. Rev. Zenju's work has also been featured in Essence Magazine, CNN, CBS NEWS, KPFA Radio, Buddhadharma, and Lion's Roar. She holds a M.A. from U.C.L.A. and a Ph.D. in Transformative Learning from California Institute of Integral Studies. EDDY ZHENG Eddy Zheng has a passion and lifelong commitment to serving children, youth, and families, and ending mass incarceration in the United States. Eddy's mission is to use his experiences to inspire and motivate young people to invest in their education, raise awareness about the detrimental impact of the Prison Industrial Complex on the Asian and Pacific Islander population, and promote racial harmony among people of color. Arrested at 16 and tried as an adult for kidnapping and robbery, Eddy Zheng served over 20 years in California prisons and jails. His work is particularly crucial at a time when Trump's administration is targeting Cambodian, Vietnamese, and other API immigrant communities for detention and deportation. Eddy Zheng now works with a number of social justice organizations, including: + Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) + Chinatown Community Development Center (CCDC) + Asian Prisoners Support Committee (APSC) Every day, Eddy raises awareness around the impact of criminalization and deportation on the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community, ensuring that API voices and experiences are included in the larger movements for freedom and sanctuary. Eddys life is the focus of the award winning documentary, Beathin the Eddy Zheng Story.

MONTHLY WAG: 1ST SUNDAY'S
2018-04-01 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles), 2018-03-04 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York), 2018-02-03 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Online
RSVP Here for 1st Sunday of the Month Feb. to June 2018, 10 AM - Noon PST / 1 - 3 PM EST Calls NABA's White Affinities Group is committed to continue its monthly space to talk about the work we're doing to end white supremacy and work for racial justice, whether that's in our sanghas, in the U.S. and beyond -- what we are learning, what the challenges are, and how this connects with our Buddhist practice. Our hope is that this kind of space could support and strengthen people's local organizing rather than taking away from it. NABA provides a unique opportunity to connect across Buddhist lineages and across geographic regions. Key points:

* This is a chance to touch base every month for a short period of time, rather than making an extensive commitment. * WAG is inclusive of all levels of experience with anti-racist work and Buddhism. We are all learning together. * All kinds of anti-racism work can be brought in for discussion. This could include conversations with people in your day to day life (sangha, work, family, etc.), more formal collective organizing against structural and systemic racism, internal learning and unlearning, etc. * New folks can drop in at any time. * This is also a chance to practice facilitating white anti-racist discussion in a supportive space, for anyone who wants to try that.

Currently Kara, Ruby, and Joshua are going to rotate facilitation and we'd love for other folks to get involved if this is something you want to try.

We will send more frequent updates and reminders through the WAG Google Group. To join the Google Group, please register and show up on a WAG Zoom call.
We'd like to get to know you and know about you and racial justice.
We need more intersections between the overarching, powerful Buddhists for racial justice statements and the daily grind of local diversity programs, learning through sharing, and continental multi-lineage conversations, please join us in our attempt to connect the dots here at NABA! We hope to see you 1st Sunday each month!

RSVP Here for 1st Sunday of the Month Feb. to June 2018, 10 AM - Noon PST / 1 - 3 PM EST Calls

Kara Dansky
Kara Dansky is the founder and managing director of One Thousand Arms and a long-time practitioner within the Shambhala Buddhist tradition.

Ruby Grad

Ruby Grad is a practicing meditator and Buddhist in the Ajahn Chah lineage of the Thai Forest Theravada lineage for close to 30 years.

Not pictured is Joshua, who has been practicing for 12 years with a sangha in a Rinzai Zen lineage and is involved in grassroots groups working to end white supremacy and colonialism.

