Reverend Angel Kyodo Williams Sunday, February 16, at Rock Blossom Sangha
Dharma Teacher Dennis Bohn shares this invitation from the Rock Blossom Sangha*** "Dear New York Sanghas, It gives me the joy to let you know that Reverend Angel Kyodo Williams will be joining us for our gathering on Sunday, February 16, 2014, at our normal time of 6:30 PM. We first became aware of Rev. Angel in an article in BuddhaDharma Magazine titled "Why is American Buddhism So White?" Rev. Angel's insights were jaw-droppingly incisive to this person. As a sangha, we have spoken with one another around this issue, and look forward to hearing from Rev. Angel.
Here is a bit of her biography:
Once called “the most intriguing African-American Buddhist” by Library Journal, angel Kyodo Williams has been bridging the worlds of spirit and justice since her critically-acclaimed book, Being Black: Zen and the Art of Living With Fearlessness and Grace, signaled a shift in the perception of American Buddhism as all white and upper-middle class. She leads the way for an explosion of interest in people of color practicing Buddhism and meditation. Ordained as a Zen priest, she returned to her activist roots and began applying wisdom teaching to social issues to become a leading voice in the ever-emerging field of Transformative Social Change.
For over 15 years, Rev. angel has deeply invested her time and energy to put into practice her unwavering belief that the key to transforming society is transforming our very own inner lives. She recently became only the second Black woman to receive transmission as a Zen teacher. Both fierce and grounded, she is known for her unflinching willingness to both sit with and speak uncomfortable truths. She notes, “Without inner change, there can be no outer change. Without collective change, no change matters.” Whether in writing, teaching, or speaking, her voice is unique.
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