Engaged Buddhism
Responding with clarity and compassion during challenging times.
Actions, Resources and The Dharma of Engaged Buddhism
Updated Regularly with New Listings at the Top
Heads Up! If ICE comes into Sonoma County and threatens people’s well-being and safety, SoCo Sanctuary Coalition will meet at 5 PM that day at Old Courtyard Square, Santa Rosa, to bear witness and protest.
November 21, 12 PM - 1:30 PM, National Community Defense Training
November 26, 5 PM - 6 PM. Faith Vigil for Solidarity. Old Courtyard Square, Santa Rosa. Bring your candle! Held monthly on the last Wednesday.
December 1, 2 PM - December 8, 11 AM. Street Retreat San Francisco, Led by Joshin Byrnes, Guiding Teacher, Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community
2,500 years ago Shakyamuni Buddha led his monks each day in the practice of begging for food, receiving whatever was offered with gratitude. In this retreat we will plunge into a variation on this early Buddhist practice of letting go of attachments. Bearing witness to life on the streets is a way to plunge into the unknown, which is crucial to our practice of healing the gap of separation between others and ourselves. We become more observant of ourselves and our surroundings. From this increased awareness, healing takes place.December 9, 10 AM - 12PM, ICE out of Sonoma County Now! Posada and Rally: march from Sheriff’s office to Administration bldg and enter Board of Supervisor meeting.
December 13, 2 PM - 4 PM Pacific Time, Free online talk exploring the deep connection between Buddhist principles and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). See flyer for more information.
Jizos for Peace At this time of great loss and uncertainty, a project arose as a response to the immense tragedy in Gaza and Israel. The intention of this Jizo peace project is to honor each child by creating a Jizo from clay. If you are interested in joining a gathering please contact Cherie at thecolourofqi@gmail.com.
The Buddhist Election Retreat Organizing Committee endorses Proposition 50 as a principled, proactive, and voter-centered response to partisan redistricting threats. On November 4, 2025, by voting YES on PROP 50, California voters have an important opportunity to cast a vote that will make a decisive difference to our democracy.
Whistles Keep Us Safe: North Bay Rapid Response - Learn how to use them.
CA U.S. Senators | Support Democratic Ideals
Senator Alex Padilla: DC phone: 202.224.3553 | SF phone: 415.981.9369
Senator Adam Schiff: DC phone: 202.224.3841
CA U.S. Representatives
Representative Mike Thompson: Congressional District 4 | 707.542.7182
Representative Jared Huffman: Congressional District 2 | 415.258.9657Sonoma County Supervisors, Phone: (707) 565-2241
District 1: Rebecca Hermosilla, district1@sonoma-county.org
District 2: David Rabbitt, district2@sonoma-county.org
District 3: Chris Coursey, district3@sonomacounty.gov
District 4: James Gore, district4@sonomacounty.gov
District 5: Lynda Hopkins, district5@sonomacounty.govInformation from Debi and Beth about the Immigration Family Accompaniment Program
ACTIONS
RESOURCES
ICE in Carolina: Funding for Immigrants - Donate
* Carolina Migrant Network - fuses legal services and community advocacy to provide holistic support for our clients and their families.
* Latin American Coalition La Coalición has activated its Family Support Network to provide financial help to impacted families.
* ourBRIDGE for KIDS — ourBRIDGE provides after-school programs and wrap-around services for immigrant and refugee families at three locations in Charlotte.
*Action NC has been leading the fight for immigrant justice in North Carolina.
Raizes Collective is an organization based in Santa Rosa which launched in 2015. Our mission is to mobilize and empower the community through arts, culture, and environmental education.
Sunbeams - powerful quotes from Sun Magazine about immigration. “America is such an incredibly dynamic place because of immigration. . . .”
Buddhist Global Relief Announces Upcoming Gathering to Feed the Hungry
Resources for supporting immigrants, in particular Sanctuary Jurisdictions
Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project. The Florence Project provides free legal services, social services, and advocacy to immigrants facing detention and potential deportation. Your tax-deductible donation makes this work possible.
Letters to An American: a newsletter written by history professor, Heather Cox Richardson, about today’s political landscape that explores what it means, and what it has meant, to be an American.
Jewish Voice for Peace: they are organizing a grassroots, multiracial, cross-class, intergenerational movement of U.S. Jews into solidarity with the Palestinian freedom struggle, guided by a vision of justice, equality, and dignity for all people.
North Bay Rapid Response Network (NBRRN): The network provides a 24-hour hotline - 707.800.4544 - to immigrants facing a raid by federal immigration agents.
Sonoma County Secure Families Collaborative: The backbone organization to a network of 8 partners who provide pro-bono legal services, social services, and mental health support.
350.org: Focused on climate, this is a movement made up of ordinary people taking action in several ways, from quick online action to deep organizing and campaign leadership. Third Act: Harnessing generational power to safeguard climate and democracy.
Gaza Children’s Fund: An information and funding site to help the children of Gaza.
THE DHARMA OF ENGAGED BUDDHISM
Hoka Chris Fortin — Dharma Talk at Green Gulch Farm on Sept 21, 2025 — an investigation of how to embody and bring our practice into the world in these difficult times. How do we—individually and as one—not turn away, but bear witness and respond to the suffering of the world with clear-hearted wisdom and compassion as we awaken together to our True Nature and shared humanity.
Thích Nhất Hạnh’s Engaged Buddhism After Wartime Vietnam, Part 1
The Buddha’s Teachings on Social and Communal Harmony: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon. Edited and introduced by Bhikkhu BodhiThich Nhat Hanh’s Engaged Buddism during Wartime Vietnam: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6.
We Were Made for This by Rebecca Soltnit
Interbeing, The 14 Mindfulness Trainings of Engaged Buddhism, Thich Nhat Hanh
Love and Compassion in Meditation and Action by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi.
