Contemplative reflection on the suffering of living beings is not enough; we must help diminish suffering through compassionate involvement

RACIAL JUSTICE

Contemplative reflection on the suffering of living beings is not enough; we must help diminish suffering through compassionate involvement.

Thich Nhat Hanh

In 1967, Martin Luther King, Jr nominated Thich Nhat Hanh for the Nobel Prize

Indigo Sangha Anti-Racism Aspiration

Indigo Sangha is a diverse mindfulness practice community. Through study and practice, our White members are intentionally waking ourselves up to the reality of now–truths long understood by our friends of color. We see that, in reality:

• The extreme racism, exploitation, and oppression of America’s past continues today
• Old forms of oppression and exploitation manifest in new ways
• Yes, White people are privileged in society. While it’s not our “fault,” we can be criticized to the degree in which we knowingly accept unearned privilege and do nothing to correct the systems that advantage us
• We cannot heal what we are unwilling to touch with mindfulness and compassion

Entrenched patterns of division in society’s collective consciousness amplify and distort insignificant differences between people of various races, genders, classes, sexual orientations, immigrants, the physically and mentally disabled and other marginalized communities. We can see we are products of a divisive society in which each of us has been taught to believe things that are harmful to ourselves and others.

We see White dominance and unconscious bias harms those who are marginalized, warps White humanity, and even damages the earth.

We are determined to name and neutralize personal and societal habits of supremacy and exploitation.

Without shame or blame, White members of Indigo Sangha are doing the work to look deeply into our complicity in perpetuating racist systems. We are learning to step back so others may step up thereby centering the wisdom of marginalized voices. We are considering together how we can become better friends and allies to Black, Indigenous, and other people of color and their organizations.

Everyone knows that peace has to begin with oneself, but not many people know how to do it.

Thich Nhat Hanh