Thursday, May 14, 2015
South Court Auditorium, Eisenhower Executive Office Building
Just back from an historical event - the first White House US Buddhist Leaders Conference where over 100 monastics, leaders, teachers, activists and scholars from throughout the US Buddhist Community engaged with each other in the morning and with Obama Administration Officials in the afternoon on climate change, racial injustice, and other pressing issues of our time. Morning highlights included Bhikkhu Bodhi's excellent presentation on Climate Change and Rev. Angel Kyodo Williams more expansive offering on a Climate of Justice which brilliantly drew connections between climate change and racial injustice. We were informed of many local and global initiatives that are supporting these topics. In the afternoon we heard from several White House officials on policies and initiatives mostly related to climate change and global social injustice. It was clear to me that while there was much talk about policy, culture is what changes hearts.  Jack Kornfield closed the day with a tender and inspiring message to all that while there is much to be done, our practice has much to offer in these challenging times. This historical day is the beginning of what I hope will be an ongoing conversation and collaboration of wise and heartfelt actions towards a Climate of Justice.
 
Ruth — I always love hearing from you, and this is good news! So glad you were able to participate in this event — it sounds amazing. And I agree that it’s culture that changes hearts — and culture at its roots is a series of conversations. Change the way we converse with one another, change the culture, change the world!
If you haven’t yet read Naomi Klein’s most recent book, “This Changes Everything,” it’s a must!
Dear beloved Ruth, so glad to hear about this from you, and that you were there. love the dot joining happening there at the white house-Climate of Justice- thanks Angel Kyodo- I find her very inspiring.
what a country you live in dearest sister! Leonard Cohen was right!
kisses from Sweden. Catherine