Category Archives: AAPI Communities

The Time is Now: Uplifting and Celebrating Asian Heritage

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The AAPI (Asian American, Pacific Islander) community has been a crucial part of society for generations, yet its contributions haven’t always gotten the recognition they deserve. From food to fashion, science to social movements, the AAPI community has made lasting impacts that often go unnoticed. Whether it’s the influence of martial arts on global fitness or the rise of K-pop and Bollywood in the entertainment world, the community’s reach is undeniable. Now more than ever, it’s time to shine a light on these accomplishments and give the AAPI community the visibility it’s earned.

When we talk about celebrating AAPI culture, we’re talking about a world of diverse traditions, languages, and histories. Whether it’s the vibrant festivals like Diwali or Lunar New Year, or the timeless beauty of traditional music and dance from Polynesia to Japan, there’s so much to discover, learn, and enjoy. From the artistry of Hawaiian hula to the craftsmanship of Indonesian batik, AAPI cultures enrich every corner of life. This isn’t just about appreciating what’s different—it’s about understanding how cultural elements have shaped and continue to shape our shared world in meaningful ways.

The APPI community is stepping boldly into the spotlight, especially through its growing influence in global culture. Asian traditions and stories are being embraced in ways we haven’t seen before, from the rise of Asian-inspired fashion to the increasing popularity of Asian cuisine worldwide. Groundbreaking films like Everything Everywhere All at Once and shows like Pachinko are helping bring Asian narratives to the forefront, showcasing the depth and diversity of Asian culture. But this is just the beginning. Celebrating APPI heritage means not only recognizing these cultural contributions but creating even more space for these traditions to thrive and inspire future generations. Now is the time to uplift and celebrate the richness of Asian culture in all its forms.

Jarrelle (杰遨）

Creating Peace Through Cultural Traditions: A Path to Solidarity in a Divided World

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Bicultural healthy living, for me, has been about finding a balance between my cultural roots and the society I live in today. Growing up, I often felt torn between these two worlds, unsure of how to honor my heritage while also navigating the expectations of the larger community. Over time, I realized that instead of choosing one over the other, I could embrace both, creating a lifestyle that celebrates the richness of each culture. This process not only enhanced my well-being but also helped me develop a deeper understanding of who I am and where I come from. By prioritizing cultural practices like mindful eating, meditation, and community engagement, I’ve built a foundation for physical and mental wellness that reflects the diversity of my experiences.

Finding solidarity through embracing culture and community has been major. Through this journey, I’ve come to recognize that many of the challenges I face are not mine alone—others in my community have experienced similar struggles. By learning from each other’s cultural traditions, I’ve built strong relationships rooted in shared understanding and mutual respect. Whether it’s through communal meals, music, or spiritual practices, the bonds I’ve formed have created a sense of belonging that strengthens my resolve. This sense of solidarity has empowered me to be more active in uplifting others, contributing to a supportive environment where everyone is encouraged to thrive.

In a world that often feels so divided, learning about different cultural traditions has offered me a place of peace and acceptance. These traditions teach us to celebrate differences rather than fear them, creating spaces where diversity is seen as a strength. By participating in and honoring the cultural practices of others, I’ve found common ground in values like compassion, respect, and community care. In a time when our world is in desperate need of healing, embracing diverse traditions can be a powerful way to cultivate understanding and unity. Through these connections, we can create a more peaceful, harmonious world.

Jarrelle ( 杰遨 ）

Historical and Contemporary BIPOC Artists

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BIPOC artists have long been at the forefront of shaping culture, activism, and the art world, using their creative voices to challenge societal norms and inspire change. Figures like Romare Bearden, known for his vibrant depictions of African American life, and Ai Weiwei, whose bold political statements continue to spark conversations globally, have paved the way for countless artists of color. Their works transcend individual experiences, reflecting the broader struggles and triumphs of their communities. By celebrating these past and present creatives, we acknowledge not only their contributions to art but also their resilience in the face of systemic oppression.

