Consciousness-in-Action

A few years ago, as thousands of peaceful anti-militarism resistors struggled for the withdrawal of the US Navy from the occupied island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, I wrote this piece. When asked by Turning Wheel, the Journal of Socially Engaged Buddhism, to submit something for their special 30 anniversary issue, I remembered it. The entire issue is quite wonderful. Please check it out.
Firing Zone: On a Beach in Vieques

“PAZ”

            I could feel the warm sand on my feet even through my beat-up sneakers. A few hours later in the day that sand would be … Continue Reading

It’s incredible how quickly the first quarter of the year has already gone by! And it feels like things are just getting started. For me, in many ways, they are. As I shared in my last entry, this work is starting to get broader exposure, with important presentations scheduled, a book chapter published, and a glowing review of my book coming soon.

Early in March, I was delighted to offer a Consciousness-in-Action workshop in Amherst, Massachusetts. Held at Hampshire College, the full-day event was organized by the Undoing Racism Organizing Collective of Western Massachusetts for organizers, activists, … Continue Reading

My dear friend and colleague, Rev. Francisco Lugoviña, recently received Dharma Transmission from his teacher, Roshi Bernie Glassman of the Zen Peacemaker Order, making him Senior Teacher in the Soto Zen Lineage. Paco, or Genkoji, as he is generally known, is also one of very few Latino/a Zen priests.

I happened to meet Paco, along with Rev. Hilda Gutierrez Baldoquín, another one of those few Latino/a Zen priests, at a gathering of spiritual activists at Garrison Institute in June 2005. The three of us met again last fall when, together with several other veteran spiritual activists, we facilitated a retreat for … Continue Reading

The Social Justice Program of the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society is hosting a gathering for emerging leaders on October 12-15, 2006.

The history of social justice work is filled with individuals and organizations that were unable to sustain the long-term effort needed to face continuing oppression. Many activists today are learning from this history and are attempting to address the errors and limitations of past efforts, resulting in a new kind of activism taking hold in the social justice movement in this country. This “spiritual activism” can be seen generally because of an understanding of where past movements have … Continue Reading