After the Muslim ban was instituted, Buddhist scholar and priest Jeff Wilson vowed to renounce his attendance at conferences in the USA. As a society, he says, it is imperative that we stop hiding behind borders. Sometimes activism doesn't look like anything. In November I didn't go to the annual joint meeting of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) and Society of [...]
Conservative Christian group launches campaign against “Buddhist meditation” in public schools
A representative from the organization says mindfulness practices "are clearly antithetical to the Christian religion.” The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a conservative Christian watchdog group, has launched a legal campaign to fight what it calls “Buddhist meditation” in American public schools. The group takes issue with the secular mindfulness programs [...]
China enacts new policies requiring Tibetan monastics to promote the Communist Party
The Chinese government has enacted new policies that require Tibetan monastics to promote the Communist Party. The Communist Party of China has enacted new policies that require Tibetan monastics to undergo political training, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports. Under these policies, Tibetan monks and nuns must demonstrate “political reliability,” “moral integrity capable [...]
A Sanctuary of Hope
For more than 500 days, Rosa Sabido has sought sanctuary from deportation in a Methodist church in Colorado. In that time, she formed a friendship with Zen chaplain Joanie Trussel. The two talked with Lion’s Roar about what it’s like to live in sanctuary and how to find hope in dark times. In the one-stoplight town of Mancos, Colorado, Rosa Sabido has taken refuge in a tiny [...]
A Buddhist Teacher’s 5 Ways to Resist
If the state of things sociopolitical has you downhearted, says Jan Willis, action is the only way to bring back hope. Here's her advice for making the most of your bravery, your voice, and your vote. Being pacifist is not the same as being passive, and being inspired by Buddhist wisdom does not mean that we close our minds and eyes to the rapid changes occurring around us [...]
How Not to Freak Out
You're not alone if you despair about the present and fear for the future. If you find all the bad news overwhelming, Buddhist teacher Judy Lief has some meditations to help you relieve your socio-political pain. It’s not as if times of fear and despair are anything new. People have fought wars, struggled to survive, faced injustice, experienced loss, dealt with violence [...]
The Promise of Buddhist Economics
UC Berkeley economist Clair Brown argues for an economic system based on altruism, sustainability, and a meaningful life. Because even economics is about more than money. The starting point of your new book, Buddhist Economics, is that the goal of any economic system is to create human happiness. How does the free market system define happiness and how is the definition in [...]
Who Was B. R. Ambedkar?
A profile of B. R. Ambedkar, a vital figure in Indian history and an activist for the Dalit ("untouchables") class. B. R. Ambedkar (1891–1956) was a statesman, social reformer, and independence leader who led a Buddhist revival in India known as the Dalit Buddhist movement. He inspired millions of Indians to convert to Buddhism to escape the oppression of the Hindu caste [...]
Stand Against Suffering: A Call to Action by Buddhist Teachers
Thirteen prominent teachers explain why Buddhists need to be be politically engaged at this crucial time in the country’s history, in this statement published in Lion’s Roar magazine and co-signed by more than 140 Buddhist leaders. As long as a society protects the vulnerable among them, they can be expected to prosper and not decline. —The Buddha, in the Mahaparinirvana [...]
Love Everyone: A Guide for Spiritual Activists
Real political change must be spiritual. Real spiritual practice has to be political. Buddhist teachers Sharon Salzberg and Rev. angel Kyodo williams on how we can bring the two worlds together to build a more just and compassionate society. Sharon Salzberg: I’d like to start with a meditation. Settle your attention and energy into your body and feel your breath. Find the [...]
