Sumeru News — Engaged Buddhism

Moving from good intentions and well-conceived mission statements to an effective organization is not easy. I recently had the opportunity to learn more about one of America’s most successful engaged Buddhist organizations, the Earth Holder Community (EHC), in several conversations to find out how they have thrived in that challenge. I spoke with John Bell, one of the founders. He has over 40 years of experience in the youth field as a teacher, counselor, community organizer, program developer, leadership trainer, director, and parent. He is also an ordained Dharma teacher in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Our conversation...

In February 2020, just before the pandemic hit, I presented at the Ho Centre for Buddhist Studies conference at the University of Toronto, New Paths in Teaching Buddhist Studies. You can find a video of my talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhCg0IfUC7o I had also prepared a slide deck for my talk, which I ended up not using. Looking at it again recently in the light of current events, it seems still relevant and worth sharing. Here is a link to it: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2503/2728/files/Future_Buddhism_optimized.pdf?v=1636155658 Please share...  

Introduction to Buddhist Counselling (on-line) Instructed by Linda Hochstetler, MSW, RSW / TA Charles Chiarelli, OCT, BA, BEd 13 Saturdays, September 18 – December 11, 2021, EST 4-6 pm (7 classes) & 4-5 pm (6 tutorials) - 20 hours This module is designed to provide basic Buddhist counselling skills to individuals with little or no clinical experience or training. It is intended to prepare participants to volunteer with Sangha members, friends, and family. No previous training is required. Students will learn the following skills: attending, rapport building, use of silence, paraphrasing, reflecting, showing empathy, focusing the conversation, clarifying, appropriate questioning,...

My most recent column for Buddhistdoor Global is called "The Good Ancestor" and it is about our role in the future. It begins with a reflection on the tragic fate of Canada's Indigenous Peoples at the hands of settler colonials, and then turns to our unhealthy relationship with Planet Earth in the Anthropocene, concluding with some hints about regenerative design for a sustainable future, being modelled by a variety of European communities. https://www.buddhistdoor.net/features/the-good-ancestor

The editor and designer of our new book, This Fragile Planet: His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Environment got their proofs today, where they live in Asia. Here's the picture they sent me. I love it!