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Interesting opportunity for public engagement!

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2026 NYC Walk details - Buddhist Global Relief

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Join Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi in Astoria Park on September 26, 2026, for a morning of compassionate action in the Dharma, in benefit of Buddhist Global Relief.

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We are coming to the end of David Loy's Ecodharma; we'll wrap it up at the next meeting on the 26th.

On the 26th, we'll start to think about what we'd like to read together next. We've had a couple of book lists circulating, now consolidated to a single list that will be actively curated.

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Here's Gretel's slides from our meeting discussing David Loy's Ecodharma, Chapter 5: What If It's Too Late?

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In our last meeting, we discussed Chapter 4 of David Loy's book Ecodharma. James prepared some notes about this.

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As a follow-up to last night's discussion I'm posting this graphic. A book that may be worth us exploring is "Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life by Karen Armstrong, an internationally recognized religious historian. It was written in response to 9/11 and all the Islamophobia. An outgrowth of the book is the International charter for Compassion (https://charterforcompassion.org. Stanford also started a Center for Compassion and Altruism and Research (https://ccare.stanford.edu). All reminders of the good hearted atoms floating around.

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Everything we can save is worth saving - Rebecca Solnit 

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Everything we can save is worth saving - Rebecca Solnit 

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This is the quote I mentioned at our meeting July 8th: They want you to feel powerless and to surrender and to let them trample everything and you are not going to let them. You are not giving up, and neither am I. The fact that we cannot save everything does not mean we cannot save anything and everything we can save is worth saving.  You may need to grieve or scream or take time off, but you have a role no matter what, and right now good friends and good principles are worth gathering in. Remember what you love. Remember what loves you. Remember in this tide of hate what love is. The pain you feel is because of what you love.

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Volunteers Needed!

For nine months each year, HIP partners with the Princeton Mobile Food Pantry to provide healthy, nutritious food to families in our Transitional Housing program. We're grateful to the volunteers who make these deliveries possible.

As we prepare for our next season beginning in September, we're looking for additional volunteers! On the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, volunteers pick up two bags of food between 10–11 a.m. and deliver them to one of our families.

To learn more or to receive the 2026–2027 schedule, please contact volunteer@housinginitiativesofprinceton.org.

Thank you for helping neighbors support neighbors!

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In our last meeting, we discussed Chapter 3 of David Loy's book Ecodharma. Gretel prepared some slides to help the discussion.

Also shared during the meeting:

James shared an essay from the Buddhist Global Relief newsletter by Bhikkhu Bodhi: "Seeking a Buddhist Public Theology"

Erin talked about a book she's reading by Si Kahn, Creative Community Organizing

Lisa has shared information about submitting a public comment opposing the proposed postal rule hindering mail-in ballots (see the card in the next column)

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, July 8th at 7:00pm, when we'll discuss Chapter 4 of Ecodharma.

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Demand USPS Reject Trump’s Illegal Order

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Donald Trump is trying to turn the United States Postal Service into a federal checkpoint for mail in ballots – and the USPS is getting ready to implement the illegal order in less than 30 days. If this rule moves forward and is made final, millions of registered voters would not even receive their ballots to vote in federal elections, including for Congress or for President. Let’s be crystal clear here: We’re not even talking about voters mailing their ballots back. We’re talking about the post office being told to not even send certain people their ballots to vote in the first place.   The proposed rule is based on Trump’s voter suppression executive order that attacks vote by mail. It would require state election officials to send USPS a list of voters based in part on Department of Homeland Security created citizenship databases that have repeatedly been shown to be inaccurate and flawed. Trump is trying to illegally declare the post office a federal election administrator to decide whether to mail certain eligible voters their ballots under the false flag of election security. Voting by mail is safe, secure, convenient, and for many people, it is the only accessible way to cast a ballot. Seniors, voters with disabilities, rural voters, Indigenous communities, military families, students, caregivers, and working people all rely on the mail to exercise their right to vote. The USPS delivers the mail. It does not run elections. It serves every address in the country, regardless of party, race, income, geography, disability, age, or citizenship status. Its mandate is to provide universal service to the public, not carry out Trump’s voter suppression agenda. We have fought attacks on vote by mail before, and when the public speaks up and fights back, we’ve won. The USPS is required to hear public comments on this plan before they can implement it. It’s time to fight back and win – again. The Postal Service’s job is to deliver ballots, not help Trump decide who gets one. The USPS must reject this unlawful order, protect universal service, and refuse to let the mail become a weapon against eligible voters. Click “START WRITING” to submit an official comment against this plan to demand the USPS protect vote by mail and reject implementation of Trump’s illegal order now.

