Naropa University and the Lenz Foundation Present...

Naropa University and the Lenz Foundation Present...

The Future of

American Buddhism

Garrison Institute, New York
June 2-5, 2022

Tradition & Innovation • Leadership, Power, & Empowerment • Dharma for the Environmental Crisis
Engaged Buddhism • BIPOC Wisdom & Skillful Means • Digital Dharma & Virtual Sangha

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To guide the direction of this conference, we asked our community, “What are the most important and pressing topics to address?” Here’s what we found:

1: Tradition & Innovation
2: Leadership, Power, & Empowerment
3: Dharma for the Environmental Crisis
4: Engaged Buddhism
5: BIPOC Wisdom & Skillful Means
6: Digital Dharma & Virtual Sangha

Planning Committee

The Conference Planning Committee is: Carla Burns, Rev. Blayne Higa, Larry Ward, Rev. Michael Lewis, Judith Simmer-Brown, Susan Skjei

Dear Buddhist Practitioners, Teachers and Leaders,

American Buddhism is in a time of major transition.

This moment of rapid social change is influencing the development of American Buddhism, even as American Buddhism is having an outsized influence on our culture.

Our communities have provided a refuge for personal spiritual growth, but many have been sidetracked by privilege, cultural insularity, and spiritual materialism.

How can we open to the wealth of diversity and potential for spiritual depth dedicated to the welfare of the world?

We need to break free from the isolation of our individual communities, caused in part by the pandemic, and come together.  We need to identify lessons learned from the past and explore how to move into a collective future informed by our younger generation and the many voices that represent American Buddhism today.

We invite you to engage in an inclusive, interactive, dynamic conversation that will bring diverse practitioners from various lineages, generations and social locations into deeper connection. Together we can shape a vision to foster wise and compassionate action in the future.

Let us gather to reflect on this moment and actively shape our future through community vision, conversation, and collaboration.

Please join us!

Judith Simmer-Brown, Ph.D., Naropa University, Program Director

Susan Skjei, Ph.D., Naropa University, Conference Director

Norman Oberstein, CEO, The Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism

Guiding Principles

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COMMUNITY, NOT EXPERTS

Emphasis on Buddhist communities, engagement with traditions plus innovations

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Diverse DEMOGRAPHICS

Representation across generations, lineages, gender/ethnicity/race, and other social locations

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TOPICS THAT MATTER

Drawn from surveys of your Buddhist communities—discussed in workshops and breakouts

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Scholarship Opportunities

To ensure participation from historically marginalized identities

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In-person Event

We will be in-person together at Garrison Institute, and practice together in community

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Focus on American Buddhism

The paths of American Buddhism are diverse, balancing tradition and innovation

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GRANT-MAKING

IRS Tax Exempt 501(c)(3) organizations can apply for a grant related to a conference theme

What’s included in

The Future of American Buddhism
Live Conference

In-Person Participation

6 IN-Person PANEL Conversations, PLUS a Grant-making panel

Friday, June 3

1. Tradition & Innovation

2. Leadership, Power, & Empowerment

3. Dharma for the Environmental Crisis

 

Saturday, June 4

4. Engaged Buddhism

5. BIPOC Wisdom & Skillful Means

 

Sunday, June 5 

6. Digital Dharma & Virtual Sangha

7. Grant Funding Panel and Open Space Conversations

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Twice-daily workshop sessions

See below for a complete list of topics each day!

Daily Yoga and Meditation Practice

We want to nourish your entire being: mind, body, and heart. Join us each morning for yoga or another Buddhist practice. We have also scheduled a morning meditation to help us remain focused, recognize and relate to our experiences with equanimity, and begin each day with a settled body, calm mind and open heart.
BIPOC practice sessions available.
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Tea and Networking Time

Engagement is one of the guiding principles for this event. Meet new people, discuss your ideas, and feel a sense of community. The daily networking time allows you to create connections that last a lifetime.

Plus, you will get invited to The Future of American Buddhism Conference Community - An Online Gathering Place

Housing Information

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Your Conference Ticket does not include room and board. You must register here with the Garrison Institute, and you must purchase a commuter pass for meals even if you are not staying on site.

