The Ecumenical Buddhist Society of Little Rock is a community that fosters the ecumenical study and practice of Buddhism, grounded in mindfulness, wisdom, and compassion. During these troubled times, we encourage everyone to reach out, seek healing for yourself, and join with like-minded people of compassion to work towards peace and understanding.
Five years ago (May 15, 2015) 125 American Buddhist leaders of every color and tradition convened at the White House for the First White House Buddhist Leadership Conference. At this gathering, Buddhist leaders presented President Barak Obama with a Buddhist Statement on Racial Justice.
The statement recognizes our interdependence: “We can’t separate our personal healing and transformation from that of our larger society. The historic and continued suffering of people of color in this country—of African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and others—is our collective suffering.”
It also emphasizes our collective responsibility for healing this continuing harm: “Right now, we believe there is an immediacy and urgency in focusing our attentions and efforts on the pervasive and ongoing violence done to people of color in our country.”
More recently, Buddhist teachers have responded to the George Floyd killing with specific actions and guidance for their followers. Here’s a summary of what different Buddhist organizations are doing.
Last week, during his first public appearance since the pandemic began, the Dalai Lama spoke about George Floyd, reminding us that our basic human nature is compassionate. He said, “If you pay attention, all living beings with the experience of feeling and sensation survive through compassion, love. And therefore if we as human beings do not harm one another but help one another, serve one another, and be compassionate with one another, then we will have a peaceful world without any fear, anxiety. Without compassion, if you actually let your life be carried away by jealousy, pride, arrogance, and anger and hatred, then there will not be happiness for yourself as well as individuals. And therefore compassion is very crucial for our survival.” You can watch his video.
The Buddha taught that people cannot be judged on their birth and social status, and should be judged by their actions instead. He said that you can know an animal by its coloring and markings, but there is no physical mark that tells you whether a person is trustworthy or not. If you judge people as good or bad by their appearance, you’re reducing all human beings—yourself and others—to animals.
Everyone is welcome to participate in the open exchange of these ideas and all Buddhist teachings at EBS.