- The 4+1 Things Every Human Needs (According to Buddhism)
What is the absolute minimum a human being needs, not just to survive, but to flourish? We often argue about "safety nets" as if they are a modern political invention. But 2,500 years ago, the Buddha established a specific list of…
- Kali and Vedehika: the Buddha's Cautionary Tale of Privilege
What is the story of Kāḷī and Vedehikā? We'll consider this early tale from the Buddha and how it relates to our own delusions of perfection, as well as how it helps illuminate some of the pitfalls of privilege and injustice.
- Buddhism and Race: Caste in Early Buddhism
Today we're dealing with crimes perpetrated through centuries of racial injustice in the United States and indeed around the world. Was there anything the Buddha said that might be helpful or interesting to us? We will look at issues of…
- Buddhist Right Speech and Promoting Social Justice
The Buddhist ideal of right speech counsels us to avoid harsh or divisive speech, but sometimes when pursuing social justice we may need to speak out. We will also look at the related topic of so-called "tone policing" online and how it…
- A New Buddhism: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
We will look at the Indian lawyer, economist, politician, and tireless advocate for social justice Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, his career and influence, and in particular his development of a new Buddhist path in so-called "Navayāna" Buddhism or…
- Buddhist Practice for Social Change
How can early Buddhist practice help our effort for social change? We'll discuss ways that these teachings can impact our efforts towards making the world a better place, and ways that they might help make us healthier and more effective.