I’m so enthusiastic about this concern that it’s unattainable to be nonetheless, even after years of observe! However, I’ll joyfully mirror on the ebony jewel field of a difficulty that you’ve got simply obtained.
In 2014, whereas incomes my doctorate in pastoral counseling, I started mining gems of knowledge from Black Buddhist practitioners within the U.S. I wished to search out out if Buddhism is sweet for Black individuals, as a result of for years, it had been ingrained in me that it was not. From my analysis I discovered that—opposite to what I’d beforehand been advised—Buddhism isn’t simply useful for individuals of Asian and European descent. Black practitioners within the Perception custom who responded to my analysis advised me that they felt profoundly and remarkably extra resilient on account of their Buddhist practices, and I printed these findings.
“You’re about to enter a world identified solely to a comparatively few individuals on this earth. It’s the world of the Black Buddhist expertise in America.”
Over the previous decade, different analysis targeted on Black Buddhists has taken place, most notably by Professor Rima Vesely-Flad in her ebook Black Buddhists and the Black Radical Custom: The Follow of Stillness within the Motion for Liberation (NYU Press, 2022). Now extra such analysis initiatives are within the works, so what’s rising is elevated consideration from academia. For instance, Princeton College’s Heart for Tradition, Society, and Faith is launching a mission to assist the examine of Black Buddhist writings and experiences throughout varied educational disciplines. I hope this particular concern might be a crowning onyx in its providing.
This concern is a novel assortment. All of the teachings, tales, and illustrations in it are by Black creators, some with superstar standing, and a few you could be encountering for the primary time. Inside these pages, Black Buddhist practitioners from completely different traditions provide fantastic artwork, literature, insights on activism, and extra. They talk about African and Buddhist deities, offers practices for folk in numerous financial conditions, and provide highly effective reflections on the ten paramis, the perfected qualities of enlightened beings. Should you don’t discover your favourite Black Buddhist creators on this concern, please search our archives for the various creators who’ve contributed to previous points, podcasts, and programs.
Now, you’re about to enter a world identified solely to a comparatively few individuals on this earth. It’s the world of the Black Buddhist expertise in America. Irrespective of who you’re, studying this concern might be like wanting in a mirror and thru a window on the identical time. You will note a part of your self whereas additionally seeing some issues unknown. As you put together to enter this world, permit your self to open your thoughts, your coronary heart, your historical past, your conditioning, and be blessed by the lived experiences, the insights, the artwork, the practices, and the knowledge of African Individuals working towards the buddhadharma at present. Attain deeply into this ebony field of onyx gems and see how blackness shines throughout the triple gems.