Photo Credit: Bisa Butler

Today’s BIPOC artists continue to push boundaries and redefine the role of art in society. Kerry James Marshall’s exploration of Black identity and history, along with Wangechi Mutu’s striking representations of African heritage, offer powerful commentary on race, gender, and belonging. Emerging voices like Bisa Butler bring new dimensions to traditional storytelling through her vibrant quilts, blending history, culture, and identity into powerful visual narratives. These artists use their mediums to confront mainstream narratives, reclaim space for marginalized voices, and assert their place within the larger cultural dialogue. Their work speaks not only to personal experiences but to broader social movements, calling for justice and recognition.

Photo Credit: Ai Wei Wei

In celebrating and supporting BIPOC artists, we foster a more inclusive and vibrant artistic landscape. Art, after all, is not just a medium for self-expression; it is a tool for transformation, bridging cultures, and amplifying voices that have long been silenced. By honoring the legacies of past trailblazers and uplifting contemporary creators, we ensure that the stories, struggles, and triumphs of BIPOC communities remain part of our cultural fabric. These artists not only inspire us with their creativity but also challenge us to see the world through new perspectives, reminding us of the power of art to spark change and connect us all.

Jarrelle

Full Moon Sabbath of Solidarity

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In the hustle and strain of daily life, especially for those navigating systemic oppression, racial trauma, and the unique pressures of bicultural living, finding peace and grounding can feel elusive. For BIPOC communities, Uposatha days offer a sacred pause, inviting stillness, mindfulness, and discipline as powerful tools for restoration. These observances create a refuge from the chaos, providing an opportunity to reconnect with oneself, heal from within, and foster solidarity through shared spiritual practice.

Buddhist Uposatha days are special occasions on the Buddhist calendar dedicated to deepening one’s spiritual practice. They align with the new moon, full moon, and quarter moon, following the lunar cycle. On these days, lay Buddhists often visit temples to engage in meditation, attend Dharma talks, and offer support to the Sangha (monastic community). Uposatha provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on the Buddha’s teachings and renew one’s commitment to the spiritual path. Many Buddhists choose to observe the Eight Precepts on these days, which are more rigorous than the usual five precepts followed by lay practitioners.

Here are ways Uposatha serves as a refuge:

Creating a Sacred Pause: Observing Uposatha provides an intentional break from daily struggles and stress. By dedicating time to mindfulness, meditation, and reflection, BIPOC practitioners can cultivate inner calm and resilience. The structured practice of observing precepts helps break negative cycles of behavior and encourages more conscious living.

Cultural and Spiritual Autonomy: Uposatha offers an opportunity for BIPOC communities to reclaim spiritual narratives. Many have been historically disconnected from ancestral spiritual traditions. Through Buddhism, individuals can establish a practice of peace that aligns with their values and provides a spiritual haven grounded in self-empowerment and healing.

Healing Trauma through Stillness: The impact of racial injustice and historical trauma often manifests as mental and emotional distress. On Uposatha days, engaging in deep meditation allows the mind to process these experiences, fostering healing and emotional release. By sitting in silence, one can address personal and collective pain, cultivating compassion and understanding.

Building Community Support: Uposatha is often a communal practice. By gathering with fellow practitioners in BIPOC sanghas, there is an opportunity to create safe spaces where healing conversations and support can flourish. This helps break down isolation and builds a network of solidarity, where spiritual growth is nourished by shared experiences and challenges.

A Path to Inner Liberation: Buddhism teaches that true liberation comes from within, beyond external circumstances. By following the Eight Precepts, which encourage simplicity, kindness, and discipline, BIPOC individuals can begin to cultivate an inner freedom that is unshaken by external hardships. The practice of renunciation on Uposatha days can lead to a lighter, more centered way of being.

As we conclude our exploration of Uposatha days and their significance for BIPOC communities, it’s clear that healing unfolds both in the quietude of personal reflection and the collective silence shared with others. These sacred observances create spaces where the noise of everyday struggles fades, allowing individuals and communities alike to find solace and renewal. In embracing both individual and communal silence, we tap into a profound reservoir of peace, fostering not only personal growth but also a deepened sense of solidarity and connection. Through this practice, we discover that true healing arises from the stillness within and the unity forged in shared moments of tranquility.

