Help bring MindfulVotes to the Republican and Democatic National Conventions

Help bring MindfulVotes to the Republican and Democatic National Conventions
Buddhist Global Relief announces 2012 Walk to Feed the Hungry events
Statement from the Buddhist Community on the Violence in Myanmar
From the September 2012 magazine: “The Secret”
University of the West fires former Franciscan brother accused of sexual abuse
Open Mind Zen at center of ethical misconduct allegations

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 07:00 AM PDT

As the U.S. presidential race heats up, a group of volunteers is trying to bring mindfulness into the political process by leading meditation, yoga and tai chi at the upcoming Republican and Democratic National Conventions.

The Huffington Post will be sponsoring an "Oasis" at each convention, providing a space for delegates to unplug, practice meditation and yoga, and enjoy healthy refreshments. MindfulVotes is an initiative led by angel Kyodo williams, director of the Center for Transformative Change, and the team behind YogaVotes. Their goal is to inspire people to bring mindfulness into their lives and into politics, and they're trying to raise $ 5000 this week to send teachers to staff the Oasis.

"This effort transcends partisanship and brings a fundamental sanity to a process that has seemed pretty insane lately," explains williams. "It's time to liberate our politics from negativity and closed-heartedness. The widely-held mindfulness values of love, compassion and inclusivity can return us, as Americans, back to our center of goodness."

MindfulVotes is trying to raise the $ 5000 by the end of this week so they can send a team of four leaders of color to the conventions, where they can oversee a larger group of local volunteer teachers. Money will go to airfare for the teachers to travel to the RNC in Tampa, and the DNC in Charlotte, as well as housing, meals, and educational materials. And if you're interested in teaching or helping out at either convention, you're welcome to join the MindfulVotes team — contact them at mv@transformativechange.org.

To pitch in money to support MindfulVotes, visit their fundraising page. And for more about mindfulness and politics, see the Mindful Politics spotlight page at the Shambhala Sun, and "I Vow to Be Political" from the Spring 2012 Buddhadharma magazine.

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Buddhist Global Relief announces 2012 Walk to Feed the Hungry events

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:00 AM PDT

Buddhist Global Relief has announced the cities and venues for its 2012 "Walk to Feed the Hungry" fundraising events. This is the third year in which Buddhist Global Relief will be holding a walk to raise funds for its programs that provide relief to communities around the world afflicted by chronic hunger and malnutrition. The Walk to Feed the Hungry began in 2010 in South Orange, New Jersey, and expanded to three cities in 2011. In the first two years, over $ 120,000 were raised to support BGR's humanitarian efforts. This year, events are happening in seven cities throughout the country: Seattle, WA (October 6), Ann Arbor, MI (October 13), Chicago, IL (October 13), New York, NY (October 13), San Francisco, CA (October 13), San Jose, CA (October 14), Los Angeles, CA (October 20), and Escondido, CA (October 25). Walks will be led by local organizers and are of varying distances. They will include dharma talks and end with a picnic lunch. The New York, Los Angeles, and Escondido walks will be led by BGR's chairperson, Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi.

"We are very excited that our walk events have grown in scope and reach," said Kim Behan, BGR's Executive Director. "Walking in solidarity has a long history of uniting people and sparking social change. We are overjoyed at bringing together people from different backgrounds and focusing on what unites us on this path of service."

More information is available at Buddhist Global Relief's website. This links to the BGR First Giving website, allowing interested participants to find out details about each event, register to walk, raise funds, or simply donate. If there's not a walk happening near you, consider organizing your own event and donating the proceeds — for more information, you can send an email to info@buddhistglobalrelief.org or call 888-852-7579.

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Statement from the Buddhist Community on the Violence in Myanmar

Posted: 20 Aug 2012 09:00 PM PDT

The Buddhist Channel, Aug 21, 2012

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- On behalf of the concerned community of Malaysian Buddhists, we'd like to highlight the cause of the minority Rohingya people in Myanmar's Arakan province.

We have been following with deep concern and sadness on the Amnesty International (19 July 2012) report on the ongoing oppression and massacre of the Rohingyas by both the Rakhine and security forces.

The human rights violations that include physical abuse, rape, destruction of property, and unlawful killings, are urgent calls for attention for Buddhists in Malaysia as the minority Rohingya people suffer loss of lives and the extensive damage of property.

On 11th July, the Myanmar's National Human Rights Commission reported that at least 78 people have been killed since the violence began, but unofficial estimates exceed 100; with Amnesty International reporting up to 90,000 people have been displaced.