The Garrison Institute is located in a former Capuchin Monastery in Garrison, New York, an hour north of New York City in the Hudson River Valley. The Institute’s mission is “to apply the wisdom that arises from contemplation and insights derived from science to today’s pressing social and environmental issues to create a more compassionate, resilient future.”

Facilities include a variety of spacious meeting and break-out rooms, an inspirational non-denominational meditation hall seating up to 300, a wood-paneled dining hall holding 175 at one seating, a library, a theater, high-speed internet access, and state-of-the-art audio and visual resources.

COVID-19 Protocols

To attend a retreat or event at the Garrison Institute, all guests, teachers, and staff are required to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 including any eligible boosters. The Institute will continue to follow any COVID-19 guidelines set forth by the local officials, NYS and the CDC.

At some point, retreatants will receive requests from their HelloSign account to provide their proof of vaccination, fill out a health questionnaire, and agree to their standard waiver of liability. Upon receipt of all documents, the Garrison Institute will provide all room numbers and additional information prior to arrival. There is no longer a face-to-face check-in process. You will receive more information regarding policies and protocols after registration.

Conference Panel Discussions and Panelists

Session 1: Tradition & Innovation

How is Buddhism innovating in an American context without losing connection with its Asian roots?

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Session 2: Leadership, Power, & Empowerment

How are leaders and teachers across genders and diverse identities being empowered?

Session 3: Dharma for the Environmental Crisis

How is American Buddhism contributing to solving the critical environmental issues of our time?

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Session 4: Engaged Buddhism

What new examples of engaged initiatives in America bring contemplative methods to social, educational, and political issues?

Session 5: BIPOC Wisdom & Skillful Means

How are BIPOC, Asian-American and other communities bringing new structures and modalities to American Buddhism?

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Session 6: Digital Dharma & Virtual Sangha

What new platforms and venues are propagating dharma in America, and how has this changed the face of American Buddhism?

Session 7: Grant Funding Panel and Open Space Conversations

After the conference ends, the Lenz Foundation will give out grants based on the six themes of the conference. Preference will be given to groups with one or more representatives at the in-person conference or livestream. Lenz Foundation grants (currently with a 2022 grant pool of $250,000) follow its Grant Policy. During this unique funding panel, supporting sponsors—other foundation representatives—will discuss their successful grant programs and criteria for Buddhist and/or Buddhist-aligned initiatives.

During this time, we will also be offering Open Space Conversations. These provide an opportunity for conference participants to host conversations on the topics that matter to them.

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Conference WorkShop Sessions

Session 1

Friday, 10:45am -12:15pm

Click each topic to expand

Session 2

Friday, 4:00pm - 5:30pm

Click each topic to expand

Session 3

Saturday, 10:45am -12:15pm

Click each topic to expand

Session 4

Saturday, 4:00pm - 5:30pm

Click each topic to expand

The Future of American Buddhism

In-Person Conference
June 2-5, 2022

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Your Conference Ticket Includes:

1. 6 LIVE Panel Discussions

2. Twice-daily workshop sessions

3. Daily Yoga and Meditation Practice

4. Grant Funding Panel

5. The Future of American Buddhism Conference Community Online

REGISTER NOW

$355

Conference Recordings Available for Purchase on the Following Page

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We are pleased to invite students to attend for a special rate. You must have a student ID valid as of June 2, 2022 to enroll at this rate. Click here for the student rate.

About the Conference Hosts

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Naropa University is a private, nonprofit, liberal arts university offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the arts, education, environmental studies, peace studies, psychology, and religious studies. Buddhist-inspired and nonsectarian, Naropa University is rooted in contemplative education, a teaching and learning approach that integrates Eastern wisdom studies and the arts with traditional Western scholarship. Naropa was the birthplace of the modern mindfulness movement.

Lenz

The Lenz Foundation’s long-range aim is to foster the growth and development of an authentic American Buddhism that takes its inspiration from the wisdom traditions of the East but adopts new forms, approaches, and applications that are uniquely suited to contemporary American society and culture. By developing and strengthening the emerging community of American Buddhist organizations, we seek to give birth to an American society that reflects the universal Buddhist values of wisdom, compassion, mindfulness, and meditation practice in pursuit of these values.

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