杰遨 Jarrelle

BUDDHIST MONASTICS AND SOLIDARITY IN BIPOC COMMUNITIES

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Today, I want to shine a light on BIPOC Buddhist monastics. As our world becomes more culturally diverse and accepting, we’re witnessing how the Dharma (the Buddha’s teachings) drives growth and creates spaces for the blossoming of lotuses in diverse communities. BIPOC Buddhist monastics, by embracing their authentic selves, serve as powerful examples of how living in alignment with the Dharma can inspire others to blossom like lotuses. Their presence and practice not only affirm the beauty of diversity within Buddhism but also help pave the way for world peace and the end of racism. By simply being who they are, these monastics challenge and transcend societal barriers, offering a path to healing and unity in a world that deeply needs it.

Asian and Black Buddhist communities have the unique opportunity to come together and create safe spaces for BIPOC cultural healing by drawing on shared values and rich ancient spiritual traditions. By joining forces, we can build bridges between our communities, nurturing mutual respect and understanding while addressing the wounds of historical trauma and racial injustice. These collaborations can serve as sanctuaries where individuals find solace, empowerment, and the strength to heal collectively, which ultimately contributes to a more compassionate and inclusive world.

We all have a role to play in promoting world peace and inclusivity by actively honoring BIPOC stories, history, and culture while empowering BIPOC voices. This begins with listening—truly hearing the experiences and perspectives of BIPOC individuals and communities. It involves educating ourselves and others about the rich histories and contributions of these communities, and challenging the narratives that have historically marginalized them. By uplifting BIPOC voices in our daily lives, workplaces, and social circles, we help create a world where diversity is not just accepted but celebrated. In doing so, we contribute to a more just and peaceful world, where every individual is valued.

杰遨-Jarrelle

和平世界 (Hépíng Shìjiè) – “A World of Peace”

The Black Buddhist Experience

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While many people are familiar with the lineage of Mahayana, Vajrayana, and Theravada Buddhism, there’s a new branch of practice being born through the experience of Buddhism in Black communities. Being a student of the Black Buddhist experience means embracing our unique journey as Black Buddhists, and observing how our cultural, social, and spiritual selves intertwine with our Black heritage and the teachings of Buddhism. Through learning the Dharma; we notice how our understandings resonate within our Black Buddhist experience. For many of us, Buddhism offers a path that is healing, it is liberation from the generational trauma that has been carried for so long. We find peace in the teachings of compassion, mindfulness, and the wisdom of the Buddha. This guides us in navigating a world that doesn’t really see us.

Being a student of this experience is about deep inner-work, contemplation, inner-healing. We honor the struggles in our history, and we also celebrate our resilience, our unique creativity, and strength that defines us. As we learn about the Dharma, we see how our cultural heritage and Buddhist teachings are closely tied. These teachings do not subjugate a culture, and allows for all perspectives and voices to be heard, represented, respected, and honored. By connecting with others who are also exploring this cross of culture and identity, we create a support system that nurtures our growth and understanding.

Due to the reality of racism in America, it’s important for all communities to nurture compassion. Community is important, it’s essential for the greater movement of love. Rev. Angel Kyodo Williams says, “Love and justice are not two. Without inner change, there can be no outer change; without collective change, no change matters”. This quote captures so beautifully the Black Buddhist experience. It reminds us that our practice is not just about personal enlightenment but also about contributing to the collective healing and enlightenment of our communities, the path of Guan yin. As we practice, we practice in hope that all beings will benefit.

杰遨 Jieao Jarrelle

Bridging Cultures and Spirit

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To be beautiful means to be yourself.You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself. When you are born a lotus flower, be a beautiful lotus flower, don’t try to be a magnolia flower. If you crave acceptance and recognition and try to change yourself to fit what other people want you to be, you will suffer all your life. True happiness and true power lie in understanding yourself, accepting yourself, having confidence in yourself.

Thich Nhat Hanh

The teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh are deeply rooted in mindfulness and compassion, offering profound resonance for our BIPOC communities that are navigating the complexities of bicultural identities. Thay’s concept of ” interbeing”, the understanding that all beings are interconnected, serves as a powerful foundation for embracing and honoring our cultural heritage within spiritual practice. For BIPOC Buddhists, these teachings provide a path to harmonize cultural identity with our spiritual journey, bringing about a sense of wholeness and acceptance. This approach encourages us to find strength in our unique backgrounds, cultivating a deeper understanding of ourselves and others through mindfulness and compassionate action.

The friendship between Thich Nhat Hanh and Martin Luther King Jr sets an example of how love and nonviolence can unite people across cultural and national boundaries in the pursuit of peace. Their shared vision to ending violence and promoting peace during the civil rights movement in the United States had given rise and connected it to the global struggle for world justice. Thich Nhat Hanh’s advocacy for nonviolent resistance and Dr. King’s commitment to civil rights created a powerful alliance that continues to inspire many today. Their partnership demonstrated that peace and social justice are deeply intertwined, and that true liberation can only be achieved through understanding, compassion, and nonviolent action.

The legacy of Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a key part of American BIPOC history, offering wisdom and inspiration for generations. Their work together highlights the power of cross-cultural solidarity in the fight for justice. For BIPOC Buddhists, our legacy isn’t just a historical milestone; it’s a living guide for facing today’s challenges. By embracing Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings, BIPOC communities can draw strength from our roots while working toward a more just and peaceful world, staying true to the vision of these two great leaders.

Jarrelle

Reference: https://plumvillage.org/articles/thich-nhat-hanhs-friendship-with-dr-king

Cultivating Compassion Amidst Struggle

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As BIPOC Buddhists, we navigate a world where systemic racism, oppression, and trauma are daily realities. In the face of such adversity, it’s easy to be consumed by anger, pain, and resentment. But there is a transformative power within us—an ancient, yet ever-relevant practice that can help us rise above the suffering we endure. This power is metta, or loving-kindness. Metta is more than just a feeling; it’s an active force of compassion that we cultivate towards ourselves, our communities, and even those who perpetuate harm. In a society that often devalues our very existence, the practice of metta becomes an act of radical self-care and empowerment.

Metta allows us to confront our pain and the injustices we face with a heart full of compassion rather than bitterness. When we practice loving-kindness, we are not denying the harsh realities of systemic racism or minimizing the trauma that has been inflicted upon us. Instead, we are choosing to approach these challenges with a mindset that seeks healing and connection, rather than division and despair. By sending metta to ourselves, we affirm our own worth and humanity in a world that often seeks to strip us of both. By extending metta to others, even those who oppose us, we break the cycle of hatred and violence, refusing to let it take root in our hearts.

In the BIPOC Buddhist experience, metta serves as a powerful tool for resilience. It empowers us to hold space for our own suffering while also maintaining a sense of hope and possibility for the future. Through the practice of metta, we can transform our pain into a source of strength, our trauma into a wellspring of compassion. In this way, metta becomes not just a personal practice, but a revolutionary act—a way to reclaim our power, heal our communities, and create a world where loving-kindness can thrive in the face of adversity.

“Irrigators channel waters; fletchers straighten arrows; carpenters bend wood; the wise master themselves.” Buddha

Jarrelle (杰遨）

Ancestors and Zen: Words from A Black Buddhist

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Africa and Asia both share a rich history of indigenous practices that are deeply rooted in the reverence for nature, life, culture, and one’s own ancestors. These traditions have always emphasized respect for one’s lineage and the offering of food and prayers to those who have transcended this world. Unfortunately, both African and Asian indigenous faiths have often been misunderstood and labeled as pagan, satanic, or evil by outsiders who view them as foreign. Despite this, these ancient practices have been pillars of strength for communities, providing healing, nourishment, and hope to those in need. In the journey of self-discovery as BIPOC individuals, recognizing these shared traditions can be a profound way to connect, heal, and embrace our cultural heritage. As someone who has studied Mahayana Buddhism, a branch from East Asia, I’ve found a deep connection to these principles through my visits to temples, teachings, and extensive readings. The grace and peace of the monasteries have touched me deeply, resonating with my own cultural roots.