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Jack Kornfield: "Save it because you love it & because it is part of you"

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Jack Kornfield: "Save it because you love it & because it is part of you"

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Another gem from our Sunday dharma study friend Hilary. In this short except, Jack offers wisdom regarding how we can respond to a world on fire. He encourages us to sit down and listen to the trees, and be joyful.

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Why Every Problem in the World Has the Same Source | Jack Kornfield

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Useful reminders from Rev. Zenshin Florence Caplow for staying grounded in the face of injustice.

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Ten Practices for Frightening Times — Cloud Way, Rev. Zenshin Florence Caplow

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As our world turns upside down, and the waves of shock and horror keep coming to shore, here are my ten practices for navigating through…

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In our last meeting, we discussed Chapter 2 of David Loy's book Ecodharma. Kate prepared some slides to help the discussion, and James shared two New Yorker articles by Jay Caspian Kang on the role of religion in activism and on "McMindfulness."

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, June 24th at 7:00pm, when we'll discuss Chapter 3 of Ecodharma.

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Discernment as the heart of engaged Buddhism

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Discernment as the heart of engaged Buddhism

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In this session of Upaya’s Awareness and Action series, Bhikkhu Bodhioffers a penetrating teaching on discernment as the heart of engaged Buddhism in times of crisis.

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In this session of Upaya’s Awareness and Action series, Bhikkhu Bodhi offers a penetrating teaching on discernment as the heart of engaged Buddhism in times of crisis. He reflects on his journey from…

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Buddhist-led Peace Walk in NYC Sunday July 12

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Buddhist-led Peace Walk in NYC Sunday July 12

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From the website (click above ^ for link) "We are a group of Buddhist practitioners who come from widespread lineages and share a vision of bringing the Buddhist ethic of peace into the world. By gathering together on July 12th, we seek to bring our whole-hearted intention, rituals, and ceremonies, into the streets in order to give one another love and a deep sense of belonging, where we vow to take care of one another, bear witness to suffering and call for no harm.
We are led primarily by Women of Color who are seeding the path for us to actualize our aspirations of birthing a world that insists on love for one another and a deep sense of belonging for each and every being."

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From Climate Changed podcast, an interview with the creator and editor of Imagine 2100.

Tory discusses Imagine 2200, an initiative that asks a simple yet radical question: What if we wrote stories not about what we fear but about what we hope to create? The discussion dives into how imagination connects with responsibility, how storytelling serves as a profound form of spiritual leadership, and why envisioning a new reality is essential for climate justice.

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Welcome to Season 4 of Climate Changed! This season, we are thrilled to welcome a new co-host to the mic: Autumn Brown! Autumn is an artist, theologian, mother, and freedom worker who brings a deep well of wisdom, joy, and creativity to our exploration of spiritual leadership. She joins Reverend Nicole Diroff, Associate Director at The BTS Center, as they guide us through conversations about how spiritual imagination and real-world practice meet this moment of accelerating change. We are so excited for you to journey with Autumn and Nicole this season!

Episode Summary | S4E1
In the Season Four premiere of the Climate Changed podcast, Autumn Brown talks with Tory Stephens, a storyteller, cultural worker, and climate justice advocate.

They explore the transformative power of climate fiction and its role in helping us envision the future. Tory discusses his groundbreaking work at Grist, where he founded Imagine 2200, an initiative that asks a simple yet radical question: What if we wrote stories not about what we fear but about what we hope to create? The discussion dives into how imagination connects with responsibility, how storytelling serves as a profound form of spiritual leadership, and why envisioning a new reality is essential for climate justice.

Episode Summary | S4E2
Following up on Autumn's inspiring interview with climate-fiction editor Tory Stephens, co-hosts Autumn Brown and Rev. Nicole Diroff talk about why the climate movement desperately needs more imagination, how to navigate the messy middle between dystopia and utopia, and why hope needs to become a regular, daily discipline.

You don't need to have listened to the previous episode first; in fact, starting here will give you a beautiful lens for when you do go back to listen to Tory and Autumn's conversation!

