The Wisdom of the Eightfold Path: A Online Anti-Racism Workshop Series for White People
with Crystal Johnson, EBMC Community Teacher
A mind which is focused on achieving a certain result is motivated by greed. Wisdom knows the cause-effect relationships and it will therefore concentrate on fulfilling the causes and conditions.
(The daily Tejaniya, February 7, 2024)
The dharma offers us priceless guidance as we work to free ourselves from the delusional conditioning of whiteness and fulfill the causes and conditions for the relief of the suffering arising from race-based oppression. Last year, we investigated the practices of the Brahmaviharas as supports to keep our anti-racism work wholesome and sustainable. In this series, we will focus on the teachings of the Eightfold Path as a source of guidance and inspiration. The course will offer a space for you to bring your own dilemmas and challenges for discussion in a workshop format. Each session will combine practice, dharma reflections and an invitation for participants to share where you are feeling stuck or frustrated or confused. We will harvest the wisdom of the group in the framework of the Eightfold Path as we learn together in community.
To make a gift to sustain the work of East Bay Meditation Center, please do so via or our website: eastbaymeditation.org/dana.
All registered participants will receive a link to join us via Zoom with their EventBrite confirmation email.
Universal Access Requests for Zoom Participation:
- Please do not use virtual or blurred backgrounds
- Please keep your camera still when it’s turned on
- Please repeat your name when you speak
- Facilitators will attempt to read any comments in the chat out loud
- Please mute when you’re not speaking
Crystal Johnson is a retired clinical psychologist and a Community Teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC) in Oakland, CA, where she also serves on the Leadership Sangha (Board) and as a member of the Radical Inclusivity Committee. She completed the year long Commit2Dharma training at EBMC, as well as the 2-year Dedicated Practitioner Program and the 2-year Community Dharma Leader Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. In her teaching, she focuses on creating/co-creating programs for white dharma practitioners seeking to build awareness, knowledge and skills to challenge the dynamics of white privilege and race-based oppression, and create truly inclusive sangha. Her courses include White and Awakening in Sangha at EBMC, Unpacking Whiteness: Reflection and Action at the San Francisco Zen Center, White and Awakening Together at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Unpacking Whiteness for the Soto Zen Buddhist Association and Unpacking the Whiteness of Leadership for Branching Streams. She offers consultation to individuals and organizations seeking to disrupt the practices of white supremacy culture and support change toward racial equity.
