Tricycle magazine recently featured article by Brent R. Oliver called "White Trash Buddhist". I found that it (unfortunately) highlights a very real issue with Dharma in the west, namely that race, gender, and class are deeply embedded in our culture, and are thus also part of the practice experience. The article is important, as are many of the comments.
I left a brief comment, and talked about the Treeleaf experience (without mentioning it by name -- I did not feel it would be right to act as the marketing arm of our Sangha in that particular forum).
However, it also spurred me to open a discussion here at Treeleaf. Compared with the few "brick and mortar" Sanghas I've come across, I think Treeleaf is a fairly diverse group of practitioners, and the fact that our teachers give their teachings freely is a beautiful thing.
I also do not think we can rest on our laurels. The simple fact that we need an internet capable device, and a fast enough connection to participate in video streaming / hangouts means that we are self-selecting from the privileged side of the "digital divide". While I do not think there is much we can do about this fact (we cannot buy devices and internet for all), we must be mindful of this fact. For me personally, I feel it means we should also work even harder in other ways to be inclusive.
I am a white middle class male from a wealthy nation. I have a college degree, and work in the software industry. I have enough free time to participate, and enough disposable income to buy books, tablets and phones, and can look at many Sanghas and say "most people here look like me". I am exactly the kind of person for whom access to Dharma in the west is easy. I will not say "I am part of the problem", but I will say that I am representative of it. I doubt it escaped the notice of many of us that those who were able to attend the recent retreat "in person", were male. Most of us white males, from so called "first world" nations.
I want to be clear, I love Treeleaf. I am deeply grateful for our teachers who give of themselves and the Dharma freely. But I also want to make sure we are doing what we can to be as inclusive as we can - this is also in keeping with the changes here at Treeleaf, and Jundo's stated desire to make the Dharma more widely available.
Perhaps there is nothing we can do but practice, vowing to save all beings. At the very least, I think we must be mindful of our privilege, but is there more that we can do? What do you all think?
Deep bows,
Sekishi
I left a brief comment, and talked about the Treeleaf experience (without mentioning it by name -- I did not feel it would be right to act as the marketing arm of our Sangha in that particular forum).
However, it also spurred me to open a discussion here at Treeleaf. Compared with the few "brick and mortar" Sanghas I've come across, I think Treeleaf is a fairly diverse group of practitioners, and the fact that our teachers give their teachings freely is a beautiful thing.
I also do not think we can rest on our laurels. The simple fact that we need an internet capable device, and a fast enough connection to participate in video streaming / hangouts means that we are self-selecting from the privileged side of the "digital divide". While I do not think there is much we can do about this fact (we cannot buy devices and internet for all), we must be mindful of this fact. For me personally, I feel it means we should also work even harder in other ways to be inclusive.
I am a white middle class male from a wealthy nation. I have a college degree, and work in the software industry. I have enough free time to participate, and enough disposable income to buy books, tablets and phones, and can look at many Sanghas and say "most people here look like me". I am exactly the kind of person for whom access to Dharma in the west is easy. I will not say "I am part of the problem", but I will say that I am representative of it. I doubt it escaped the notice of many of us that those who were able to attend the recent retreat "in person", were male. Most of us white males, from so called "first world" nations.
I want to be clear, I love Treeleaf. I am deeply grateful for our teachers who give of themselves and the Dharma freely. But I also want to make sure we are doing what we can to be as inclusive as we can - this is also in keeping with the changes here at Treeleaf, and Jundo's stated desire to make the Dharma more widely available.
Perhaps there is nothing we can do but practice, vowing to save all beings. At the very least, I think we must be mindful of our privilege, but is there more that we can do? What do you all think?
Deep bows,
Sekishi
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