Turning Wheel On Tricycle: Bodhisattva Work

Now up on the web site of Tricycle magazine, check out an interview with me (Katie), Jacks, and Everett about some of the aims and aspirations of Buddhist-based media work for collective liberation.Thanks to the folks at Tricycle for having us!  They asked us a ton of great questions: we were so excited that I think our responses were about 18 times what they could fit in the post! :)It was a pleasure and inspiration to talk through the questions together. At times I feel like I've won the lottery — being able to work with such smart, thoughtful, and caring folks at BPF and Turning Wheel. And gaining a greater sense of the amazing work that engaged Buddhists are doing all over the place! More and more as we grow each year, I hope TWM can keep connecting us, reminding us that we are in great company striving to do bodhisattva's work.Also, someone has already left a pretty intriguing comment over there on the post; curious to know y'all's thoughts:

In my eight or so years of studying Buddhist philosophy, I've observed that the "engaged Buddhism" initiative has a lot of overlap with partisan views and the self-righteousness that accompanies it. Social justice is a noble pursuit, yet it has to unfold with gentle, enabling activism. It is less effective be forced on individuals who are not yet like-minded. In fact, I have observed that it makes the non like-minded dig in their heels even more exacerbating the problem. It is good that Peace Fellowship acknowledges these differences and is open to honest, civil dialog.I subscribe more to the approach that to change the world for the better, I must change myself for the better. In my view, we wag our fingers at those we see as racist, ableist, homophobic, etc. without acknowledging the work we need to do on ourselves. Also, it seems a spiritual drag to constantly self-arbitrate as to what set of behaviors or attitudes really constitute the offenders of the social justice paradigm.I personally question whether or not Ms. McNamara is on the mark about what needs to be done so that all beings can be truly free. Taking her approach into account, it seems that some beings must be placed into the bondage of shame so that only certain others can be freed.Metta.