Village Zendo People of Color Sitting Group
2018-02-17 10:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
https://villagezendo.org/events/people-of-color-sitting-group-2018/

Forms of Emptiness – Workshop in Zen Liturgy
2018-02-09 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Village Zendo Forms of Emptiness – Workshop in Zen Liturgy

9 February
16 March
13 April
11 May
8 June
7 September
12 October
9 November

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Zen forms are ways to help support ourselves and each other in seeing our lives as they are moment to moment, and to continually remind us of our conviction to stay awake.The sounds and movements we see around the Zendo may seem random and incidental, but are always gateways to come back to right now, and also communicate what is happening at specific moments in time.
This workshop will serve as an opportunity to become more familiar with these forms, and also to practice getting good tone out of the various zendo instruments.
Suggested donation: $10.
Registration not required.
The workshop will be led by Village Zendo Liturgy Master Tokuyu Manasia and is open to anyone who would like to attend.

https://villagezendo.org/events/forms-of-emptiness-liturgy-practice-2018/

Inclusive Gender Identity Poc Perspectives
2017-10-09 16:00 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
The next NABA webinar on gender and race will be October 9th, Monday, 4 to 6 PM PDT / 7 to 9 PM EDT. Significantly more LGBTQI adults identify themselves to be persons of color, making gender identity an even more critical issue among POCs and POC Buddhists. Gender identity and race intersect in ways that are more relevant for the marginalized, for those confronted with hatred and supremacy, and among Buddhist sanghas than many of us realize. For those immersed in the realities of these issues and for allies interested in learning more about ways to support those with non-dominant gender and racial identities, the esteemed presenters Dr. Kamilah Majied and the Honorable Gretchen Rohr will lead this interactive session. Please RSVP here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/7d4da70139aad0dd7c24e00bf0acd2b8Gretchen Rohr is founder of Justice in Balance, a restorative justice forum dedicated to reconciling communities impacted by violence.
She serves as a magistrate judge at the D.C. Superior Court.
Gretchen Rohr
Kamilah Majied, Ph.D.
Kamilah Majied, Ph.D. is an educator, researcher, clinician and internationally recognized expert on oppression as it impacts mental health and social functioning. Her clinical work centers on using mindfulness-based approaches and other Buddhism based interventions to improve individual mental health as well as family and community wellness. Her scholarship examines racism, homophobia, heterosexism and other oppressions, particularly as they impact people of color and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) people. Dr. Majied’s areas of specialization include grief and loss and addressing the mental health challenges faced by stigmatized populations. As a consultant she works to make health and human service agencies more sensitive to the needs of minority populations and more culturally competent with regard to service delivery. She has successfully assisted various domestic and international organizations in developing programming that welcomes and supports diversity and addresses disparities. She is an author of multiple publications on cultural competence, education and mental health. Dr. Majied serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work. She is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Howard University in Washington DC.

Facilitated Response Charlottesville
2017-09-11 16:00 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
On this day for prayers, we contemplate the harm of terrorism on international and domestic fronts. Let us focus on practicing loving-kindness towards ourselves and waking up to our mission as Bodhisattvas in times of racial violence. Let us teach and lead in the world via events where we educate communities about how to use Buddhist ideals to wake up to our inherent freedom and our power to help others awaken to theirs. Please join Dr. Kamilah Majied, Associate Professor of Social Work at Howard University in Washington DC, for this facilitated session Monday, September 11th from 4 to 6 PM PDT / 7 to 9 PM EDT. Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/8080d86bb2fe8d74c5b9141539e44ee6