This Open Letter is by both the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM)and The Malaysian Network of Engaged Buddhists (MNEB), in representing the Buddhist community in Malaysia, to call for three actions:-

a. The immediate cease of all violence and all further bloodshed in Arakan, with a call to all parties involved to seriously seek resolution through peaceful, non-violent means.

b. For the Government of Myanmar, Opposition Parties to lead immediate intervening efforts to halt further violence on the people in Arakan province through the fair implementation of the democratic law.

c. For the Government of Myanmar to grant immediate access to independent and International Humanitarian Agencies and humanitarian aid workers into the affected areas to offer the necessary assistance to stop further bloodshed in and around the Arakan region.

We fervently pray that peace returns to the province of Arakan and for all to join us in this prayer.

About The Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM)

YBAM is the leading Buddhist youth organisation in Malaysia, coordinating more than 260 member organisations in the nation through 13 State Liaison Committees. It strives to unite Malaysian Buddhist youth and to develop a society of wisdom, compassion and gratitude. Visit: www.ybam.org.my

About Malaysian Network of Engaged Buddhist (MNEB)

MNEB is a network of Buddhist leaders, that encourage members to encourage activities that drives social change. MNEB Believes that social change believes must spring from deep spiritual practice and based the philosophy and practice of Kalyana Mitra (spiritual friendship). Visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/engagedbuddhists

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From the September 2012 magazine: “The Secret”

Posted: 20 Aug 2012 02:00 PM PDT

Our September 2012 magazine features "Real Peace in Times of Stress," a special section on how to find peace, calm, and sanity in a stressed-out world. In her editorial for the September issue, Deputy Editor Andrea Miller reveals the secret of her biggest source of stress — and as it turns out, it's a common one.

I really didn't want to write this editorial. I couldn't think of a way to write it that wouldn't reveal my secret—my secret regarding the greatest source of stress in my life.

My life is pretty good. No, better than pretty good. Beyond just having a job, I have right livelihood, and on Monday mornings I look forward to getting to the office. Not only do I have enough food to eat, I frequently have avocadoes, mangos, and even fancy cheese. I have a roof over my head, too, and though it's not exactly my dream house, we're painting and fixing up. Best of all, I have people who love me—a warm, wonderful husband, an incredible mother, intimate friends. Nonetheless, in the midst of all of these people, things, and situations I am so grateful for, I still experience stress. As Kathleen Dean Moore so succinctly puts it in this issue, "What I experience is the ironic stress of the privileged, which is stress nonetheless."

So now for the secret I didn't want to tell you: the greatest source of stress in my life is the gap between what I think I should be and what I think I am. Niceness, productivity, smarts—the truth is I always fall wildly short of my expectations.

Of course, I didn't want to admit any of this because, with the cat out of the bag, I feel a little vulnerable, a little naked. But I'm admitting my secret to you now—to the thousands of you—because I managed to admit it to one coworker. "Yeah," he told me, "that's my source of stress, too." I believe he said it with a shrug. As if to imply, no surprise. As if to imply, that's most people's secret. And come to think of it, that makes sense. After all, the core of my problem is ego, and the buddhadharma clearly points out that ego is the core of everyone's problem. And one thing we know about ego is, it always feels bad about itself. It's always stressed.

Read the rest of "The Secret" here. And to see what else is in the September Shambhala Sun — including lots of mindfulness techniques to relieve stress at home, at work, in relationships, and more — click here.

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University of the West fires former Franciscan brother accused of sexual abuse

Posted: 20 Aug 2012 01:00 PM PDT

University of the West's campus

The University of the West, a Buddhist university located in Rosemead, CA, terminated its director of student life in early August. Thomas Thing is a 53-year-old former Franciscan brother who settled a case in 2011 with a Nevada man who accused him of molestation and abuse, which allegedly happened when the man was in the 7th grade. The plaintiff was awarded $ 600,000 in the settlement after suing Thing, The Franciscan Friars of California, and the Diocese of Las Vegas.)

While the university had not received any complaints during Thing's time there, they ultimately decided to terminate his employment.

For all details surrounding this story, read the original piece by Maritza Velazquez at the Pasadena Star-News website.

(Photo via Wikipedia by Geographer under a CC-BY license.)

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Open Mind Zen at center of ethical misconduct allegations

Posted: 20 Aug 2012 12:00 PM PDT

Ely Kugo DesJardins & Fusho Al Rapaport

Al Fusho Rapaport, sensei of Open Mind Zen in Florida, in the White Plum Asanga of the late Taizen Maezumi roshi, is currently facing allegations from several former students (including two former assistant teachers) of sexual misconduct.

The story, which originally appeared on the website Sweeping Zen, seems to be emerging. What started as one post from one former assistant teacher (Ely Kugo DesJardins of Tulsa, OK) has now turned in to three, all from former sangha members. Rapaport's response to the allegations can be found at the Sweeping Zen website.

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