Grounding:

To begin the episode, producer Peterson Toscano leads a grounding exercise by sharing a short, speculative story. Modeled on the type of climate fiction discussed in the episode, the story features a message from "Timothy Meadows from the Future" giving a broadcast from the year 2115. Timothy explores the history of how human relationships with pets and animals shifted and adapted in the face of climate change. This strange and wonderful story sets the stage for the episode by letting imagination lead and inviting listeners to envision a workable, adaptable future.

Next Steps: Where Imagination Meets Practice

The change we need won't happen alone-it grows in community. Here are two invitations from today's conversation to carry these ideas into your shared lives:

Creating Your Story of Tomorrow: This is a beautifully crafted facilitator guide and video developed by renowned environmental artist Eve Mosher. Designed for adult education facilitators and congregation leaders, this resource will guide you and your community through a collaborative workshop to envision the future together.

Write Your Own Flash Fiction: Sit down-alone, with a friend, or with a group-and write a piece of "flash fiction" (a very short story of less than a page with a beginning, middle, and end) about a future you would love to inhabit. Read your stories aloud to one another, post them on social media, or combine your group's stories into a printed zine!

Share Your Visions With Us: We want to see your flash fiction and hear what you are creating or discovering! Email us at podcast@thebtscenter.org or leave a voice message at 207-200-6986. Your insights might ripple out through future episodes.

Resources & Concepts Mentioned:

Thrutopia: Coined by philosopher Rupert Read and popularized by author Manda Scott through the Thrutopia Masterclass , a Thrutopian narrative threads the needle between utopia and dystopia. It focuses on writing grounded, plausible, and inspiring route maps that show exactly how we navigate through our current struggles to reach a future we'd be proud to leave behind.

Bloodchild by Octavia E. Butler: Autumn quotes the legendary science fiction author-who was the first African American woman to reach mainstream success in the genre-and her collection Bloodchild and Other Stories , reflecting on how sci-fi stimulates necessary imagination and creativity.

North Woods by Daniel Mason: A novel mentioned by Nicole Diroff from The BTS Center's Summer Fiction Book Club, highlighting how fiction can make the natural landscape the main character.

Humans of New York: The iconic photoblog that Tory credits with changing his perspective early in his career, teaching him the unparalleled power of human-centric storytelling over dry statistics.

Visionary Fiction: A framework of world-building and storytelling that Autumn Brown and her sister use in their writing retreats, which actively wrestles with the sacred and reclaims spiritual practices.

Dream Seeds: A term favored by Grist and Imagine 2200 to describe stories that plant concrete, hopeful visions of how society could be organized completely differently.

Eve Mosher & Creating Your Story of Tomorrow: An adult education facilitator guide and video created by renowned environmental artist Eve Mosher, available on the BTS Center's Leadership Commons.

"Seven Sisters" by Susan Kaye Quinn; 3rd place winner of the 2022 Imagine 2200 contest.

The Case of the Missing Lake by Colby Devitt; published in November 2025 by Imagine 2200 .

Connect with Tory & Explore His Work:

Thank Yous: We want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who made this episode possible:

Tory Stephens, for sharing his incredible vision, imagination, and wisdom with us.

Peterson Toscano, producer of Climate Changed, for producing this episode and for providing the wonderful grounding for this episode.

The BTS Center team, for your ongoing support and for providing the resources and platform that make this podcast possible.

Tory Stephens (he/him) is a storyteller, cultural worker, and climate justice advocate. At Grist, he co-founded Imagine 2200 , a climate-fiction powerhouse, and has produced two anthologies of climate fiction: Afterglow and Metamorphosis . He now focuses on publishing climate fiction year-round and building partnerships that connect culture, justice, and climate solutions. In addition to his work at Grist Magazine, Tory is also involved with the Hollywood Climate Summit.

Autumn Brown (she/her) is an artist, facilitator, mother, and theologian. The front woman of the eponymously named soul-pop band, AUTUMN, she is a queer, mixed-race Black woman, a gifted facilitator and orator, and a freedom worker who grounds her approach to building movements for liberation in her belief in the innate capacity for healing that emanates from the human heart.

Rev. Nicole Diroff (she/her) is ordained in the United Church of Christ. She holds expertise in facilitation, data management, and strategic planning. Nicole is a certified Maine Master Naturalist, serves as Chair of the Spiritual Formation Committee at Williston-Immanuel United Church and is Co-Chair of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee for the Scarborough Public School District.

