DOC Radical Dharma: Talking Race; Love; and Liberation by Rev. angel Kyodo Williams; Lama Rod Owens; Jasmine Syedullah Ph.D. in History

Review

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Life changingBy CharlotteRadical Dharma: Talking Race; Love; and Liberation This is a book of how three people used meditation and practice to transform themselves in the face of America's race illness and how they are now working on liberating others and the world. I got to live and breathe and cry through the pain they faced and then to listen as they brought their learnings into dialogs around the country on race; love; and liberation. There were moments I put the book down and just said "Damn." So much truth here. A must read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Worthwhile Discussion on Buddhism; Race; Gender Identity; and Sexual PreferenceBy E. FisherRadical dharma explores the intersections of race; racism; gender identity; and sexual preference in the US as those terms relate to Buddhism. There are both articles and moderated discussion groups with the three authors; all of whom are black;gay; bi or transgender intellectuals. One of the most interesting discussions involves race and the sangha; as Buddhism not based in East Asian communities is overwhelmingly populated by white middle to upper middle class educated members. I think that Rev. angel Kyodo Williams sensei both nails the problem on the head and highlights the conflicting viewpoints that run throughout the book when she states: "Race is the ultimate delusion in that it both does and does not exist in reality."With respect to sanghas the conversants note that problems arise when the sangha is not willing to turn into itself and explore what it means to be in a racialized society. Another one of the author's; Lama Rod; describes radical Dharma; within this context as having the bravery to have dharma talks and meditation practices that will focus on topics that make participants feel uncomfortable and learn how to deal with their suffering.One of the criticism's of Lama Rod's; with which I agree; is that many sangha's have become severely compromised by capitalism and need to provide a consumer oriented Buddhism. The result is too heavy a focus on selling classes and not offending sangha members which dilutes the authenticity of Buddhist practice. On the other hand; you need money to run a sangha; so where is the balance?My criticism of the viewpoints and discussions as that it is at times it is devalued by the overuse of racial and sexual labels. An example is the comment: "for white folks; though the coexistence of being historically lauded as the creators of what is right; making mistakes must be hard." I wanted to ask which "white folks?" There are immigrant white folks and holocaust survivor white folks and down and out white folks; should they be lumped into the white folks of the quote above and does the author seriously think that all white folks see themselves and their relation to race in the same way? The authors turn to greater complexity at times when they talk about racism and economics as co-repressive self-feeding factors. However; the essays and discussions veer between the "race as monolith" and "race as factorial" viewpoints. Overall; this book is of great value both in understanding applied Buddhism and the need to openly discuss racial issues within the sangha. I highly recommend this book.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Crack open whiteness in North American BuddhismBy Miriam HallI am moved to write my very first review for this book. This book is both overdue and exactly on time. We need this; in the dharma community; in the white dharma community (the "we" I can speak for). As a queer white buddhist woman; I can both connect to big parts of this book and also know so much of it will never be my experience. And it is that intersection of what is needed to know; what is known; what is universal and specific; that is needed to help the over-whitening of dharma in north america to crack open.