Dear OI Friends,
In June 2020, within a week of George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police, I invited white practitioners on our OI list to a “Listening Circle for Healing Our White Racism” on Zoom. One hundred (100) mindfulness practitioners showed up! After some welcoming, validating of them, and offering some framing thoughts, in pairs and four-way structured listening sessions, people explored two questions: “What breaks my heart about the current racial suffering?” and “What in me needs healing around race?” Hearts opened, ears listened, tears were shed, anger arose, acceptance was experienced.
As a result of that first 90 minute session, a bare beginning, I invited them to continue for three more consecutive Wednesdays. Seventy (70) of those 100 people committed to continue their exploration of their own white racism and hopefully to become familiar enough with the format of the Listening Circle model that they might be able to offer something similar to their white friends.
At the end of this four week series, I offered to facilitate a monthly gathering for all those who agreed to facilitating a similar “listening circle” in their locality. Twenty-five for those 70 signed up for that. We’ve been meeting for six month in a 90 minute format. We divide the time between a) small equal time groups to explore some facet of our internalized white racism, b) hearing from folks about their experience of facilitating their own circles, and c) having time for coaching, Q & A, or more theory sharing. It’s been inspiring to watch folks learn to lead this work. As a result, these listening circles are sprouting up all over the country. It proves what we In RC know, that if the conditions are right, it turns out that white people are fairly eager to do this inner work.
To assist them in their facilitation, I wrote up a short guide for Listening Circle facilitators that grew out of that initial four week experience (plus decades of my own work). This guide is designed to provide facilitators with a kind of ready-made kit to help them offer an accessible, replicable, and effective experience for participants. The guide includes framing ideas, facilitation suggestions, sample schedules and facilitator notes, and lots of resources. It can be used as is, or adapted for one’s local community, or pieces excerpted for one’s own guide. Please feel free to adapt for your own use as appropriate. If I can be helpful, please contact me at jbellminder [at] gmail.com.
Guide for Listening Circles for Healing White Racism
in gratitude,
John Bell
Chan Dieu Tri/True Wonderful Wisdom
in the Boston area. traditional land of the Wampanoag people
Tag: racism
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Listening Circles for Healing Racism, for White People: Facilitators Guidebook
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On a National Resolution of Atonement
The following letter was written by Robb Kushner, an Order of Interbeing Aspirant. Robb has given permission to post and share this very instructive and thoughtful statement.
~ Kenley
Letter to Sen. Cory Booker – On a National Resolution of Atonement
Jersey City, NJ 0730214 August 2017
The Honorable Cory Booker
359 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510Dear Senator Booker:
The tragic events in Charlottesville this past week have caused me to revisit a powerful idea: a National Resolution of Atonement – and I want to share this with you in the hopes that you may want to bring it up in Congress.
It is time for our country to officially atone for the twin atrocities of centuries of unconscionable subjugation of Native Americans – including stealing their lands – along with the tragic enslavement with ensuing subjugation of African Americans.
The Germans have atoned for their perpetration of The Holocaust. We as a nation desperately need to face up to these tragic elements of our past.
In atoning for these twin atrocities that have been an integral part of our history, we can send a message to the world and to all future generations that we are indeed fully dedicated to the immortal declaration that “all [people] are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
We are truly a nation of immigrants, and this has always been our key strength and point of uniqueness. We need to celebrate the diversity across our land that makes us such a blessed country.
In addition, by adopting this kind of national atonement, we will send a clear and unequivocal message that racism and bigotry will never be tolerated – in any manner – in our national dialogue, including public displays and assemblies.
I trust that you will give this idea the kind of serious consideration it deserves. And I hope to hear your thoughts in response.
With deep gratitude for your dedicated service to our state and country,
Robb KushnerWith copies to:
Sen. Bob Menendez
Sen. Bernie Sanders
Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Sen. Kamala Harris
Sen. Al Franken
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
Sen. Chuck Schumer
Sen. Amy Klobuchar
Sen. Tammy Duckworth
Sen. Lisa Murkowski
Sen. Susan Collins
Sen. Claire McCaskill
Sen. Chris Van Hollen
In addition to the letter, the following practice statement from ARISE (Awakening through Race, Intersectionality, and Social Equity) is very relevant to this topic.
GATHA FOR HEALING RACIAL, SYSTEMIC, AND SOCIAL INEQUITY: Aware of the suffering caused by racial, systemic, and social inequities, we commit ourselves, individually and as a community, to understanding the roots of these inequities, and to transforming this suffering into compassion, understanding and love in action. As a global community of practitioners, we are aware of the disproportionate racial violence and oppression committed by institutions and by individuals, whether consciously or unconsciously, against African Americans and people of color across the United States and beyond. We know that by looking deeply as individuals and as a community, we can engage the collective wisdom and energy of the Sangha to be our foundation for Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Mindfulness, and Right Insight. These are the practices leading to nondiscrimination, non-harming, and non-self which heal ourselves and the world.