Module 10 Materials
This session we explore themes of belonging/non-belonging, inclusion/exclusion, and racial harm, especially in the sangha. Developing a more welcoming and multicultural sangha requires many of us to develop strong(er) skills when it comes to recognizing racial insensitivity, appreciating its cumulative impact and complexity, apologizing effectively, and stepping up without centering our own needs and behaving as ”white saviors”. This module aims to explore these themes, and to practice some practical skills.
Below is a clip that can serve as a primer to some of what we will explore. In an ECA (European Chairs Assembly) meeting, in the context of a conversation about racial diversity work in Triratna, Suryagupta (sitting alongside Bodhilila) shared some thoughts and experiences:
1) Racial insensitivity & harm
Some people use the language of “microaggression” to describe the more subtle yet deleterious experiences of everyday racial ignorance. Remembering our earlier modules related to trauma and the racial construct, it can be useful to understand the cumulative impact of such experiences, which can lead to responses that people do not comprehend, or even discount.
How microaggressions are like mosquito bites, link here. (2 min)
An everyday dimension of racism: some thoughts on microaggressions link here (6 min)
2) Calling out/calling in, apologies, and repair
People engaged in anti-racism have been developing practices of intervention, interruption and racial repair in the interpersonal/institutional realm for a very long time. Below are some tools and tips we invite you to reflect upon. As you engaged with these materials, see how they might relate (or not) to our practice of Buddhist confession and of kaliyana mitrata.
It’s worth noting that the calling out approaches which are poorly executed have a tendency to turn people away from anti-racism work, and discredit the effort. Learning to raise consciousness in a way that is life-giving and effective (as opposed to destructive and alienating) is a journey, as is the skill of effective apology and repair.
Calling Out vs. Calling In, handout from Harvard University. link here (3 pages)
Interrupting Bias: Calling Out vs. Calling In, from Seed the Way, handout here (2 pages)
The Repair, notes from a workshop with Robin DiAngelo, link here (1 page)
Getting Called Out: How to Apologize by Franchesca Ramsey link here (8:30 min)
3) Belonging and non-belonging
Please read or listen to Vijayatara’s talk - People of Colour as the “Rest outside the West” in Western Buddhism’ (2008). This is a talk has been transcribed, you can either listen to it or read it here (8 pages). If you are short on time, feel free to just listen to the first part about the FWBO, as Triratna used to be called.
Vijayatara (Sharon Smith) conducted her PhD research on issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, and class in both the FBWO and SGI. You can learn more about her here.
As you read or listen to this talk that summarizes some of her findings, bear in mind the theme of belonging/un-belonging.
4) Case Studies
Next time groups meet, they will spend most of the session breaking out in small groups exploring these case studies. You do not need to read all of the case studies in advance, but we invite you to look at 2 or 3 of them before your next gathering.
