Love and Justice are not two. Without inner change, there can be no outer change. Without collective change, no change matters. —Rev. angel Kyodo Williams, Sensei
I enjoyed getting to know Rev. angel Kyodo Williams when she presented at the CONSPIRE conference in 2017. She is one of the very few black women Zen Senseis (teachers). Through her Buddhist practice, she seeks to liberate both the oppressed and the oppressors, which is appropriate as we celebrate Juneteenth in the United States today, to recognize the final day of emancipation from slavery in our nation. In this passage, she shares her path to becoming an agent of transformative, peaceful social change.
Not long after finding my place as an activist for social justice, I came up against the need for not just reacting to what was happening in the world, which gave me a sense of purpose but developing a way to look at what was happening, which provided a sense of meaning. I found a second home in cultivating a spiritual life. . . . My formal Zen practice and training were teaching me to find a more restful place that I could abide in within myself despite the chaos and calamity [of] living in an unjust society. . . . It also gave me a way to be in response to sometimes overwhelming situations that could just lead me to a downward spiral of anger and negativity. . . .
Related Content:
The Core of Belonging
In this profound conversation, Tami Simon and Rev. angel take a deep look at how society shapes our sense of belonging—and how we can all take back the power to belong for ourselves.
Living the Questions: Why 2020 hasn_t taken Rev. angel by surprise – Krista Tippett w/ Rev. Angel – PODCAST
A companion conversation in the On Being episode that has been re-aired for the third time — Krista catches up with Rev. angel Kyodo Williams on how she’s keeping her fearlessness alive through pandemics and rupture.
The World is Our Field of Practice — On Being w/ Krista Tippett
This prophetic conversation, which Rev. angel Kyodo Williams had with Krista in 2018, is an invitation to imagine and nourish the transformative potential of this moment — toward human wholeness.
Reclaiming The Wholeness Of Our Stories – The Four – Michael Ray Mathews, Jacqui Lewis, Otis Moss III, Lisa Sharon Harper w/ Rev. Angel – PODCAST
angel Kyodo williams · Reclaiming The Wholeness Of Our Stories – The Four podcast
The Magic of Radical Dharma Camp – Radical Dharma Camp-Omega 2021 [excerpt]
Rev. angel walks us through the cost + violence of unfulfillment & calls us into the question of where do you stand?
Centering Leadership In Presence
Featured Event
Embodied Social Justice Certificate
Go deeper. For the third year, Rev. angel is co-director of this 3-month online program in which you can join leading-edge teachers working at the intersection of embodiment and social […]
