Dear WMC friends, 

Given the suffering in our sangha, our city, and our world due to recent federal worker firings, cutting of funds for numerous projects, and other actions of the present government that courts have found to be illegal, the Practice Council is holding a special evening on Engaged Buddhism and in support of our federal workers on Sunday, March 9. 

The evening will start at 6:30PM as usual, and will be slightly extended until 7:45PM to allow for sharing.

The evening will include a panel of sangha members personally affected by the layoffs, as well as a discussion about engaged Buddhism and what our practice means about how we show up, whether that is to protest, to stand in solidarity, or to provide practical support.

The term ‘engaged Buddhism’ was coined by Thay in 1954, when he and his sangha made efforts during the Vietnam war to respond to the suffering they saw around them. The term refers to Buddhists who are seeking to apply the insights from meditation practice and dharma teachings to social action, confronting situations of social, political and economic suffering and injustice. The Buddha taught a path of liberation; it is central to our practice.

As Thay writes in ‘Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet’, our actions become a true expression of our love, care, and awakening.

With love

The WMC Practice Council (Jeanine, Joann, Jude, Nigel, Pat)