This week we invite you to reflect on the themes of belonging, especially in a sangha setting. Some of the questions bekow are drawn and adapted from the author and dharma teacher Larry Yang, at the end the chapter called “The Precious Experience of Belonging” in his highly recommended book Awakening Together.

Reflection Practice - Belonging

• Recollect an experience or two of non-belonging. What happened? What was the context? This might be a social or family situation where you were excluded, ostracized or othered, for some reason (or no apparent reason).

• What has been the experience of belonging for you? How does it feel in the body? What sense doors are engaged? How does it feel in the heart? What emotional states emerge from this reflection? How does it feel in the mind? Is the mind relaxed, agitated, dull, busy, or calm?

• If possible, try to get into the physical and emotional experience of that, while bringing attention to the mental formations and perhaps proliferation it produces.

• Reflecting now more broadly on your life story, what are way in which you have experienced belonging and un-belonging? What is your life experience of your own difference(s)?

• What qualities allow you to relax into being present and feeling that you can be authentically who you are without any pretense or mask? What allows you to feel safe enough so that you can soften the defenses that can hide or protect the nature of your reality?

• What is the impact of this reflection?

Calling-in/out and Apology Practice

• Can you think of something you said/did (or did not say/do) that was racially harmful? Was it addressed? Were you called-in or called-out? What was helpful/unhelpful? What did you learn? Did you make an apology or confession at the time? What might you do differently today?

• These types of interventions require great skill, care, and patience — in giving and receiving! It’s great to practice together. Consider reflecting on a situation in which you wish to make an intervention (regarding someone else’s behaviors), or something you wish to take responsibility about (regarding your own actions). You might journal about it. Consider your motives deeply. Consider your impact deeply. Can you practice the intervention (calling-in or calling out) with a friend? Can you practice your apology What does that feel like?

Prompts about the materials

• What was your response to Vijayatara’s talk? What stood out for you?

• What are some of the differences she draws out between SGI and FWBO? Is this still true today?

• What connections do you see between her talk and our prior module about Western Buddhism and the shadows of colonialism?
  
  The case studies will be read and discussed next session. For now, if you read them, just take note of your responses to them — bodily, emotionally, mentally, dharmically.