A Toolkit: Inviting Dharma Leaders to Speak Up about Palestine

May oppression and division, and all their causes, be dispelled. May the force of kindness and the power of our collective commitment to justice, inclusiveness, and awakening serve all. 
  - From Insight Meditation Society’s Mission and Values

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.
  - Bishop Desmond Tutu, South African social rights & anti-apartheid activist

A statement calling on Insight Meditation Society to take a public stance against the US-backed violence against the Palestinian people was signed by 121 Insight practitioners and Dharma teachers and delivered to IMS' executive director, board of directors, and guiding teachers council on November 30, 2023.  It called on them to join their voices with the growing number of Western Buddhist leaders calling for a total ceasefire, such as Thanissara, Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Insight Western Mass, Plum Village, East Bay Meditation Center, ARISE Sangha, Kaira Jewel Lingo, Lama Rod Owens, Rev. angel Kyodo williams, Bikkhu Bodhi and Hozan Alan Senauke.

In addition to Sign On letters that have been sent to IMS and Gaia House, there is a toolkit available to help Dharma practitioners in asking their Buddhist leaders to add their voices to the chorus of so many around the world who are demanding an end to the genocide.

Toolkit: Inviting Dharma Leaders to Speak Up about Palestine

Please share with Buddhists of all lineages and traditions!

*painting above by Rosalind Nashashibi