Since BPF's inception in 1978, the mandala of socially engaged Buddhism has blossomed. Today's landscape of political Buddhism is rich and varied: Buddhists are working on global warming, mindfulness in prisons, organizing for freedom against colonial powers, ending global hunger, building an inclusive, social justice-oriented sangha, and accompanying Peace Communities in war-torn Colombia, among so many ot ...

On this 10th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, folks in my Facebook feed are reflecting on the inspiring actions they participated in to resist war. Former BPF staffer, Maia Duerr, participated in nonviolent civil disobedience to shut down Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, MA. She reflects on the liberation available in laying aside our ego in the service of a larger cause: By the time we got to the e ...

Yesterday, the two 16-year-old football players accused of raping a 16-year-old girl in Steubenville, OH were found guilty. As the blogger Black Girl Dangerous (BGD) has noted, the mainstream media has reacted to this by sympathizing with the rapists and bemoaning how this has ruined the rapists' lives, at the girl's expense. BGD writes, Elevating the experience of these boys above the experience of their v ...

Happy Friday, BPFers and friends. Today we're glad to share this Buddhist book review from a very valuable contributor to BPF and Turning Wheel, who's been doing a lot of skillful behind-the-scenes work: Stephen Crooms. I'm excited to share this piece partly because I love the idea of reviving the Buddhist Book Reviews on Turning Wheel (feel free to submit, any time, to submissions [at] turningwheelmedia [d ...

For the many years Sue Moon served as editor of Turning Wheel, the magazine was known for being interested in personal story as an entry point to understanding the 10,000 joys and 10,000 sorrows of the world we live in. Telling our stories to each other is healing; we feel not so alone in our suffering. In telling our stories, we begin to recognize that our lives are not entirely of our own making (yet anot ...

The White House has proposed a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants that amounts to a stop-gap measure, offering a way forward for some but stopping short of true reform of the immigration system. It does nothing to outline a process for the future, much like the Clinton-era 'amnesty bill.' This is likely a compromise to please some advocates and drum up goodwill, but is sure to frustrate many on ...

"Old log in the river (see face?)" By pjsixft ("PJ") We had intended to share this poem last month, during The Lies That Build Empire, but due to a mixup on our part, it slipped through the cracks. In a way, I'm glad for the new timing. Following last night's episode in Brooklyn, when New York City police shot and killed a sixteen-year-old black boy (spurring the neighborhood to protest), Lawrence's poem is ...

What role, if any, does violence have in social change? This is a loaded question that needs careful dissection, starting with what we mean by violence. Last month the internet and mass media was lit up with news and conjectures about former US Navy reservist and ex-LAPD cop Chris Dorner, who went on a Southern California revenge killing spree. While most of course condemned his murder of LAPD family member ...

Where are Burma's reforms going? What can you do to help? Since last year, the U.S. has been warming up its relationship with Burma and lifting the sanctions in recognition of the ongoing reforms. President Obama paid a historic visit to the country last November. However, there are serious challenges and concerns as the military and their cronies are still firmly in control of the country's political and e ...

As BPFer Taigen Dan Leighton mentioned in his climate change rally reportback, the decision to approve or stop the Keystone XL pipeline's construction on US soil rests entirely in the hands of one person: President Obama.  Congress does not have a say.  But perhaps we, the people in the US, do. That is, if we're willing to take some risks and make some sacrifices. As the fateful Executive choice approaches, ...