After spending 17 years and over $30,000 on three continents attempting to "de-gay" himself through conversion therapy, Peterson Toscano came out a quirky queer Quaker concerned with human rights. He also produces other podcasts including Citizens Climate Radio, Bubble & Squeak, and the Bible Bash Podcast. Peterson has been featured in People Magazine, The Times of London, the Trya Banks Show, and NPR Morning Edition. He lives in Pretoria, South Africa with his husband, Glen Retief.

CC S2E1: What does collective truth-telling look like? feat. Rob Shetterly

CC S3E1: The Power of Ritual & Story, feat. Brian McLaren

Let's Talk: with former Portland Poet Laureate Maya Williams

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Climate Changed Podcast Season 4, Episode 1

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Welcome to Season 4 of Climate Changed! This season, we are thrilled to welcome a new co-host to the mic: Autumn Brown! Autumn is an artist, theologian, mother, and freedom worker who brings a deep well of wisdom, joy, and creativity to our exploration of spiritual leadership.

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^ Click above for link to Grist's Imagine 2200 homepage

From the website: Imagine 2200 is Grist’s climate fiction initiative, engaging writers across the globe in envisioning the next 180 years of climate progress. Whether built on abundance or adaptation, reform or a new understanding of survival, these stories serve as a springboard for exploring how fiction can help us build toward a better reality.

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Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors landing page

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In our latest meeting, we shared our followups on volunteering with various community organizations (all available on the Volunteer Opportunities Padlet).

We also began our discussion of David R. Loy's book Ecodharma. We discussed the introduction to the book and our responses to the areas he highlights there.

Our next meeting is on May 27th at 7:00pm, when we'll have more sharing and support, along with a discussion of Chapter 1 of Ecodharma.

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We have a separate Padlet board dedicated to volunteer opportunities. You can find local organizations looking for help and collaborate with other group members here.

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On April 22nd, Diana presented a number of options for engagement/partnership with various local nonprofits. This document has all the details, or check out our new Volunteer Opportunities Padlet.

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Democracy on the Corner in Hopewell Boro

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Democracy on the Corner in Hopewell Boro

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Every Thursday from 5:30 - 6:30 PM

at the corner of Broad Street (Route 518) and Greenwood Ave. Join a friendly group of folks standing up for democracy and free speech. The band, Missing Charlie, keeps it lively, performing a mix of new and old songs of resistance and unity. Bring a sign if you have one, and bring a friend! Family & dog friendly.

Map

News article: One Year Anniversary

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This is a very inspiring photo essay from ProPublica about the real everyday people who are showing up for their neighbors in Minneapolis.

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Photographs and text by Peter DiCampo.Design by Zisiga Mukulu.

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Trump Called My Neighbors “Paid Agitators.” This is Who They Really Are.

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After ICE came to Minneapolis, ProPublica journalist Peter DiCampo saw his community step up to patrol the streets, drive strangers to work and provide aid to families in hiding. These are his neighbors, in their city, in their own words.

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A poem shared by some friends at Windrows 

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A poem shared by some friends at Windrows 

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Because

by Rosemerry Watola Trommer

This poem was shared in the latest newsletter from Ayya Anandabodhi at the Parayana Vihara in Port Townsend, WA

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Awakened Action: What Blooms in the Ashes

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Awakened Action: What Blooms in the Ashes

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A 2-day online program on socially engaged Buddhism. Offered freely by Upaya Zen Center in Nov '26.

Teachers include: Roshi Joan Halifax, Valerie Brown, Terry Tempest Williams, Rebecca Solnit, Molly Crockett, and Christiana Figueres.

https://www.upaya.org/program/awakened-action-online-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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AWAKENED ACTION: What Blooms in the Ashes (Online 2026)

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Soon after you register, you will receive an email with a link to the Resource Page, which is where all of the recordings and readings are listed. It may take a few minutes to reach you.

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Action is the Antidote (< click on this link to view)

Sharing this from our dear friend Hilary, who attends the Dharma study group on Sunday. She writes: "I found this interview with Edward Norton / Stephen Colbert to be filled with wisdom on our great predicament. I thought of the engaged buddhist group and felt this could be of some encouragement or may spark an action that hadn’t come to the surface before." Norton's rendition of Walt Whitman's Crossing Brooklyn Ferry is powerful.

