If you meditate (or do yoga, for that matter), you may have been taught by a Westerner, but you owe a gigantic debt of gratitude to the giants and geniuses in Asia who developed these practices. This fact can be overlooked or downplayed -- intentionally or otherwise -- by Western practitioners, including, sometimes, me. However, in the midst of a spike of anti-Asian violence, now seems like a very good time to learn more about where these practices came from, and why many Asian-American Buddhists sometimes feel erased. Not only is this the right thing to do, but it can also add depth and perspective and freshness to your practice. In this episode, we have two fascinating guests who will talk about what it's been like for them to be Asian American Buddhists in the midst of this spate of hate crimes, and walk us through the long and ugly history of anti-Buddhist violence in America. We also talk about: how all meditators (not just people in vulnerable communities) can learn resiliency through meditation; the connection between karma and reparations; and whether it's possible, or advisable, to generate goodwill towards people who hate you. We also have a frank conversation about how some of my own messaging about Buddhism in America has missed the mark. My guests are: Chenxing Han, who is the author of Be the Refuge: Raising the Voices of Asian American Buddhists. She holds a BA from Stanford and an MA in Buddhist Studies from the Graduate Theological Union. And, Duncan Ryūken Williams, who is the author of American Sutra: A Story of Faith and Freedom in the Second World War. He has a B.A. in Religious Studies from Reed and a Ph.D. in Religion from Harvard. He is currently a professor at the University of Southern California. He's also a Zen priest. Both Duncan and Chenxing are helping to organize a national ceremony -- which will take place the day after we post this interview -- on the 49-day anniversary of the Atlanta spa shootings that took the lives of several Asians and Asian-Americans. (For more on that ceremony, click here: https://www.maywegather.org/) One thing to say before we dive in: we are dedicating this whole week to the spike in hate crimes against members of the AAPI community. On Wednesday, we'll talk to Mushim Ikeda, a Buddhist teacher, about how all of us can use meditation to deal with anger, uncertainty, and self-loathing. And two more items of business: first, are you interested in teaching mindfulness to teens? Looking to carve your own path and share this practice in a way that feels real, authentic, and relevant in today's world? Our friends at iBme are accepting applications for their Mindfulness Teacher Training program - catered towards working with teens and young adults. The last round of applications are due May 15th and scholarships are available. For more information and to apply, check out: https://ibme.com/mindfulness-teacher-training/ And second, we want to deeply thank and recognize mental health professionals for your support. For a year's FREE access to the app and hundreds of meditations and resources visit: https://www.tenpercent.com/mentalhealth Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/chenxing-han-duncan-ryuken-williams-343
Actionable Insights
1. Cultivate Resilience Through Meditation
In meditation, when your mind wanders or body slumps, notice it and gently bring yourself back to an upright posture and focused mind. This practice builds resilience and the capacity to bounce back in life, embodying the teaching ‘seven times you fall down, eight times you get back up’.
2. Harness the Power of Sangha
Actively engage with your community (Sangha) and cultivate spiritual friendships. Our ability to get back up when we’ve fallen down is often dependent on the power of community coming together, where we lend and receive helping hands, and find solace and shared intention during difficult times.
3. Respond to Hate with Love
When faced with hate, respond with loving kindness or goodwill. This is presented as the ’truer, deeper, real healing’ that prevents adding to suffering, even if it’s not the first step taken.
4. Alleviate Suffering with Stillness
When overwhelmed by anger or grief, take a moment to notice the pain and become still. This initial step of alleviating suffering can then lead to proactive responses, bringing Buddhist practice, morality, and virtues to bear on actions for true healing and repair.
5. Embody Being a Refuge
Actively embody what it means to be a refuge for yourself, loved ones, and all beings. This can manifest as seated meditation, acts of service like cooking a meal, or engaging in difficult but caring conversations to strengthen relationships, finding belonging and freedom wherever you are.
6. Contextualize Meditation for Deeper Practice
Understand meditation within its broader context, including history, ethics, and ritual, rather than divorcing it from these elements. This prevents its misuse and ensures it aligns with the deeper purpose of wisdom, compassion, and interconnectedness.
7. Cultivate Humility, Broaden Perspective
Cultivate a healthy level of humility and actively seek connections with diverse individuals and communities to broaden your perspective on Buddhism and life. This approach fosters understanding, is appreciated by others, and can lead to more nuanced, healing conversations.
8. Repair Collective Karma (Reparations)
Recognize that unaddressed historical hurts and racial karma get passed on through generations. Engage in deep repair work for these collective hurts, such as supporting initiatives like H.R. 40 for reparations, as a matter of acknowledgment, truth-telling, and human dignity.
Believe in the possibility of transformation from patterns of pain and bias, utilizing wisdom and compassion as a pathway. Practice acknowledging each other’s inherent Buddha nature while also recognizing universal brokenness, allowing for both active change and relaxing into inherent completeness.
10. Learn Practice History
Learn more about the historical origins of practices like meditation and yoga, and the experiences of Asian American Buddhists. This adds depth, perspective, and freshness to your practice and helps correct historical narratives.
11. Embrace “Not Belonging”
If you experience a sense of not fully belonging, embrace it as a potential gift. This experience can lead to comfort in diverse spaces, enable you to be a bridge-builder between communities, and foster natural empathy for marginalized groups.
12. Practice Chanting and Quiet Meditation
Incorporate chanting at home and quiet meditation into your routine. These practices can provide solace and help settle the mind during difficult periods.
13. Use Meditation for Emotional Regulation
Use meditation to deal with difficult emotions such as anger, uncertainty, and self-loathing.