Monthly POCs for Racial Justice Calls: 3rd Tuesdays
2017-08-20 11:00 - 23:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
NABA offers monthly opportunities for POC Buddhists for racial justice to gather. This multi-lineage container provides nourishment, solidarity-building, probes into larger questions, and action-oriented committees couched on the teachings of the Buddha. These calls are consistent opportunities where POC Buddhists for racial justice across North America may be relieved of the burden of having to explain racism to others and simply be accepted, as together we explore justice issues and resolutions in our personal and global spheres. POC Buddhists across traditions have something unique to offer race relations at micro and macro levels too.
Regular calls every 3rd Tuesday of the month starting at 11:30 AM PST / 2:30 PM EST.
The next call will be February 20th.
Register for upcoming 2018 calls here:
February 20 -- An Exploration.
We will consider questions such as the following:
-Are fight and flight the only options in the face of injustice?
-What Dharma-based resolutions have you tried or would like to try?
-And what happened or resulted when you did try?
-Explore silence as a solution vs. being silenced as an injustice.
March 20 -- Peace and Social Action.
Coinciding with NABA's multi-lineage racial justice webinar by Katie Loncke of Buddhist Peace Fellowship and co-presenter from another community, please join all interested in racial justice on this date.
April to December
Dr. Kamilah Majied, Jennifer Hawkins, and Guo Cheen are helping with the facilitation of these calls. Please join us:

To Heal: To recognize and repair internalized oppression and its impact on our relatedness as a diverse body of practitioners of color. We need time together to apply our practice towards discovering more personally who we are as a diverse body of color.
To Discover: To know who Practitioners of Color are as a diverse body, recognize the integral roles we play in the broader spiritual community, discover how we currently enhance racial equity, leverage resources, and form natural collaborations.
To Bridge: This call invites us to explore how we align our energies in ways that bridge racial separation between historically divided communities of color. Many of us also seek to reconcile and collaborate with white practitioners, allies, and institutions without causing or experiencing harm.
To Justice: We call practitioners of color to humbly recognize our interdependence across the very systems which perpetuate the vestiges of our exploitation/enslavement, including economic, healthcare, educational, environmental, transportation and legal systems controlling housing, property and national borders. Of relevant concern to us is how racism relies on greed and class stratification, the weight of which is not only ravaging the poorest communities of color but also rapidly destroying the planet.

See you every 3rd Tuesday of the month!

Urgent Prayers for Charlottesville's Racist Violence
2017-08-12 | Online
As extreme right-wing groups, encouraged to arrive armed, prepare to converge in Charlottesville, Virginia tomorrow, we at Buddhist Peace Fellowship want to Be in spiritual and material solidarity with all those on the ground, compassionately confronting racist violence. We are honored to pass along this letter with permission from our friend, BPF member, and Block Build Be alum, Sarah Thompson (’16) — a bold and wonderful leader with the Christian Peacemaker Teams.
Thank you, Sarah, for Blocking racist intimidation; Building strong skills for peace; and Being a commitment to waging peace in a world that needs it.
With love,
Katie and the BPF team