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March 11, 2026
Fertile Ground for Training

We are at a time when old systems and ideas are being questioned and falling apart, and there is a great opportunity for something fresh to emerge. I have no idea what that will look like and no preconceptions about how things should turn out, but I do have a strong sense that the time we live in is a fertile ground for training in being open-minded and open-hearted. If we can learn to hold this falling apart–ness without polarizing and without becoming fundamentalist, then whatever we do today will have a positive effect on the future.

Excerpted from:

Welcoming the Unwelcome: Wholehearted Living in a Brokenhearted World

By Pema Chödrön

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Truly strong

among those who think themselves strong.

Truly unafraid

among those who hide their fear.

A hero

among those who talk of heroes.

Don't be fooled by outward signs -

lifting heavy things

or picking fights with weaker opponents

and running headfirst into battle.

A real hero walks the Path to its end.

Then shows others the way.

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Sharon Salzberg, Real Change, Chapter 8: Exquisite Balance

Here is the slide deck we used to talk through this chapter.

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The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality.

—James Baldwin (1924–1987), Nation magazine, “Notes on the House of Bondage,” 1 November 1980

Here's the one credited to Baldwin, for which I have been unable to find any reference:

For these are all our children; we will profit by, or pay for, whatever they become.

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Suggested Boycotts: Companies that have an outsized influence on our economy, president and are active enablers of ICE

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Suggested Boycotts: Companies that have an outsized influence on our economy, president and are active enablers of ICE

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[As shared by Serena in our Feb 11th meeting]

A woman was waiting at an airport one night, With several long hours before her flight. She hunted for a book in the airport shops. Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.

She was engrossed in her book but happened to see, That the man sitting beside her, as bold as could be. Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag in between, Which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene.

So she munched the cookies and watched the clock, As the gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock. She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by, Thinking, “If I wasn’t so nice, I would blacken his eye.”

With each cookie she took, he took one too, When only one was left, she wondered what he would do. With a smile on his face, and a nervous laugh, He took the last cookie and broke it in half.

He offered her half, as he ate the other, She snatched it from him and thought… oooh, brother. This guy has some nerve and he’s also rude, Why he didn’t even show any gratitude!

She had never known when she had been so galled, And sighed with relief when her flight was called. She gathered her belongings and headed to the gate, Refusing to look back at the thieving ingrate.

She boarded the plane, and sank in her seat, Then she sought her book, which was almost complete.

As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise, There was her bag of cookies, in front of her eyes.

If mine are here, she moaned in despair, The others were his, and he tried to share. Too late to apologize, she realized with grief, That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.

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Sharon Salzberg, Real Change, Chapter 7: Seeing More Clearly

Here is the slide that we used to talk through this chapter.

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Real Change Chapter 7 2-11 Engaged Buddhism

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Sharon Salzberg, Real Change, Chapter 6: Interconnectedness

Here are the slides that we used to talk through this chapter.

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Support Needed to Help Immigrants Self File for Asylum

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Support Needed to Help Immigrants Self File for Asylum

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Many groups of refugees are slated to lose their protected status soon and may face deportation. They will be easy targets as they are known in the system. I-RISE is working through DIRE Legal Services to help them file for asylum. Volunteers needed to help with the process.

Our Trenton office recently hosted a clinic for our clients who need to self-file for asylum. AHC DIRE Legal Services provides this free of charge, and so we could not do this without the help of amazing volunteers.

If you’d like to receive training in this important work so you can guide our clients through the process, please contact ellen.whitt@improvingnj.org

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Soon after you register, you will receive an email with a link to the Resource Page, which is where the recording, resources, and readings are listed. It may take a few minutes to reach you. If the program has already started, the email will contain a Zoom link required to access the program.
A RECORDING OF THE PROGRAM will be added to the Resource Page as soon as it is available.
If you have registered for this program, please access the RESOURCE PAGE here.

Portuguese Translation/Tradução para o português: Saiba mais e inscreva-se no serviço de tradução para o português oferecido pela Upaya Brasil aqui.
Series Description: The Measure of Our Humanity
Since 2020, when the pandemic first unfolded, Upaya has been exploring the necessity of rehumanization, solidarity, and speaking truth to power. Each year, we have deepened this investigation of socially and environmentally engaged Buddhism with remarkable teachers, contemplatives, artists, and activists. This past year's Awareness in Action series has been part of that ongoing commitment.

