(1 credit) It This course will address Buddhist Principles and Racism in the U.S. through readings like: Marc Lamont Hill’s “Nobody,” Debbie Irving’s “Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race,” Carol Anderson’s “White Rage,” parts of Ta-Nehisi Coates’s “Between the World and Me,” and excerpts from the writing of James Baldwin. We will intersperse discussions of those readings and exercises and guided meditations on recognizing and working with our biases. The Tibetan Buddhist tradition offers meditation and contemplative techniques for cultivating equanimity, which we will consider in the context of contemporary social justice work.
MISSION STATEMENT: Maitripa College is a Buddhist institution of higher education offering contemplative learning culminating in graduate degrees. Founded upon three pillars of scholarship, meditation, and service, Maitripa College curriculum combines Western academic and Tibetan Buddhist disciplines. Through the development of wisdom and compassion, graduates are empowered with a sense of responsibility to work joyfully for the wellbeing of others. We serve our students and the region through diverse and relevant educational, religious, and community programs.
