Reading Circles 2022
Testimonials
“Studying “The Race Conversation” within the context of the Reading Circle has been nothing short of life-changing and transformational.”
“I have been hugely grateful for the opportunity to study The Race Conversation within the sangha context of the reading circle … I am glimpsing the magnitude, importance, difficulty and healing inherent in this work - personally and collectively.”
“Reading this book with others has helped me understand more fully why discomfort comes up in conversations about race and gives me some tools to work with that more consciously and kindly … I have been extremely moved by the sharing in the affinity group, there was really reflective, sensitive, personal and confessional dialogue ...”
“I have deepened my understanding of the need for “bodyfulness” and compassion as I grapple with the race construct in my own experience.”
“This has been a deeply healing experience and has helped me to understand that in order for healing to take place one must address the truth as hard as it is. ”
“I appreciate that the circle was organized to create safe spaces where we can share authentically while minimizing harm.”
“It was nourishing, connecting and a very tender experience … I feel very encouraged, optimistic and enormous gratitude to both Eugene for giving this precious gift to the world, and to the organisers for their passion, time and commitment in sharing this extremely valuable initiative with the Triratna Sangha. Sadhu!”
“It’s so interesting the way we could compare similarities and differences across three continents ... I feel a greater sense of confidence in positive change in the Sangha.”
“Thank you for this experience and I hope that it brings more empathy and compassion instead of the ‘business as usual’ ... We can do better. ”
“It’s hard to put into words how significant this Reading Circle has been for me - inspiring, healing, transformative … I have felt so grateful to be exploring racial conditioning with other white people who are deeply committed to growing in racial awareness and sensitivity. To being receptive and honest. Bolder and kinder. This is an important landmark for Triratna - a multi-racial team leading a Triratna event focussed on undoing racism.”
Reading Circles - Evaluation
From June to early October 2022, the (white) Awareness is Revolutionary Collective crossed a new threshold, collaborating for the first time with BIPOC leaders to produce joint programming. This resulted in the facilitation of two international on-line multi-racial Reading Circles, combining study with deep process work in small racial affinity groups. The two Reading Circles have welcomed 55 and 54 participants living in the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Britain and India. Modeling relationality and embodiment, each small group contemplated the work of an author through discussion and bearing witness, held within larger gathering moments which emphasized solidarity and support across racial constructs. Both Reading Circles ended with a Q&A session with the authors, Eugene Ellis (“The Race Conversation”) and Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad (“Black Buddhists and the Black Radical Tradition”).
Constructive feedback for next time:
Time constraints — many people wanted more time to discuss and unpack things. Consider moving to 120 minute weekly sessions, and/or to small groups.
Following feedback from Reading Circle 1, the team moved to reading shorter versions of the Suggested Community Agreements by week 3, to give more time to folks in small groups.