Many people may not realize it, but the act of giving offerings is a powerful form of medicine that helps heal the traumas of war, slavery, and oppression. It allows us to be present with ourselves and our ancestors, offering a space to grieve and celebrate their lives. When we give offerings, we not only honor our ancestors but also pray for all victims of injustice. As a Black man, this practice resonates with me profoundly. Every time I give offerings, I think of my ancestors, envision them, and surround them with love and light. In doing so, I mend a part of my heart that has been broken. Buddhism, which has gained significant popularity in the West, is known for its peace and non-violence teachings. Figures like Thich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama have introduced many to these life-saving teachings. Even the iconic Tina Turner found solace in Buddhism during her darkest moments, embracing the Buddha’s teachings as a gem. Buddhism encourages acceptance of cultural differences and provides mindfulness and compassionate approaches to solving complex issues, offering a path that aligns with indigenous practices of honoring one’s roots and embracing love.

Despite making up just 3% of the American Buddhist community, according to the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life, Black Buddhists are finding a meaningful connection with Buddhism. It is my hope that in the future, more Black seekers will explore meditation, engage with the Buddha’s sutras, and build a community founded on peace and love. The teachings of Buddhism not only align with the values of our ancestors but also offer a spiritual path that encourages unity and understanding across different cultures. As more individuals from diverse backgrounds discover the beauty of these teachings, there is potential for a harmonious blending of traditions that honors our shared history while providing community and healing in our multicultural world.

一切唯心造 – Everything is created by the mind.

Bao Jieao (Jarrelle)

Celebrating Diversity – a personal bi(multi)cultural story

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I grew up surrounded by a mosaic of cultures and beliefs, rooted in a Southern Black Baptist and Muslim family. My family’s cultural and religious diversity laid a rich foundation for my own journey, though I stand apart as the only Buddhist among them. As the son of a Muslim father and Christian mother, I began my spiritual journey early, eventually becoming a deacon in the Christian church before finding my calling as a Buddhist monk. I’ve always been a seeker of “Truth,” or perhaps a more fitting term would be “More”—more understanding, more depth, more connection. From a young age, I felt that there was something greater to life than what could be captured in words or confined to a single path. When I discovered Buddhism at 16, it was a turning point that forever changed my perspective and direction in life.

Photo: Jarrelle Barton

At the time of my discovery, I was grappling with a diagnosis of Marfan Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that left me feeling vulnerable and self-conscious. The stares and whispers about my tall, slender frame often made me want to disappear, to hide from a world that seemed to focus more on my appearance than my essence. During these challenging times, my godmother, a wise and kind woman from Beijing, introduced me to Buddhism. She taught me about compassion, inner stillness, and tranquility, offering me a new way to see myself and the world around me. Her guidance provided a sense of belonging and peace that I had been searching for, a healthy escape where I could find solace amid the storms of life. Even as I spent many days in hospitals, which the doctors joked had become my second home, Buddhism became a sanctuary where I could retreat and renew my soul.

Through this lens of compassion and acceptance, I began to celebrate diversity in all its forms. My great-grandmother’s tales of her parents’ journey from slavery, my own experiences as a Black kid exploring Zen, and the friendships I’ve formed within the AAPI communities have all shaped the way I see the world. These diverse experiences have taught me that celebrating diversity is about living authentically—embracing your heart, dreams, and true self while encouraging others to do the same. As a person of color, I believe in the power of unity and shared experiences, and I hope that by coming together on our common grounds, we can build a stronger, more inclusive future for generations to come.

Bao Jieao ( Jarrelle )