From Sarah Thompson

First and foremost I want to send love to you all.
Thank you for who you are and the work that you are doing in the world.
It is important. You are courageous. Now is the time to grow our souls.
Please read on.
This weekend, a racist rally is taking place in Charlottesville, Virginia called “Unite the Right.” You can read about it online (poster attached). This article by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors “hate groups and other extremists,” warns that the rally could be “the largest hate-gathering of its kind in decades in the United States.” The convergence of alt-right folks has been emboldened by the national administration, and they do have a sense of their world falling apart. They chose Charlottesville to rally after that city’s vote to remove the Confederate statues of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Their goal is to bring white people on the right wing together, out from the shadow of the internet, so they can cultivate real relationships and craft a palatable platform to build more political power. The images they chose for the rally draw from Nazi-era propaganda.
In response to this gathering, different peace and justice activists groups have been organizing a counter rally to bring people together against what these hate groups stand for. Drawing from many different inspirations, they are trying to work together across many different approaches to challenging white supremacy and its impact on all of our lives.
The Deep Abiding Love Project requested that I come to Charlottesville to share wisdom about how to deal with multiple armed groups in one space. I arrived last Wednesday and, in addition to doing 6 trainings that day, found myself doing a lot of ministry of encouragement…this work is so hard and folks here have been working for a long time there without much support. Activists of color are being followed to their homes, doxxed and stalked on the internet, and threatened by police. It is to encircle them with energetic encouragement that I am writing to you now.
Local leaders realized that most of the nonviolent direct action training that is offered currently for public demonstrations in the US assumes that the state (police, national guard, etc.) will be the only armed actor. Since Virginia is an open-carry state where one is permitted to have weapons, in Charlottesville at least 4 different groups may come armed with guns/knives/tear gas, etc. I shared from the confrontational nonviolence work that Christian Peacemaker Teams does, walking alongside those who are creatively resisting oppression and lethal violence. Over the last 30 years we have learned from grassroots partners in various war/conflict scenarios how to calibrate to multiple armed actors. So we examined both background work and in-the-moment things needed for being able to be as present as possible when guns are all around. If this is a training your community needs, let me know.
I’m back in Chicago now, finishing up with the month-long CPT peacemaker training (our response to the question, “what if people committed to peace trained as hard for it as militaries train for war?”) and I invite you to join me in supporting.
1. Please make some time (as early as possible in the day) to energetically support the many activists groups that are coming together on all of our behalf. Pray that they are able to communicate well between their perspectives and build resilient relationships in the face of continual onslaught of racist violence across the South and the nation.
2. Toss some cash toward Congregate, which is funding many of the actions, facilitators, and support workers needed to keep people safe, healthy, and aligned. They’re also collecting money for bail for those doing arrestable nonviolent direct actions to shut down the “Unite the Right” rally. Donate here now.
3. On the 12th, please take one more step on your journey of dismantling white supremacy, and creating a world that allows all beings to thrive healthfully. No matter how big or how small you think it is, let’s change the energetic field…on that day and forevermore. I’d love to hear about what you decide to do. I’m happy to support you in your ongoing journey. If you want to do it with a group of others, feel free to forward this email.
I can’t share specifics of other things via email because of security concerns, but if you feel like you’d like to/need to know more, I can share that offline!

Sarah
P.S. a link to a poem of Cosmic Accountability, by sistah comrade Alexis Pauline Gumbs’ website

"We've been Here All Along": The Asian American Teachers' Experience with Invisibility and Incarceration
2017-06-25 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Upcoming Featured Teachers Webinars on Race and Gender in a New Era:
June 25th Sunday afternoon with Dr. Funie Hsu and others.

Dr. Funie Hsu, PhD, works as an assistant professor of American Studies at San Jose State University
and also serves on the board of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. Here is her recent article on recognizing Asian American Buddhists' contribution and responses to it.

Vesak in Toronto, Canada
2017-05-28 | Mississagua Celebration Square
All Buddhist communities in the greater Toronto area, Peel, Halton, York and other regions are invited to join

Vesak: Buddha's Birthday Celebration 2017 in Toronto:
Blessings on the City, the Nation, and the World

In the past four years this celebration has been a resounding success with participation from 7,000 and more people, together with about 100 Buddhist monks and nuns of all Buddhist traditions in the presence of Senators, federal and provincial Ministers, MPs, MPPs and members of the diplomatic corp. Here is a link to videos and photos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIReeYzkP5w&feature=youtu.be and http://www. vesakcelebration.com/

Please learn more here: http://www. vesakcelebration.com/

Vesak Day 2017 with Buddhist Council of New York
2017-05-20 16:30 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | New York Buddhist Vihara

Transforming Self, Transforming World With David Loy
2017-05-03 00:00 - 2017-05-06 00:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Transforming Self, Transforming World
With David Loy
May 3 - 6, 2018

Register now

Single rooms are issued based on availability, and are on a first-come-first-serve basis.

What’s the relationship between social justice and individual awakening? Is personal transformation separate from social transformation, or are they two sides of the same coin — two aspects of same path? The highest ideal of the Western tradition has been to restructure our societies so that they are more socially just. The most important goal for Buddhism is to awaken and put an end to the dukkha (“suffering”) due to the delusion of a separate self. David will explore this relationship between individual transformation and social transformation, not just because they complement each other, but because each needs the other.

