Written by Rev angel Kyodo williams, Lama Rod Owens, and Jasmine Syedullah, it unveils how white supremacy and racial injustice shape Buddhist communities in the United States. Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love and Liberation (2016) is a book that has grown very dear to me. The queer Black Buddhists I write about remind me that spiritual practice is not about severing ties from the world it’s about engaging more authentically with our own embodiment. If you are wondering why I would want to learn about Buddhist practice from people who were not born in Buddhist communities, here’s my answer: I am prepared to learn from anyone who offers teachings that are beneficial to me. I want to highlight the quiet, powerful and life-changing work they have been doing, especially for readers who are hearing about them for the first time. Their teachings are no less important to me than the teachings of Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhartha or Shakyamuni. These are queer Black Buddhist teachers who have made a difference to my life by speaking of their journeys, and showing me how spiritual practice can be a liberating force in the face of challenges as huge as racism, sexism and queerphobia. I have been thinking of the Black people in my life over the last couple of months, ever since the news of George Floyd’s murder catalysed protests all over the United States. They face hate crimes on a daily basis in the same country that many Indians idealise as a land of opportunity. When Indians chase the shiny American dream, or consume Netflix shows that centre whiteness, we often end up getting dazzled by a vision of affluence that excludes Black Americans. It is a response to the long history of slavery that the United States has been built upon. What is important to remember is that this decentralised movement against institutional racism, police brutality and racial violence is not a random occurrence. The spiritual life: In one year 'Bhiksha Yatra' has touched 50lakh people to unite Sanatan Dharma The fizzled endeavour to divide North and South in Indian politics
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |