A Buddhist Statement on the Separation of Families

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  • Jundo
    Treeleaf Founder and Priest
    • Apr 2006
    • 40557

    A Buddhist Statement on the Separation of Families

    This statement was initiated by the leadership of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association. I have taken the liberty of signing on behalf of our Treeleaf Sangha.

    If you would like to sign a public petition accompanying this Letter, please do so here:

    Stop Separating Immigrant Families_Buddhist Statement


    I might add that it is requested for folks PLEASE REPOST where you can.

    Thank you. The original letter can be found on the Lion's Roar website:

    200 Buddhist teachers call for end to separation of children and parents at US–Mexico Border


    Gassho, Jundo

    =========

    As Western Buddhist leaders, we unreservedly condemn the recently imposed policy of separating immigrant children from their parents at the US-Mexican border.

    Over the past few weeks, thousands of children have been inhumanely taken from their parents by US Customs and Border Protection, in a policy that has been condemned by the United Nations and many international human rights observers. Indeed, no other country has a policy of separating families who intend to seek asylum.

    Whatever the legal status of those attempting to enter the US, separating children from their parents is a contravention of basic human rights. Parents seeking asylum make long, dangerous and arduous journeys in an attempt to find safety and well-being for their precious children. Ripping these vulnerable children from their parents is cruel, inhumane, and against the principles of compassion and mercy espoused by all religious traditions. From a Buddhist perspective, it is the close bond between parents and children that nurtures not only the physical well-being of children, but their psychological health and their moral formation.

    Separating children from their parents and holding them in detention inflicts terrible and needless trauma and stress on young children that hampers and damages their development, causing long-term damage. This policy being employed on United States soil is morally unconscionable. That such egregious actions be employed as a deterrent for families seeking entry and/or asylum in the U.S. – using the sacred bond between innocent youth and their parents – is unjustifiable on any level. We suggest that our current defenders of this policy visit some of these border crossings and child detention centers so they can experience for themselves the present effects of their decisions. It is difficult to conceive that anyone having compassion for our world’s children and their families, and who witnesses such pain and anguish for themselves could continue to uphold such a practice.

    As people of faith and conscience, we feel that it is important that we speak out clearly in defense of basic human rights at this time, calling for an immediate end to this heartless practice. In doing so, we join the voices of many religious leaders and congregations that have unreservedly condemned this policy of separation. This policy is a serious violation of the rights of the child and must be stopped today.



    Signed:

    Rev. Tenku Ruff
    Soto Zen Buddhist Association, President

    Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
    Buddhist Global Relief, Chair
    Buddhist Association of the United States, President

    Rev. Shugen Arnold
    Zen Mountain Monastery, Abbot Zen Center of NYC

    Rev. Linda Ruth Cutts
    San Francisco Zen Center, Central Abbess

    James Lynch
    Buddhist Council of New York, President

    Rev. angel Kyodo williams
    newDharma Community, Spiritual Director, USA
    Buddhist Action Coalition, Co-Founding Organizer, New York

    Rev. Kosen Gregory Snyder
    Brooklyn Zen Center, Senior Teacher
    Buddhist Action Coalition, Co-Founding Organizer, New York

    Rev. Zenshin Greg Fain
    Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Head of Practice

    Rev. Wendy Egyoku Nakao
    Zen Center of Los Angeles, Abbot

    Rev. Shinchi Linda Galijan
    San Francisco Zen Center, President

    Sharon Salzberg
    Insight Meditation Society Barre, MA

    Rev. Hoka Chris Fortin
    Everyday Zen Foundation, Dharma Heart Zen

    Rev. Shosan Victoria Austin
    San Francisco Zen Center

    Rev. Zenki Mary Mocine
    Vallejo Zen Center, Abbess

    Rev. Jokai David Blackwell
    Yokoji Zen Mountain Center, Vice-Abbot

    Rev. Myozan Kodo Kilroy
    Irish Buddhist Union, President

    Eihei Peter Levitt
    Salt Spring Zen Circle, Founder

    Rev. Kanzan Bruce Fortin
    Occidental Laguna Sangha

    Rev James Myoun Ford
    Blue Cliff Zen Sangha

    Rev. Myogen Kathryn Stark
    Sonoma Valley Zen Group

    Rev. Koshin Christine
    Palmer Marin Zen Meditation

    Rev. Anne Seisen Saunders
    Sweetwater Zen Center National City, CA

    Rev. Melissa Myozen Blacker
    Boundless Way Zen Temple Worcester, MA

    Rev. Josh Jiun Bartok
    Greater Boston Zen Center

    Rev. Renshin Bunce
    Beginner’s Mind Zen San Mateo CA

    Frank Ostaseski
    Metta Institute, Sausalito CA

    Eugene Cash
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Teachers Council, Woodacre, CA
    San Francisco Insight, Founder, San Francisco CA

    Larry Yang
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Teachers Council, Woodacre, CA
    East Bay Meditation Center, Co-Founding Teacher,
    Oakland CA Insight Community of the Desert, Founding Teacher, Palm Springs CA

    Oren Jay Sofer
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Teachers Council, Woodacre, CA

    Rev. Gesshin Greenwood
    Blue Cliff Zen Sangha

    Rev. Teijo R Munnich
    Great Tree Zen Women’s Temple, Abbess Alexander NC

    Joryu Harris
    Treetop Zen Center

    Rev. Myo-O Habermas-Scher
    Dharma Dance Sangha Minneapolis, MN

    Phoebe van Woerden
    Pine Mountain Buddhist Temple, Head Monk Ozena Valley CA

    Andrea Fella
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Teachers Council, Woodacre, CA
    Insight Meditation Center, Teacher, Redwood City, CA

    Barbara Salaam Wegmüller
    Spiegel Sangha
    Zen Peacemakers Switzerland

    Beth Sternlieb InsightLA
    Santa Monica, CA

    Anne Cushman
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center

    Erin Treat
    Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center, Guiding Teacher,
    Vallecitos NM Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Teachers Council, Woodacre, CA
    Durango Dharma Center, Resident Teacher, Durango CO

    Rev. Patricia Dai-En Bennage
    Mt. Equity Zendo, Jihoji, Abbess Emerita Lewisburg, Pa

    Rev. Eido Frances Carney
    Olympia Zen Center Olympia, Washington

    Rev. Kenshin Catherine Cascade
    Bird Haven Zendo
    Cheshire, Oregon

    Roland Wegmueller
    Spiegel Sangha
    Zen Peacemakers Switzerland

    Rev. Mark Lancaster
    Generous Heart Sangha Bainbridge Island, Wa

    Dr. Bonnie Duran
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Teachers Council, Woodacre, CA
    Indigenous Wellness Research Institute
    University of Washington, Seattle

    Rev. Taigen Dan Leighton
    Ancient Dragon Zen Gate Chicago, Illinois

    Rev. Kojun Dana Lederhos
    Upright Noble Zen Anchorage, Alaska

    Dr. Jack Kornfield
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center Woodacre California

    Rev. Grace Schireson
    Central Valley Zen Stanford, California

    Rafe Jnan Martin
    Endless Path Zendo Rochester, New York

    Rev. Eugene Bush
    Santa Cruz Zen Center Arcata Zen Group, California

    Rev. Jiko Nakade
    Daifukuji Soto Mission Kona, Hawaiʻi

    Rev. Jisen Coghlan
    Boise Zen Center Boise, Idaho

    Rev. Myō Denis Lahey
    Hartford Street Zen Center, Abbot
    San Francisco, California

    Jeffrey Bon Soeng Kitzes
    Kwan Um School of Zen Oakland, California

    Rev. Dr. Douglas San’un Phillips
    Empty Sky Sangha
    West Cornwall CT/ Lexington MA

    Nikki Mirghafori
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Teachers Council, Woodacre, CA
    Insight Meditation Center, Redwood City, CA

    Kittisaro Thanissara
    Sacred Mountain Sangha, Guiding Teachers, Sebastopol, CA Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Teachers Council, Woodacre, CA Insight Meditation Society, Core Teachers, Barre, MA Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat, Guiding Teachers, S.Africa

    Paul Gyodo Agostinelli
    Eon Zen Center Boulder, CO

    Arlene Lueck
    San Francisco Zen Center San Francisco, California

    Tim Sampson
    Calgary Soto Zen Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    Rev. Daigaku Rumme
    Confluence Zen Center St. Louis, MO

    Rev. Colin Gipson
    San Antonio Zen Center San Antonio, Texas

    Rev. Ben Connelly
    Minnesota Zen Meditation Center Minneapolis, MN

    Rev. Ryuzen Robby Pellett
    One Pine Hall, Seattle WA

    Barry Magid
    Ordinary Mind Zendo, New York, NY

    Robert Chodo Campbell
    New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, Guiding Teacher

    Koshin Paley Ellison
    New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, Guiding Teacher

    Dosho Port and Tetsugan Zummach
    Nebraska Zen Center, Teachers, Omaha, NE

    Myoshin Kate McCandless and Shinmon Michael Newton
    Mountain Rain Zen Community, Co-guiding teachers Vancouver, BC Canada

    Eiko Joshin Carolyn Atkinson
    Everyday Dharma Zen Center Santa Cruz, CA

    Rev Dr Zen Ho Taikyo
    Morgans Buddhist Council Wales, Vice Chair Zen Association Wales
    Lampeter, Ceredigion, Wales, UK

    Rev. Zenshin Florence Caplow
    UU Buddhist Fellowship and UUCUC Urbana, IL

    Rev Diane Eshin Rizzetto
    Bay Zen Center Oakland, CA

    Dojin Sarah Emerson and Korin Charlie Pokorny
    Stone Creek Zen Center
    Sebastopol, CA

    Rev. Petra Hubbeling
    Zen Peacemakers Low Lands The Netherlands

    Edward Espe Brown
    Peaceful Sea Sangha Fairfax, CA

    Rev Myoshin Kaniumoe
    ‘Alaneo Zendo
    Hilo, Hawaii, USA

    Rev. Genjo Marinello
    Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Temple
    Chobo-Ji Seattle, WA, USA

    Rev. Myoyu Andersen
    Great Plains Zen Center Monroe, WI

    Rev. Jyoshin Clay
    Dharma Rain Zen Center Portland, OR, USA

    Rev. Peg Syverson
    Appamada
    Austin, TX USA

    Mushin Terris
    Sangha Jewel Zen Center, Corvallis, OR

    Benjamin Mui Pumphrey
    Shenandoah Zen Waynesboro, VA

    Rev. Nomon Tim Burnett
    Red Cedar Zen Community Bellingham, WA

    Rev. Daishin McCabe Zen Fields
    Ames, Iowa

    Shinge Roko Sherry Chayat
    Zen Studies Society and Zen Center of Syracuse, Abbot New York, NY and Syracuse, NY

    Rev. Kotoku Crivello
    Deep Spring Temple, Resident Head Priest Zen Center of Pittsburgh

    Rev. Michael Shoryu Fieleke
    Morning Star Sangha Newton, MA

    Rev. Dokai Georgesen
    Hokyoji Zen Practice Community Eitzen, MN

    Rev. Jisho Warner
    Stone Creek Zen Center, Abiding Teacher Sebastopol, CA

    Rev. Jodo Cliff Clusin
    Prairie Mountain Zen Center Longmont, CO

    Heather Sundberg
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center
    Mountain Stream Meditation Center, CA

    Judy Roitman
    Kansas Zen Center Lawrence, KS

    Matthew Brensilver
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Teachers Council

    Heiku Jaime McLeod
    Treetop Zen Center, Oakland Maine

    Rev. Enkyo O’Hara
    Village Zendo, New York City

    Rev. Domyo Burk
    Bright Way Zen, Portland OR

    Rev. Jisan Tova Green
    San Francisco Zen Center

    Pamela Weiss
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center, CA

    Seiso Paul Cooper
    Two Rivers Zen Community, Guiding Teacher Narrowsburg, NY

    Rev. Josho Pat Phelan
    Chapel Hill Zen Center, Abbess

    Rev. Shodo Spring
    Mountains and Waters Zen Community

    Rev. Konin Cardenas
    Ekan Zen Study Center

    Eve Myonen Marko
    Green River Zen Center

    Val Meiren Szymanski
    Bamboo in the Wind Zen Center, Abbess

    Anka Spencer
    Puerto Compasivo Mexico

    Donald Rothberg
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Teachers Council, Woodacre, CA East Bay Meditation Center, Oakland, California

    Rev. Reirin Gumbel
    Milwaukee Zen Center

    Rev. Gerry Shishin Wick
    Rev. Ilia Shinko Perez
    Great Mountain Zen Center, Co-spiritual Directors Berthoud, CO

    Rev Joan Hogetsu Hoeberichts
    Heart Circle Sangha, Abbot Ridgewood, NJ

    Seido Martin
    Empty Field ~ Zen West, Guiding Teacher Eugene & Blachly, OR

    Rev. Hirosato Yoshida
    Soto Mission of Hawaii, Shoboji, Resident Minister Honolulu, Hawaii

    Rev. Jundo Cohen
    Treeleaf Sangha
    Various Locations, USA

    Ian Forsberg
    Hokoji, Guiding Teacher Arroyo Seco, NM

    James Baraz
    Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley Spirit Rock Meditation Center

    Rev. Jill Shunzan Kaplan
    Zen Heart Sangha Woodside CA

    Rev. Desmond Gando Gilna
    Sacramento Zendo, CA

    Sharda Rogell
    Spirit Rock Insight Meditation Center, CA

    Kate Lila Wheeler
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Teacher

    Barbara Joshin O’Hara
    Village Zendo
    New York City

    Rev. Myozen Joan Amaral
    Zen Center North Shore Beverly, MA

    Alexander Haley
    Northeast Minneapolis Meditation Community

    Gil Fronsdal
    Insight Meditation Center Redwood City, CA

    Susie Harrington
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Teachers Council Desert Dharma, Guiding Teacher, Moab, UT

    Rev. Inryu Bobbi Ponce-Barger
    All Beings Zen Sangha Washington DC

    Dr. Ann Pirruccello
    Vista Zen Center Vista, CA

    Rev. Joan Jiko Halifax
    Upaya Zen Center, Abbot Santa Fe, NM

    DaRa Williams
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Teachers Council
    Insight Meditation Society, Guiding Teacher, Barre MA
    New York Insight Meditation Center, Guiding Teacher, New York, NY

    Rev. Jay Rinsen Weik
    Rev. Karen Do’on Weik
    Buddhist Temple of Toledo

    Rev. Jeanne Dokai Dickenson
    Wild River Zen Center Nevada City, California

    Rev. Hozan Alan Senauke
    Berkeley Zen Center Berkeley, California

    Rev. Haju Sunim
    Zen Buddhist Temple Ann Arbor, Michigan

    Rev. Eido Espe
    Des Moines Zen Center

    Rev Zoketsu Norman Fischer
    Everyday Zen
    Muir Beach CA

    Rev. Gyokei Yokoyama
    Long Beach Buddhist Church Long Beach, CA

    Michael Kieran
    Honolulu Diamond Sangha Honolulu, HI

    Rev. Seikai Luebke
    Pine Mountain Buddhist Temple Maricopa, CA

    Rev. Joan Halifax
    Upaya Zen Center Santa Fe, New Mexico

    Dana DePalma
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Teachers Council, Woodacre, CA

    Rev. Toshu Neatrour
    Dragon Chant Zen Center Hume, VA

    Joseph Goldstein
    Insight Meditation Society Barre, MA

    Mark Coleman
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center, CA

    Anna Douglas, PhD
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Co-Founding Teacher Insight Meditation Tucson, Guiding Teacher

    Edward E. Hong
    Insight Meditation Society, President Barre, MA

    Ryushin Paul Haller
    San Francisco Zen Center San Francisco, CA

    Rev. Steve Aishi Sarian
    Three Treasures Zen Community San Diego, CA

    Joanne Friday
    Rhode Island Community of Mindfulness Wakefield, RI

    Diana Winston
    UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center Spirit Rock Meditation Center

    Daniel Terragno
    Rocks and Clouds Zendo, Founding teacher and Spiritual Director Sebastopol, California

    John Martin
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Teachers Council Insight Upper Market, San Francisco, Guiding Teacher

    Peter Schneider
    Beginner’s MInd Zen Center Northridge, CA

    Dr. J. Lee Nelson
    Everyday Zen Seattle, WA

    Debra Chamberlin-Taylor
    Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Teachers Council

    Alexis Santos
    Insight Meditation Society Barre, MA

    Ryuten Paul Rosenblum
    Genrinji

    Rev. Koun Franz
    Zen Nova Scotia

    Rev. Daijaku Kinst
    Rev. Shinshu Roberts
    Ocean Gate Zen Center, Capitola CA

    Susan KoDo Efird
    Sky Above Great Wind

    Jeanne Anselmo, Dharmacharya
    Community of Mindful Living, Long Island, NY

    Joshin Byrnes
    Upaya Zen Center, Vice-Abbot

    Rev. Meido Moore
    Abbot, Korinji Rinzai Zen Monastery Reedsburg, WI

    Henry Shukman
    Mountain Cloud Zen Center, Head Teacher Santa Fe, NM

    Rebecca Bradshaw
    Insight Meditation Society, Guiding Teacher, Barre, MA Insight Meditation Center of Pioneer Valley, Guiding Teacher Easthampton, MA

    Narayan Helen Liebenson
    Cambridge Insight Meditation Center, Guiding Teacher Insight Meditation Society, Guiding Teacher, Barre, MA

    Greg Scharf
    Insight Meditation Society, Guiding Teacher, Barre, MA

    Rev. Kathy Isshin Havens
    Soto Zen missionary for South America
    Jisui Zendo – Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Others ...
    Last edited by Jundo; 06-20-2018, 12:31 AM.
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE
  • Troy
    Member
    • Sep 2013
    • 1318

    #2
    [emoji1374] thank you for being our voice


    Sat2day

    Comment

    • Shokai
      Dharma Transmitted Priest
      • Mar 2009
      • 6393

      #3
      Thank you Jundo

      gassho, Shokai

      stlah
      合掌,生開
      gassho, Shokai

      仁道 生開 / Jindo Shokai

      "Open to life in a benevolent way"

      https://sarushinzendo.wordpress.com/

      Comment

      • Shinshi
        Senior Priest-in-Training
        • Jul 2010
        • 3700

        #4
        Thank you Jundo.

        Gassho, Shinshi

        SaT-LaH
        空道 心志 Kudo Shinshi

        For Zen students a weed is a treasure. With this attitude, whatever you do, life becomes an art.
        ​— Shunryu Suzuki

        E84I - JAJ

        Comment

        • Anka
          Member
          • Mar 2017
          • 202

          #5
          Thank you for signing on our behalf Jundo

          James F
          Sat

          Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

          Comment

          • Ryushi
            Member
            • Jan 2018
            • 185

            #6
            Thank you, Jundo. I will post this in my other communities.

            (Link, if anyone wants to point to the original http://szba.org/separating-immigrant...ent-6-18-2018/)

            Gassho. Sat.
            Last edited by Ryushi; 06-18-2018, 09:07 PM.


            No merit. Vast emptiness; nothing holy. I don't know.

            Comment

            • Kyonin
              Dharma Transmitted Priest
              • Oct 2010
              • 6749

              #7
              Thank you Jundo.

              I will translate this into Spanish so I can distribute it.

              Gassho,

              Kyonin
              Sat/LAH
              Hondō Kyōnin
              奔道 協忍

              Comment

              • Tairin
                Member
                • Feb 2016
                • 2837

                #8

                Tairin
                Sat today
                泰林 - Tai Rin - Peaceful Woods

                Comment

                • Sekishi
                  Dharma Transmitted Priest
                  • Apr 2013
                  • 5676

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Todd
                  (Link, if anyone wants to point to the original http://szba.org/separating-immigrant...ent-6-18-2018/)
                  Thank you for this Todd.

                  Gassho,
                  Sekishi
                  #sat
                  Sekishi | 石志 | He/him | Better with a grain of salt, but best ignored entirely.

                  Comment

                  • Jippou
                    Member
                    • Dec 2017
                    • 111

                    #10
                    A Buddhist Statement on the Separation of Families

                    Thank you Jundo!

                    Gassho.

                    Sat today, Jason


                    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                    Comment

                    • Joyo

                      #11
                      Thank you, Jundo. This whole situation is maddening, thank you for being our voice.

                      Gassho,
                      Joyo
                      sat today/lah

                      Comment

                      • Mp

                        #12
                        Thank you for signing this Jundo.

                        Gassho
                        Shingen

                        Sat/LAH

                        Comment

                        • Jundo
                          Treeleaf Founder and Priest
                          • Apr 2006
                          • 40557

                          #13
                          If you would like to sign a public petition accompanying this Letter, please do so here:

                          Stop Separating Immigrant Families_Buddhist Statement


                          Thank you.

                          Gassho, Jundo
                          ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

                          Comment

                          • Sekishi
                            Dharma Transmitted Priest
                            • Apr 2013
                            • 5676

                            #14
                            See also: Shoka's latest thread in the Engaged Center -- https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...ree-Whats-Next

                            Gassho,
                            Sekishi
                            #sat
                            Sekishi | 石志 | He/him | Better with a grain of salt, but best ignored entirely.

                            Comment

                            • Meian
                              Member
                              • Apr 2015
                              • 1722

                              #15
                              Thank you, Thank you, Thank you -- I have shared the Lion's Roar article link to a few places, along with the public petition, with a request that they be shared around.

                              Thank you for this. Jundo, thank you for signing the Letter on our behalf.

                              gassho rei
                              kim
                              st/lh
                              鏡道 |​ Kyodo (Meian) | "Mirror of the Way"
                              visiting Unsui
                              Nothing I say is a teaching, it's just my own opinion.

                              Comment

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