Rev. Angel Kyodo Williams Sensei and Lama Rod Owens have been teaming up to lead a series of conversations in the wake of the killings of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Walter Scott, and the Charleston Massacre to address the challenges they face as formal teachers and teachers-of-color within the American Buddhist community.
They're situating themselves squarely within the teachings of the dharma to meet the presence of white supremacy and racism in our lives, in our practice centers, and in our relationships to liberation. The idea was generated after they saw the results of having been asked to participate in such a dialogue together for Buddhadharma magazine. The positive response made even clearer the unique interconnection of their perspectives and positions on the value of Buddhist teachings in reflecting on the moment in history we are in.