Specially for People of Colour / BAME / Mixed Racial Heritages / Global Majority
We Belong to Each Other — Florentina Ramirez Staigers
Tues 23 June | 7:00 – 9:00 PM (London time)
Cultivating Belonging as an Antidote to Othering
The mantra "Black Lives Matter" is a powerful mantra. For many of us working in racial justice, we know it is a deep wish for everyone to be valued in society and a deep sadness that this is not happening. To be valued is to be welcomed, accepted for who we are, and to be treated with love and kindness. This then helps us to know we belong in the world. As people of colour, we receive the message that we don't belong each and every day through the micro-aggressions and injustices we experience and see happening to our beloved siblings.
Please bring some pen and paper for journaling.
About Florentina
Florentina is a mixed El Salvadoran and white Latinx, is a social justice attorney, community healer and writer. She is an ordained member of the Order of Interbeing. She is the sole owner and operator of Insight-Out Development, L3C, which brings together justice and healing work. Check out more information about her and Insight-Out Development at insight-outdevelopment.com
Kaira Jewel
Sun 12 July | 3:00 – 5:00 PM (London time)
In this two hour gathering, we will explore the Buddha's final teaching to take refuge in oneself and how we can experience our own wholeness in the present moment.
How can we be present for the feelings of loneliness and feeling we are not enough? Especially as people of colour, or people of culture (as Resmaa Menakem says), living within the reality of white supremacy, there can be a deep, ancestral experience of not belonging, of not being accepted.
We will look at practices and ways of looking that can open our eyes to our fundamental goodness and the nobility that is intrinsic to each of us and can never be destroyed. In this way we claim our own belonging to and in the world.
We will practice guided meditation, Kaira Jewel will offer a dharma reflection, and there will be time for dharma sharing and Q&A. We will also experience InterPlay forms bringing in the wisdom of the body through improvisation and mindful movement. Please bring a journal or paper and writing instrument.
About Kaira
Kaira Jewel Lingo is a Dharma teacher, was ordained for 15 years as a nun in Thich Nhat Hanh’s Order of Interbeing, and is now based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She provides individual spiritual mentoring and leads retreats internationally, offering mindfulness programs for educators, parents and youth in schools, in addition to activists, people of color, artists and families.
She teaches regularly at Schumacher College, was lead teacher for Mindful Schools' year long training for educators, and is a guiding teacher for One Earth Sangha. She explores the interweaving of art, play, ecology and embodied mindfulness practice and is an InterPlay leader.
Dancing in the Depths — An Embodied Experience of Liberation
Led by Ava Avalos
Tue 14 July | 7:00 – 9:00 PM (London time)
During this Tuesday Night Sangha Meeting, members of the London POC and the Gaborone POC, will be led through an evening of meditation, movement and discussion by Dharma Teacher Ava Avalos, MD - as we gently open ourselves to experience deeper levels of Light and Healing.
Please have comfortable clothes and yoga mats – if possible. Social distancing and COVID-19 precautions will be observed.
About Ava
Ava was ordained as a dharma teacher in 2018, after 20 years of study and Zen practice. She facilities Tshedisa Sangha in Botswana - the first African Sangha established in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh on the continent. Originally from San Diego, California, for the last 19 years she has worked as HIV/TB specialist physician in Africa. In addition to clinical care, she focuses medical research on optimizing anti-retroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS patients, preventing the development of HIV drug resistance and improving implemen- tation of public health programs. She also keeps up with two high spirited smooth haired fox terriers, paints, teaches yoga and hosts funky dance par ties.
Taking Refuge and True Belonging | Dene Donalds
Sat 18 July | 3:00 – 5:00 PM (London time)
When we take refuge we need to build our spiritual life on solid ground: If we look deeply we will discover what is stable and what we can take refuge in.
If we take refuge in things that are unstable such as a world of white supremacy and inaccurate history, we will suffer from a lack of true belonging.
This gathering will explore taking refuge and connecting with our ancestors, decedents, sisters and brothers: We will have an opportunity to share and be listened to: Together we will cultivate solidity, true belonging and the mind of love and understanding: Supporting us to live peacefully within ourselves and in the world.
Please feel free to have images of blood and spiritual ancestors, and people you cherish close to you, as we gather and take part in the last of this series of online events for healing in uncertain times.
About Dene
Dene Donalds has been practicing the Dharma since 1995. After visiting Plum Village for the first time in June 2001, and deeply moved by Thay he committed to receiving The 3 Jewels and 5 Mindfulness Trainings.
In 2007 he received the 14 Mindfulness Trainings and started offering Thay's Teachings and Buddhist Chaplaincy in prisons.
In 2016, Dene recieved the Lamp Transmission and became the first person of colour in the UK to practice with ‘The Lamp’. Denes heart felt wish is that other members of the UK Colours of Compassion Sangha join him.
REGULAR MEETINGS
Every Tuesday online via Zoom, beginning either at 2:00 PM or 7:00 PM on alternate weeks.
Upcoming dates:
- Sat 18 July 3:00 PM — special event with Dene Donalds
- Tue 21 July 7:00 PM
- Tue 28 July 2:00 PM
- Tue 4 Aug 7:00 PM
- then alternating afternoons and evenings every Tuesday...
The Colours of Compassion Sangha — led by members of Heart of London — practise mindfulness in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh.
With walking, silent and guided meditations, reading, sharing and singing, we hope to practise in a way that builds peace and joy, and heals suffering.
Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information and if any questions.