Teacher

David Loy
David Robert Loy is a professor, writer, and Zen teacher in the Sanbo Zen tradition of Japanese Zen Buddhism. He is a prolific author, whose essays and books have been translated into many languages. His articles appear regularly in the pages of major journals such as Tikkun and Buddhist magazines including Tricycle, Lion’s Roar, and Buddhadharma, as well as in a variety of scholarly journals. Many of his writings, as well as audio and video talks and interviews, are available on the web. He is on the advisory boards of Buddhist Global Relief, the Clear View Project, Zen Peacemakers, and the Ernest Becker Foundation. David lectures nationally and internationally on various…
Learn more about David Loy

http://www.heartwoodrefuge.org/retreats/53/transforming-self-transforming-world/

Living With Mindfulness
2017-04-14 19:00 - 2017-04-16 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Aryaloka Buddhist Center
What does it means to live mindfully? How do we bring more calm and inner clarity into our daily lives? How can we stay confident and purposeful when times get rough? This gentle introductory retreat is open to all, especially those with no prior experience with meditation or Buddhism.
We will explore the Buddha’s teachings on mindfulness in a down-to-earth, practical way through meditation, discussion, and hands-on exercises. We’ll also investigate how to live with greater awareness and contentment with ourselves, and in turn, how to live in harmony with the world around us. There will be detailed instruction for those who are new to meditation, and periods of silent practice for those with experience.
About the leaders:
Sunada
Sunada was ordained in 2004 and given her name, which means “beautiful, excellent sound”. It’s a reflection not only of her love of music, but also of spreading the beautiful teachings of the dharma. Sunada lives in the Boston area, where she teaches classes in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and coaches individual clients in living more mindful, purposeful lives (www.mindfulpurpose.com).
Viriyalila
Viriyalila, whose name means “playful, spontaneous, creative energy in pursuit of the Good,” has been been meditating and practicing Buddhism since 1994. Ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order in 2005, she has a passion for collaborative organizational teamwork and has served on a variety of councils at local, national and international levels including Aryaloka and Portsmouth Buddhist Centers, she helped form the North American Triratna Assembly, and served as movement representative on the Triratna International Council. She has a passion for the arts, communication, and Dharma study along with her livelihood as an Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist.

2017 Dharma Webinar Series
2017-01-01 00:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
A quarterly series of webinars featuring Buddhist teachers from across diverse traditions,
sharing Dharma lessons applicable for Westerners in daily life now.
Please recommend Buddhist teachers you would like to see leading these online webinars.
More details to come.

Nichiren Service and Dharma Talk
2016-12-04 00:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
During our morning Service on Sundays, we chant portions of the Lotus Sutra and also chant the Odaimoku (Namu Myoho Renge Kyo). This is a version of the normal daily service practiced by Nichiren Shu practitioners at home. The chapters from the Lotus Sutra are read in the traditional way (Chinese characters with Japanese pronunciation) known as Shindoku. Shindoku literally means faith reading and is a form of meditation in itself; thus, it is not necessary to understand the meaning of the text while we are chanting. We also regularly chant the Sutra in English to develop our understanding. Our Daily Service usually lasts about 40 minutes to 1 hour. The mokusho (wooden drum), seen below, is used by the leader during chanting to help keep the beat.
http://www.nichiren-shu.org/Houston/pages/services.htm

