• BIPOC
• LGBTQ

• Asian

I am a full-time high school Ethnic Studies English and Film teacher at an all-girls high school in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. My teaching is grounded in liberatory pedagogy and aims to support classrooms that untether human beings from generations of pedagogical violence in the public education system. I am also a student of Soto Zen, in a sangha following the lineage of Suzuki Roshi, at Brooklyn Zen Center. I have been studying at BZC for four years and am currently a Board member, serving at this time as Board secretary. I don’t know that I am explicitly involved in climate-justice related actions or organizing, but do see myself as part of an ecosystem resisting all forms of state oppression to support Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other communities of color, as well as LGBTQIA+ students at my school. I am beginning to get interested in ways I can join youth-led climate justice activity in my neighborhood here in Kensington, Brooklyn.

I have not experienced any intense instances of trauma in my life, but would say that stressors related to my race, ethnicity, gender expression (first as a cis-woman, and now as a queer person), and class often have played a role in some more traumatic experiences in my life. My Zen practice has provided me with the physical language, bodily supports, and practices to gently and tenderly hold these experiences when they do arise in me, sit with them lovingly or allow them to unravel, in a way that does not project onto others but also allows other people the opportunity more and more to support me in these challenging moments. I would say that some of the anxiety I experienced as a younger person and in my 20s were caused by these facets of my identity and while they do appear, again I think are supported my by Zen practice now.

I am interested in learning more about the connection between climate justice and my Zen practice, hearing how others connect this critical and necessary work to their own passions and experiences, and thinking about ways to bring actions to my spiritual and school communities. I am specifically invested in interrogated the ways my own caste privilege as a heritage Brahmin Hindu intersect with climate injustices as they specifically impact Adivasi and Dalit/Bahujan communities in India and here in America; the ways that the patterns of migration in South Asian communities also carry and reinforce casteist oppression in America, and ways to be in solidarity with these communities and undo/reject my ancestral Brahmin privilege. For me, this is very much about a kind of reconciliation and repatriation of land to communities whose lands have been taken through systems enforced by Brahmanic patriarchy, then Islamic Empire(s), then British Empire, and finally Indian nationalism.

I think at Brooklyn Zen Center we have many ripples and challenges we are facing as a sangha invested in looking at some of the most difficult antiracist work for any community: truth and reconciliation of Indigenous genocide as well as the enslavement of African peoples. How do these legacies of trauma and oppression manifest in our sangha, and what are we committed to doing collectively to undo these patterns of harm, to practice together in the spirit of all our liberation from white supremacy, capitalism, and patriarchy. At this time I think much of this work is happening in affinity groups. It is necessary that this work happens in separate communities AND I believe it also needs to begin happening in heterogeneous spaces. I am recognizing that action-organizing might be some of the best ways for us to consider these dynamics–much like our Zen practice asks us to observe every waking moment, one bead of breath at a time, I imagine political actions becoming akin to kinhin. How beautiful? How collectively generative? How healing?

Yes! I did reach out to Kritee and let her know that I will not be available to attend sessions on June 26 and October 16 due to conflicting commitments with Board meetings.

I do think this is realistic and doable for me.

I have known Matthew and Menzies since I started practicing at Brooklyn Zen Center in 2017. They have attended nearly every long retreat (5+ days) I have done with Brooklyn Zen Center, including two upstate at Ancestral Heart Zen Monastery/Watershed Retreat Center. I know Matthew and Mimi to be deeply committed to our practice and the strengthening of our sangha. Mimi and Matthew and both held practice roles in our community, always practiced with a tremendous deal of dedication, grace, and lovingkindness towards all sangha members and anyone walking through the doors of our zendo. I believe they will bring the same level of dedication to this study group as well.

At this time, no! I just feel deep gratitude that this is being offered. I do want to name that one reason that really encouraged me to apply was simply meeting Kritee and speaking to her. I have never met a fellow Zen student of Indian descent in my time practicing Zen, much less a Zen priest. I feel a great deal of comfort and trust (perhaps foolishly) that studying with Kritee will allow my Buddhist practice and muscles in climate justice work to grow in ways I have wanted them to for a while but having not found a fellow South Asian person to practice with.