In 2026, we turn toward a question that has perhaps been implicit throughout this entire journey: What is the measure of our humanity?

At its very heart, this question is about laying down a path toward a sane and compassionate future. It is about confirming what defines our moral worth, what we stand for, and how we move forward in our tangled world. As we have learned throughout the past 2025 series-from Father Boyle's unwavering belief that everyone is unshakably good, to Sharon Salzberg's teaching that love is an ability we develop-our true character is revealed in how we interact with and care for others, the very heart of what Thich Nhat Hanh has called "interbeing."

The series will explore how we embody values like inclusion, belonging, compassion, respect, dignity, justice, and courage-not as abstract ideals, but as lived practice in these complex times.

Beginning in January, we will journey through essential dimensions of our humanity:

We will start with Interconnectedness alongside Jon Kabat-Zinn, who helped us understand the poly-crisis earlier this year. We'll explore Courage with Christiana Figueres, who showed us how to stand firmly against environmental destruction while finding beauty that sustains us.

Transformation with Valerie Brown will examine how we change both ourselves and systems. Rehumanization with John Paul Lederach will guide us in seeing the full humanity of those many are conditioned to other.

Tara Brach returns to explore Imagination-the capacity to envision and foster a world that is sane, brave, and good. And Roshi Joan will open the treasure house of Compassion.

On Wisdom, we will hear from Bhikkhu Bodhi, who in last year's series urged us that "Buddhism must speak to the burning issues of our age," and on Possibility with Rebecca Solnit, who reminds us that "we make the future in the present with what we do or fail to do."

Frank Ostaseski will guide us deeper into Belonging-that fundamental truth that we belong to each other. Jack Kornfield will illuminate Freedom -not as escape, but as the liberation that comes through engagement.

And Terry Tempest Williams will return to help us hold the space between light and dark, love and grief through the theme of Reverence.

In a time when corporate and political power seeks to reduce everything-land, water, relationships, even our attention-to commodities for profit, this series asks: What cannot be commodified? What remains inviolable? What is the irreducible essence of our humanity?

When systems measure human worth by productivity, compliance, or market value, how do we remember the teaching that nonviolence and care are "the highest forms of human consciousness"?

When fear fragments us and, as Roshi Joan noted, "the narrative of individualism has paved the way for authoritarianism," how do we measure ourselves not by what we fear or exclude, but by our capacity for connection and compassion?

The measure of our humanity, we have learned this past year, is not found in isolation but in relationship. Not in dominance but in solidarity. Not in what we possess but in how we care. Not in our ability to other and objectify, but in our courage to recognize-as Tara Brach taught us-that "humans are not the enemy. It's the suffering from delusion, fear, and hatred that takes over and possesses us."

Please join us and our global community as we build solidarity and care with and through each other. This series is offered freely, with donations deeply appreciated to support our teachers.

To access another program in the series: click the corresponding link below to register. For previous programs, you will find the recording of the session on the Resource Page after registering. You can also choose to register for the entire Measure of Our Humanity series here.
Each of these sessions is by donation only. Please offer generously so we can support our teachers and Upaya. Schedule:
This program will take place on Sunday, February 1, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST).

COUNTDOWN TO START OF PROGRAM
Use this Time converter to determine your local start time.
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We are so grateful that Christiana Figueres, Roshi Joan, and Rebecca Solnit are enthusiastic to do this program online. At Upaya, we are deeply committed to serving you responsibly and with great care.

Please share this registration link with any friends or family you may know who may be interested.

As you know, this remarkable program is being offered freely. We encourage you to make a donation as you can. A generous donation will make an enormous difference in Upaya's ability to support our teachers and continue to offer such important online learning and practice opportunities.

You are also invited to join us for zazen, live-streamed daily at 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and Dharma talks, live-streamed Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. Mountain Time on Upaya's YouTube channel.

For more information or help with technical questions, please email us at onlineprograms@upaya.org.

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The Measure of Our Humanity: Christiana Figueres - Feb 1st, 2026 - ONLINE - FREE

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Upaya began a powerful series of online teachings in 2020 as the pandemic unfolded...

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Sharon Salzberg, Real Change, Chapter 5: Coming Home to Ourselves

Here are the slides that we used to talk through this chapter.

