Real Refuge: Building Inclusive and Welcoming Sanghas

A refuge is a protected place, a haven in a storm. As Buddhist practitioners, we go for refuge to the Buddha, dharma, and sangha (The Three Jewels). Most people want their sangha, or their spiritual community, to be a place where they feel respected, welcomed, and safe enough to thrive spiritually. How accessible and culturally supportive are our sanghas for people of color, members of the LGBTQI community, people with disabilities, and people of all income levels and ages seeking the dharma? In this retreat with East Bay Meditation Center’s Mushim Patricia Ikeda, we’ll explore key practices that can help us build multicultural sanghas where we can all take refuge.

Mushim (Patricia) Ikeda-Nash is a Buddhist teacher, author, mentor, and community activist. She teaches meditation retreats for people of color, women, and social justice activists nationally. She is a core teacher at East Bay Meditation Center near where she lives in Oakland, California.