Seven Ways to Actualize Skillful Buddhist Political Speech

In his Buddhadharma article Toward a More Skillful mode of Buddhist Political Speech, Gregory Snyder laid out the tools and approaches Buddhists might wisely adapt from those engaged in Christian Public Theology and Liberation Theology. Here, Snyder shares seven ways to benefit from and act upon the wisdom of these and other spiritual leaders and communities.

If we are to develop the skills needed to transform society, our sanghas might consider working with our spiritual cousins in other religious communities who have longer traditions of public and liberation theologies, of wrestling with these conversations in their communities. Many are doing what I am going to suggest below, but in case this is new, maybe venture out.

1. Meet with other local religious leaders and talk with them about how they engage political speech in their communities.

I have found these interreligious dialogues critical to understanding how to respond in this moment, even if we are all wandering in the dark together. Go to lunch. Inquire into what to study, learn from each other, and form lasting relationships of mutual commitment.

2. Trust that other faith traditions and leaders have something to teach us in terms of speech, especially in areas we are struggling to navigate.

In that spirit, engage other religious communities who are engaged in addressing the social and economic crises of our moment. I particularly encourage deeply learning from and being changed by communities whose class and race realities are considerably different from our own. 

3. Connect to local interfaith activist groups to find out about what kind of engagement is happening, how leadership and religious communities are talking about issues that matter to our broader communities, cities, and nation.

Where are people meeting to speak, strategize, and organize? Prioritize these engagements as a part of your life. Though doubtful, if after much research you find they do not exist, create them.

4. Consider getting training in writing op-eds for your local paper and thought pieces for Buddhist outlets.

While Substack and other online efforts are important, I would recommend identifying your communities, preferably physical ones, and adding a humble, grounded, and convicted voice to the struggle for political and economic democracy. 

5. Through local or state interfaith groups, or activist churches, check into what amicus briefs are going out and sign onto them.

Amicus briefs go beyond the signing of public letters to express moral outrage and offer theological and moral arguments to the courts, grounding legal positions in religious teachings, sacred texts, and ethical frameworks from our faith traditions. These briefs translate theological principles into language relevant to constitutional interpretation and public policy. As Buddhists grounding our moral stands in religious principles, we are under the rights and protections of the Religious Freedom Act, which provides us platforms, safety, support, and privileges that others may not have. If you have this skill set or interest, this is a place to meaningfully affect the legal determinations harming so many in our country. 

6. Take all this information back to sangha and work through how a publicly and politically engaged right speech and dialogue is going to be cultivated.

Of course, speech is not enough. Sometimes our bodies must be put in the way of anti-democratic forces and war just as the Buddha did. However, deeply considered and skillfully directed speech that grounds an unflinching protest to political and economic violence in our traditions of universal compassion, respect, and love carries weight in ways than have more power than we might imagine. That said, we belong to the dharma, not to our religious institutions, and if our sanghas are not interested, then we must reevaluate. 

7. Discern where your speech changes reality.

That may be barbershops and town hall meetings. Find out where you and your community are effective. It is important to know and be confident that not all politically engaged speech is online speech. The spaces that most vigorously — and sometimes scoldingly — demand to hear our voices may not necessarily be the places our voices are most effective. And to those who are demanding that everyone speak, consider that they might be doing so already.

I hope these words are helpful. May we be truly loving comrades in the dharma and may the political and economic structures of this world eventually and fully manifest the Buddha’s heart.

The post Seven Ways to Actualize Skillful Buddhist Political Speech appeared first on Lion’s Roar.