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A group of Theravada Monks are walking for peace, from Texas to Washington, DC. They're expecting to arrive in DC around February 10th.

Dhammacetiya website

Instagram

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Walk for Peace (@walkforpeace.usa) • Instagram photo

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19K likes, 321 comments - walkforpeace.usa on January 5, 2026: ”📌 How to Track the Walk for Peace Journey- In a Nutshell
We have three ways to help you follow our journey: 1. Overview Map
- Shows the full 2,300-mile route from Fort Worth, TX to Washington, D.C.
- Map legends: Green line = estimated direction | Orange icon = our current location
- Note: This map shows estimated direction and estimated arrival dates only, not the actual route. The actual route and planned stops are only in the Daily Live Map and nightly update posts. 2. Daily Live Map - Tracks today’s route in near real-time
- Map legends: Blue line = today’s route | Green icon = lunch stop | Black icon = night rest | Purple icon = click for exact address
- Visiting Hours: Lunch (10:30 AM–1:00 PM) | Night (6:00 PM–9:00 PM) 3. Nightly Update Posts ⭐
- Posted each evening on our page with confirmed locations for the next day
- The Daily Live Map and nightly update posts reflect each other and are the most accurate way to track the journey today
- Always check these for the latest information! Find the maps: Both map links are pinned at the top of our page and posted in comments below. Important: Routes and plans can change due to weather and logistics. We update posts and maps quickly when changes occur. We warmly invite everyone to visit us at our stops! May you and all beings be well, happy and at peace. 🙏
#WalkForPeace #Buddhistmonks #AlokathePeaceDog”.

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Sharon Salzberg, Real Change, Chapter 4: Grief to Resilience

Joanna Macy, Spiritual Practices for Times of Crisis. In this brief 2018 article, Buddhist scholar and environmental activist Joanna Macy outlines five simple practices for maintaining presence in times of crisis, working productively with our grief, fear, and anger, and responding with compassion to our own pain and to the pain we encounter in the world.

Dr. Alan Wolfelt, Eleven Tenets for Companioning the Bereaved. These tenets outline Dr. Wolfelt’s approach to “companioning” versus “treating” mourners. While Wolfelt is speaking about those mourning the death of a person, we can apply his perspective to any form of grief, including our collective grief for the losses we currently face in our society and in our world.

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Supplemental material for our November 12th meeting, namely 3 articles on Buddhist responses to anger to complement our reading of Chapter 3, "Awakening to the Fire: When Anger Turns to Courage" in Real Change by Sharon Salzberg.

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As slowly as this aloe grows,
could I dare to flow that slowly
from this uncomfortable moment
into the moment that follows?
Not just slow, no, but deliberate—
willing to notice all that is here.
For so long I have trusted the part
of me who believes faster is better.
Now I’m exhausted, and of course,
I want to get over my exhaustion, fast.
Truth is, I love slow. I love the juiciness
of presence and quiet. Oh paradox.
Can’t I move fast and still feel spacious?
The aloe knows a single leaf a month
is leaf enough. I touch my palm to my belly
and whisper aloud what Augusta said.
Slow is enough. Slow is a blessing.
Slow is safe. The self who wants this ache
to go away fast and faster sits beside the aloe
and imagines it might open to aloe wisdom.
I imagine my blood thick as gel in the aloe leaves.
I imagine a single leaf of a thought at a time.
I notice the prickle of discomfort and
name it discomfort. Notice the impulse
to get up and run. Notice the part of me
that wants to feel better right now. Notice
how the more I notice, the more slow
feels like home.

—Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

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This board is a place for all members of the Princeton Insight Meditation Engaged Buddhism Group to get informed and to share with each other. Look for group-wide announcements here. There's a section for sharing resources and opportunities, and another for making suggestions, asking questions, and connecting with each other.

SCROLL TO THE RIGHT TO VIEW ALL COLUMNS >>>>>>>

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We continued with Nonviolent Communication (see resources from 25 June). A few new items:

1. Braver Angels “Braver Angels is leading the nation’s largest cross-partisan, volunteer-led movement to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic.” An opportunity to put our nonviolent communication skills into action?