7 Day Sesshin -- 9/28 to 10/5
2016-09-28 00:00 - 2016-10-05 00:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Mountain Gate Sanmonji
Sesshins are extended periods of intensive, silent zazen for experienced meditators. They are held in seclusion, follow a rigorous schedule, and last from three to seven days. Mitra-roshi conducts sesshins in New Mexico, California, and New Jersey.
Mountain Gate is a place of deep Zen Buddhist practice. If you are interested in joining us for sesshin or a longer or shorter period of intensive residential practice, please write and tell us why, what your practice history is, and who you are. Because of the demanding and intense nature of sesshin, only people who have been sitting regularly should apply.
There are many hours of formal zazen each day; informal zazen is encouraged during breaks and rest periods. Other elements of sesshin are walking meditation, chanting, prostrations, work, exercise, and vegetarian meals. Sanzen (private instruction with Mitra-roshi) is offered twice a day, and there are daily teisho (Zen talks by the Roshi).
http://www.sanmonjizen.org/sesshin.html

First Annual NABA Buddhists Conference Online
2016-09-25 14:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
All Buddhists and representatives with Buddhist groups across North America
are invited to join North American Buddhist Alliance's first annual virtual conference.
The September 25th 3 to 5 PM PDT program aims to bring the greater Sangha online,
offering opportunities for the North American Buddhist community to interact and become better acquainted.
Space is limited, please register today at:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/2e8e5fed3378aa55c5b9141539e44ee6

Introduction to Noble Silence Retreat
2016-08-25 00:00 - 2016-08-28 00:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
On this weekend retreat we will be exploring the practice of Noble Silence – stillness of body, speech, and mind – and learning how to bring stillness into our daily lives. The retreat leaders are Bodhana and Lilasiddhi, members of the Triratna Buddhist Order who have led several Noble Silence retreats at Aryaloka. Simple vegetarian food will be served.
This retreat is suitable for people who already have some meditation experience.

NABA Board of Directors Retreat
2016-08-15 | TCN Buddhist Center
North American Buddhist Alliance needs you!
We need Buddhist representatives from different regions and traditions across North America to join our small leadership team!
Please join us the week of August 15th for an in-person retreat where we will be developing NABA's strategies for the next two years.
If you are interested in volunteering with NABA and would like to become involved,
please email info@NorthAmericanBuddhistAlliance.org or call Guo Cheen at 253-886-6251.

Meditate Celebrate Activate Retreat
2016-08-11 00:00 - 2016-08-15 00:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Sugar Ridge Retreat Centre
Join Jeff Warren of The Consciousness Explorers Club for a different kind of retreat. Silent until dinner, we sit in MEDITATION four to five hours a day, a mix of solo and guided excursions into feeling, sound, energy, openness, silence, rest, surrender, as well as more dynamic movement and nature and loving-kindness meditations. Each of these is an adventure into a different corner of human experience, a fresh inquiry into who and how we are, a unique exploration of consciousness.
For more information and testimonials, click here:
http://www.consciousnessexplorersclub.com/retreat/
To register:
1. Fill out the online registration form. Click here.
2. We’ll email you to let you know if there’s space. If so, we ask you to pay to hold your space. You can pay by e-transfer, or credit card / PalPal ($15 extra to cover credit card/ PayPal processing). Refund policy: $50 admin fee if cancel; $100 if cancel within 2 weeks of retreat

Wisdom in Action
2016-07-27 00:00 - 2016-07-31 00:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shambhala Mountain Center
Given the speed and busyness of modern life it’s more important than ever to make time to connect with your body, mind, and environment. It’s in these moments of simple and direct connection that you can discover your deepest intentions to be of benefit to your friends, family, and society. Now imagine adding an assembly of wise and inspiring teachers, a community of like-minded individuals and the breathtaking beauty of Shambhala Mountain Center in the peak of summer.
Take a leap and immerse yourself in a culture of purpose, compassion, and celebration. Connect with your deepest aspiration. Envision an awakened world, and cultivate the skills to put practice into action in your personal, social, and professional life. Teachers from a variety of contemplative traditions will be leading the way in support of one common mission: putting wisdom in action.
Join Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, Venerable Pannavati, Bishop Marc Andrus, Acharya Adam Lobel, Leslie Booker, and Acharya Fleet Maull for a 4-Day retreat unlike any other.
