RACE: A Dharma Door (RADD) Training

RADD 1 (2021-2022)

ARISE first offered our RACE: A Dharma Door (RADD) training from October 2021 through March 2022. The training was rooted in the Dharma, showing how race continues to be a dharma door for greater understanding and less suffering. Interwoven with interbeing and love as our foundation throughout the training, the program used the Four Noble Truths as the framework for inviting in this discussion of race as a dharma door. Throughout the Training, we practiced resourcing ourselves with simple joy and care, and coming back to the body and the body’s awareness of our racial suffering. The invitation to note where in our body we hold this trauma of racism - present for BIPOC and non-BIPOC - was continuously highlighted.

Racial inequity was introduced in the context of the First Noble Truth with a focus on racism and colonialism in the US (historical and present). We acknowledged that the global suffering of racism and colonialism was not something we could take up in this short training program. A brief summary of the roots of this legacy and current racial inequity in the context of the Second Noble Truth was presented next. An end to this suffering was presented in the Third Noble Truth. The Fourth Noble Truth was the framework for the path away from racial suffering, using the Contemplations on the Five Mindfulness Trainings to rediscover how we practice with freedom from racism, inside and out.

The final session of the RADD program focused on learning from participants how they would take action on this individual and collective path of racial and social justice. It was recognized that action must be taken when we ‘see’ or ‘recognize’ racism. “Mindfulness must be engaged. Once there is seeing, there must be acting. Otherwise, what’s the use of seeing?” (Thich Nhat Hanh) This offering is ARISE’s living and loving into action, honoring ancestors and taking good care of the present moment of racial hatred that still exists today. May we all continue to heal from greed, hatred, and delusion.

The second offering of RACE: A Dharma Door (RADD) will take place Sept 2026 through April 2027. Applications are currently being accepted.

Contact RADD@arisesangha.org