RD Friends Act

Racial Justice and Healing

Inquiry Practice Guide

This Practice
We utilize Recovery Dharma Practices to work with difficulties and challenges with Racial Justice and Healing.  

About this Page

This page offers resources and practices that address the intersection of anti-racism with Buddhism or mindfulness.  It is based on the idea that Recovery Dharma Practices can be powerfully applied to this healing work.  

The first section offers a list of other Buddhist Sanghas who are also engaged in this important work.  This includes links to inclusivity statements, lists of POC teachers, and their talks that address Buddhism and racism.

The second section offers a list of books that address the structural aspects of race and Buddhism and/or offer an approach to healing that integrates mindfulness as an essential part of the path to heal and transform racism.

The listing for each book also includes links to podcasts, articles, and inquiries.  

Just the Beginning

This page is primarily focused on the voices of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color. We hope that other guides will be developed that focus on other groups that have been historically and systematically excluded from participation in Western Buddhism and Recovery communities.

Reach out if you would like to collaborate on this page, or the creation of new anti-oppression pages: rdfriendsact@gmail.com

Books
These books either address race and Buddhism directly or utilize mindfulness as a core practice.  

They would be helpful as the basis for a book study or inquiry practice. 

Click on the down arrows for links and ideas to use The Practice to deepen understanding.

Love and Rage

The Path of Liberation Through Anger

Lama Rod Owen

WATCH, LISTEN, READ 

PURCHASE, BORROW

INQUIRY AND PRACTICE

Radical Dharma

Talking Race, Love, and Liberation

Rev angel kyodo williams, Lama Rod Owens with Jasmine Syedullah, PHD

WATCH, LISTEN, READ

PURCHASE, BORROW

INQUIRY AND PRACTICE

Awakening Together

The Spiritual Practice of Inclusivity

Larry Yang, Sylvia Boorstein

WATCH, LISTEN, READ

PURCHASE

PRACTICE, INQUIRE, DISCUSS

Spiritual Activism

For Fighting and Healing from White Supremacy

Rachel Ricketts

WATCH, LISTEN, READ

PURCHASE

PRACTICE, INQUIRE, DISCUSS

The Way of Tenderness

Awakening through Race, Sexuality, and Gender

 Zenju Earthlyn Manuel 

WATCH, LISTEN, READ

PURCHASE, BORROW

INQUIRY AND PRACTICE

Being Black

Zen and the Art of Living with Fearlessness and Grace

Angel Kyodo Williams

WATCH, LISTEN, READ

PURCHASE, BORROW

INQUIRY AND PRACTICE

Be The Refuge

Raising the Voices of Asian American Buddhists

Chenxing  Han 

WATCH, LISTEN, READ

PURCHASE, BORROW

INQUIRY AND PRACTICE

Me and White Supremacy

Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor 

Laylaf F Saad

WATCH, LISTEN, READ

PURCHASE, BORROW

INQUIRY AND PRACTICE

The Inner Work of Racial Justice

Healing Ourselves and Transforming Our Communities Through Mindfulness

Rhonda V. Magee

WATCH, LISTEN, READ

PURCHASE, BORROW

INQUIRY AND PRACTICE

How to be an Antiracist

Ibram X. Kendi

Mindful of Race

Transforming Racism from the Inside Out

Ruth King

WATCH, LISTEN, READ

PURCHASE, BORROW

PRACTICE, INQUIRY, DISCUSSION

Black Buddha

Changing the Face of American Buddhism

Lama Choyin Rangdrol 

WATCH, LISTEN, READ

PURCHASE, BORROW

INQUIRY AND PRACTICE

Practice

These links go to best practices of organizations and self-study pages. 

Click on the down arrow for links and ideas for practice. 

East Bay Meditation Center

Insight Meditation Society

Implicit Bias

Implicit Bias

Insight Community of Washington

Insight Meditation Community of Washington

North American Buddhist Alliance

Bright Ways Zen Buddhist Center

Bright Way Zen Buddhist Center

Dharmaseed

No Barriers Zen Temple

No Barriers Zen Temple

Harvard Divinity School

Harvard Divinity School

White Awake

White Awake

Create a Welcoming Community

A Toolkit to Support Immigrants, Refugees, and BIPOC

This toolkit was developed using a broad approach of working with and learning from multiple communities rather than working in depth with a single community. 

Creating Welcoming Learning Community

5 Steps for Creating Welcoming and Inclusive Learning Communities 

The lessons on this page can be adapted for small groups such as Recovery Dharma Sangas

Be Aware of Stigma

People Matter, Words Matter

The AHA, together with behavioral health and language experts have created a series of downloadable posters to help you adopt person-centered, respectful language. Please consider downloading, printing and sharing each poster with your community, and encourage them to use this language both in front of person and when talking about them to others.

Triratna

Spirit Rock Retreat Center

Workshops 

Sessions and resources that are available for registration by individuals or groups who want to study together

Roots of Health Inequity

The Roots of Health Inequality -  Online Learning Collaborative - Free

Race Forward

Racial Equity Training Series - Zoom $100 - $450

Race And Webinar Series - YouTube Videos - Free

Center for Safety and Change

Getting to the Root - Zoom $350

Brave Space

A Year with Ruth King -   Racial Affinity Immersion Group - $1,950

Consultants

Available to work with organizations to learn and grow

Groundwater Institute 

1.5 Day Immersive Experience
For Organizations

Groundwater Institute

Kate Johnson

Buddhist based consultant focus is around radical friendships. Referred by Kris

Rebecca Ace Molina

Provides consultation. Has pre-set DEI workshops that can be chosen. 

https://rebecca-acedmolina.com/authentic-solidarity-for-organizations/


Partners for Racial Equity

Provide consulting and leadership development specifically around race. Referred by Lacey

https://www.partnersforracialequity.com/

  

Transformative Change

Buddhist-based Consultants and trainers on DEI. Found by Kris

 

Adastra Management Collective

Provide consultation about anti-oppression to nonprofits.


Dr. Stacey D. Hardy-Chandler

A leader with the National Association of Social Work, Consults and trains nonprofits.  Source: Kris’ workplace

AORTA Collective

https://aorta.coop/work-with-us
For organizations

Transformative Change

Buddhist-based Consultants and trainers on DEI.

Nelson Layag

Formerly with Compass Point.  Connected with the Latino Community


Ruth King

Buddhist, has an organization of staff who are available to consult and train.  $12,0000. referred  by Kris


People's Institute for Undoing Racism

Provide individual consultation and workshops. Focus is on structure over insight or mindfulness. Referred by other consultant.

https://pisab.org/


Others