Welcome.

As a kind of self-defense, the racial conditionning of whiteness is said to disappear to itself. However, with some practice, we can start to get “the knack” for seeing the ways white racial conditionning more generally continue to manifest and operate, both internally and externally. This requires curiosity, compassion and patience––and good spiritual friends!

After our exploration of the body inRGr last module, this module is dedicated to inquiry into the mind-heart (citta), with a particular focus on vedana, bias and delusion. We will also explore the reactivity that sometimes arises when our racial conditioning or social advantages are named, and how to work more creatively when that happens. Finally, we will learn about antidotes (and try them out!) to help us: mindfulness, reflection on causality, and the development of equanimity.

All these gifts of the Dharma can lead us to respond more freely and creatively when racial trauma is activated in ourselves and in others.

1) Hacking bias though mindfulness of vedana

Vedana is conditioned in a range of ways which can include conditioning by way of racial stereotypes. Bringing mindfulness to vedana can help interrupt this patterning — internally, interpersonally and institutionally. Despite our best efforts, bias can creep into every day experience.

Short Excerpt (2 pages) from “Vedana of Bias: Latent Likes and Dislikes Fueling Barriers to Human Connection” by Anurag Gupta.

If you prefer something audio visual to reading, feel free to swap this out with the talk by Vernā Myers in the addtional resources section. Though a bit dated and not using dharma language, she is very much discussing conditioned vedana.

2) White delusion and its antidotes

We invite you to read excerpts of two articles, one by Emily McRae, and the other by Bhikkhu Anālayo. These engaged traditional Buddhist philosophy and the issue of white ignorance/delusion about race. Full articles are linked in the additional resources section.

Proposing a difference between ignorance and delusion + 2 antidotes (reflecting on causality and developing equanimity):

Selection of excerpts/summary of an article by Emily McRae on White Delusion and Avidya (3 pages).

The antidote of practicing external-and-internal mindfulness:

Excerpt from “Confronting Racism with Mindfulness” by Bhikkhu Anālayo (2 pages)

3) From (white) reactivity to creativity

Robin DiAngelo is an anti-racist educator and author many will have heard of. She popularized the idea of “white fragility.” From a Buddhist perspective, we can think of this as “white reactivity.” Below is a robust summary of some of her ideas. Importantly, it draws out ways to unlearn reactivity and develop more productive responses when the racial construct is activated. As we begin to explore moving into action, this hand out may provide some helpful clues and cues.

Flow chart summary by Russell Nadel of Robin DiAngelo’s concept of “white fragility.”

If possible, we encourage you to read this slowly and mark off what you might relate to. Most of all, look out for these reactive/creative responses in daily life, as you prepare to exchange about this with your group.

Do you spot any habits of yours, and successes you have had in turning from reactivity to creativity?

4) Power, social advantage and intersectionality

We invite you to contemplate this diagram about power dynamic. Where are you on the map? YAre there dimensions missing in relation to your experience?