Diversity and Inclusion Resources

Below are some resources you may find useful when exploring how Insight meditation can interact with issues of racial justice and anti-racism. This is a starting point and we will add to the page over time.

Video

Gaia House’s Anti-Racism Work

In this video Anita Goraya, one of the trustees at Gaia House, shares some of the work that Gaia House is engaging in as a part of our commitment to Anti-Racism. Also, Toby Fairlove, now former residential community member at Gaia House, shares his experience of taking part in the White Awareness training offered to all staff, trustees and teachers at Gaia House.

Practicing the Inner Work of Racial Justice — Rhonda V. Magee and Jake Dartington

In this session, recorded live on 3rd October as part of Gaia House’s online programme, Rhonda and Jake explore how mindfulness practices can help us to respond to racial injustice – and other forms of identity-based suffering and harm — by being more aware of unconscious bias and reactive patterns. Drawing from Rhonda’s book The Inner Work of Racial Justice,  they discuss how our practice helps us to recognise both our common humanity and our particular identities. There is also an illuminating question and answer at the end.

RHONDA V MAGEE MA JD is a sought-after mindfulness teacher, and a thought and practice innovator of mindfulness-based social justice principles, concepts and practices, and is a Professor of Law at the University of San Francisco.

She has spent more than twenty years integrating law into higher education, leadership and everyday social engagement. Her work explores the intersections of anti-racist education, social justice, and contemplative practices, and offering trauma-sensitive practices to support healing, resilience, personal wellbeing and flourishing together. Grounded in the science of mindfulness, well-being and resilience, she integrates storytelling, movement, journaling and other research-based experiential practices for strengthening our inner resources for navigating a world of constant change.

Rhonda’s award-winning book, The Inner Work of Racial Justice: Healing Ourselves and Transforming Our Communities Through Mindfulness (Penguin RandomHouse TarcherPerigee: 2019; paperback edition 2021), was named one of the top ten books released for the year by the Greater Good Science Center, and received similar recognition by Psychology Today and the editors of Mindful.org.

For Rhonda’s full bio, please visit https://www.rhondavmagee.com/story/

JAKE DARTINGTON has practised Buddhist meditation since 1995. After training as a Dharma teacher with Christina Feldman, he started teaching in 2007. He has a background in Philosophy and Buddhist Studies and trained to teach MBSR and MBCT at Bangor University. Jake lives in Nottingham and regularly teaches for Bodhi College and the Oxford Mindfulness Centre.

Listen to one of Jake Dartington's Talks given at Gaia House on 20.08.2017: Wisdom, wellbeing and awakening (Duration 47:08)

Audio Versions of Practicing the Inner Work of Racial Justice

Welcome, Grounding Meditation (Jake) & Dialogue (Rhonda & Jake)

Guided Practice (Rhonda)

Questions & Responses (Rhonda)

Audio Resources

Dukkha:  Focus on People of Colour (duration  54:20) Bonnie Duran

BONNIE DURAN met the Dharma in 1982 and learned Vipassana in Bodh Gaya India. Since then, she has taken teachings from many western teachers including Joseph Goldstein and Ajahn Sucitto, as well as Tibetan teachers. Bonnie is a graduate of the Insight Meditation Society (IMS)/Spirit Rock Meditation Center (SRMC) retreat teacher-training program. Bonnie teaches long and short retreats and advanced programs at IMS and Spirit Rock and is on the Spirit Rock Teachers Council. Bonnie is also involved in Native American spiritual practices and traditions. Dr Duran is a Professor in the Schools of Social Work and Public Health at the University of Washington and is also faculty at the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute.

Reflections on Race and Diversity (duration 35:31) Joseph Goldstein

Articles

Facing my white privilege by Tara Brach (26 December)
Awakening together by Larry Yang, (in Inquiring Mind, Spring 2015)
Healing the broken body of Sangha by Ruth King

Books

Awakening Together: The Spiritual Practice of Inclusivity and Community, Larry Yang.
Mindful of Race: Understanding and Transforming Habits of Harm: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out, Ruth King
The Inner Work of Racial Justice: Healing Ourselves and Transforming Our Communities Through Mindfulness, Rhonda V. Magee