What You Can Expect from the Course:
- We will explore the historical roots of the idea of whiteness and examine the suffering that arises for ourselves and others when we cling to our racial identity.
- We will look into how our Zen practice can help us let go of our misconceptions and choose practices and actions in the world that are more congruent with how we want to live as priests.
- We will offer a framework, skills and experiences that contribute to the ongoing transformation of our hearts and minds and enable us to challenge racism and white privilege on every level, from personal to systemic.
Class Schedule and Fees:
The class will be held online via Zoom conference. It will combine lecture, reflection, suggested readings and work with other SZBA members in online breakout groups. Classes will be recorded for those who would like to review content or who have scheduling conflicts.
Classes will be held from 1-3:30 pm PST on April 5, April 19, May 3, May 10 and May 17.
Registration fees will be on a sliding scale from $50 to $250. Please give as generously as you are able in order to help those with fewer means attend this program. Please see Crystal’s Reparations Statement below. If you are unable to contribute, but would like to participate, please consider reaching out to your sangha and wider community for sponsorship. You can find a flyer here (or a print out version here) to help you in these efforts.
Teacher Bio:
Crystal A. Johnson is a retired clinical psychologist whose Dharma study includes the one-year Commit2Dharma program at the East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland, CA, the two-year Dedicated Practitioners Program, and two year Community Dharma Leader Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, in Woodacre, CA. In addition to her other teaching about whiteness and social justice, she is a co-teacher of the White and Awakening in Sangha 6-month program at the East Bay Meditation Center, now in its 6th year. She makes her home in Fort Bragg, CA and can be reached at cjohnson21@earthlink.net
Reparation: the act of making amends, offering expiation, or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury.
In acknowledgment of the harm done by race-based oppression, and in line with her commitment to undermine the system of white supremacy, Crystal offers her teachings as a practice of reparation for the harm done by white supremacy. In accord with this, at Crystal’s request, the net proceeds of the class (after the expenses of the SZBA) will go to the East Bay Meditation Center, a center founded to provide a welcoming environment to people of underrepresented communities. Please give as generously as you can to support this effort.