1. Braver Angels

2. Leaving MAGA Leaving MAGA

3. See the poetry section(below) for the Pablo Neruda poem

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En Español:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/16JguUtK2XORaq1IcWjgTxYFYCbOKOEHBtWXGslocbSM/edit?usp=sharing

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Here are the recommended resources from our June 25th meeting:

1. Nonviolent Communication resources from Oren Jay Sofer:

1. The Relevance of Mindfulness in a Time of Global Upheaval

2. Overview of Mindful Communication & NVC

3. Nonviolent Communication Overview - Key Assumptions & Intentions

2. Working with Difficult Emotions (online course with Narayan Helen Liebenson). Four sessions, July 8th to 29th.

3. Refuge and Response: Showing up for the Earth with Deep Love (online course with Jeanne Corrigal). Thursdays, September 18th to November 6th.

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Here are the recommended resources from our June 11th meeting:

1. Bhikkhu Anālayo, “A Task for Mindfulness” (One Earth Sangha)

2. Gil Fronsdal, “The Buddha as an Activist” (Insight Meditation Center)

3. Valerie Brown, “Racial Justice / Skillful Action for a Path Forward” Plum Village

4. Thanissara, “Inner Peace is not Apart from Activism” (Dharma Talk at Spirit Rock)

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June 11th notes: Applying Practice to Political Action 

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June 11th notes: Applying Practice to Political Action 

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Link to the notes from discussion:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/154eTA7401gkm6ko6gwnlZuhBcfmXJ0085AavhDYiwns/edit?usp=sharing

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Here are the recommended resources from our May 28th meeting:

1. Kate’s slide “Applying Practice to Media Consumption” (shared in the meeting)

2. Holly Stocking, “How to Read the News” (Lion’s roar)

3. Dr. Larry Ward, “Cultivating Mindful Consumption of the Media” (YouTube)

4. No Kings Nationwide Day of Defiance Saturday, June 14th. Sponsored by Indivisible, 50501; endorsed by Buddhist Coalition for Democracy. Local events being held in Princeton, Pennington, Trenton, and Philadelphia.

5. Global Awareness Local Action (GALA) (Barre Center for Buddhist Studies) Online, Oct 4–Nov 22 (2 sessions every Saturday, recordings available). Offered on a dana (donation) basis. Global Awareness Local Action (GALA) is a BCBS initiative to inspire a deeper engagement with climate change informed and inspired by Buddhist teachings and mindfulness. Online program with Bhikkhu Analyo, Rhonda Magee, Rebecca Henderson, John Kabat-Zinn.

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Highlighted resources & actions for 14 May

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Highlighted resources & actions for 14 May

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Here are the recommended resources from our May 14th meeting:

1. Oren Jay Sofer Nonviolent Communication course

2. No Kings demonstrations

3. Upaya Zen Center "Awareness in Action" program

You can find the full resource list on Google Drive.

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Help for Princeton families of ICE detainees

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Help for Princeton families of ICE detainees

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Rhodalynn Jones, Director of Human Services at the Municipality of Princeton, has shared the following appeal for the families of the 16 residents detained by ICE in a recent raid:

As you probably know, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) descended on our town two weeks ago and detained 16 men, most of whom are Princeton residents.  One family left behind has four children and two grandchildren.  They have lost the primary income of the household, leaving them in a very vulnerable situation. They have no resources to cover legal expenses, rent, and other essential needs, and they (and others) are in urgent need of help.  There will probably be more like them in the coming months

Princeton’s Nassau Presbyterian Church has generously agreed to host a “Neighbor Fund,” which allows us to respond quickly and directly to families in urgent need after an ICE raid.  Whether by contributing to the fund or by sharing this with others who may want to help, every donation, no matter the size can make a meaningful difference in helping a family stay afloat during a crisis.  You can donate either:

by check made out to Nassau Presbyterian Church, with “Neighbor Fund” on the memo line, and send it to: Linda Gilmore, Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. 08542

or online at: https://secure.accessacs.com/access/oglogin.aspx?sn=92163, and specify Neighbor Fund in the dropdown box.

Note that your contribution will be tax-deductible since it is to a church.

If you know of anyone in need of support because of an ICE raid, they should contact Rhodalynn Jones at Princeton Human Services rjones@pricetonnj.gov or go to the office at 1 Monument Drive.

Thank you for your consideration.

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"Arm In Arm is a place where our community comes together to make sure we all have the most basic needs of food and shelter and, as possible, the livelihood to maintain them."

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