What does it mean to be Black and Buddhist? In an altogether inspiriting anthology titled Black and Buddhist: What Buddhism Can Teach Us About Race, Resilience, Transformation, and Freedom, African American teachers from different Buddhist traditions tell stories of how race and Buddhist practice have intersected in their lives. The voices that rise from the pages of this book are diverse, unapologetic, and show us not only the promise of the Buddha’s teachings to empower those facing racial discrimination but also the way that Black Buddhists are enriching the Dharma for all of us. One such voice is Sebene Selassie, an Insight Meditation teacher, who narrates her own liberating journey in the chapter “Turning Toward Myself.”

Remembering all the twists and turns of the sometimes bumpy road to freedom, Sebene Selassie writes, “My relationships with Blackness and Buddhism have been complex, even fraught, but often profound. Buddhism allows me to see the ever-changing being that I am. Blackness assures me that there is a glorious ancestry within me. They both espouse joy and freedom”

Selassie guides us through her contemplations by considering the knots and tangles of several entwining identities, “Blackness and Buddhism teach me to love my multiplicities, to love myself.” Then she recounts how her freedom was suppressed by intolerance and prejudice, “I understand how racism teaches you to turn away from yourself. I did it for years. Turning toward myself required study and practice.” This illuminates the emancipating potential of the Dharma that can break our mental prisons and show us the path to true liberation.

One of the pivotal parts of Selassie’s journey was learning from the wisdom of Toni Morrison, Audre Lorde, and Bell Hooks. For her, these writers ignited an internal revolution when she fused their work with the spiritual way of buddhadharma, the way of awakening. She writes, “I turned toward Buddhism and Blackness at the same time. I am forever grateful for that synchronicity. Buddhism taught me to embrace every part of myself. That’s what the Dharma invites — a turning toward the truth of this body.”

Selassie concludes with this thought, “One of the Primary teachings I have understood from the Dharma is not to be in contention with reality. This is a core teaching for liberation. Suffering (dukkha) comes from wanting things to be other than what they are…. But what if we don’t see things as they are but only as we’ve been taught to see them? We know that race is a construct, an invention of racism. Race was created to justify imperialism and the slave trade. Blackness is not intrinsic to anyone. Blackness is definitely not monolithic. Yet, Blackness — entwined with the enslavement of Africans, colonization of the continent, and the subjugation of a massive diaspora — has become an indelible concept.”

Complement Black and Buddhist with Ruth King’s insights on how to be mindful of race, unravel the deep web of our subconscious programming, and contribute to a culture of care with integrity and openness.

To take refuge in the Three Jewels of Buddhism means putting our trust in the Buddha, the Buddhist community (Sangha), and Buddhist teachings (Dharma). We develop this trust when our meditation and mindfulness practice reaches a certain point that gives rise to an increased appreciation and even a sense of devotion to the people and teachings supporting our spiritual journey. But even more than that, it’s also an important step in becoming a devout Buddhist practitioner. This is what Gil Fronsdal (b. 1954), an American meditation teacher and scholar, explores and elucidates in a portion of his book titled The Issue at Hand: Essays on Buddhist Mindfulness Practice.

To take refuge in the Buddha is to take refuge in wisdom and clarity. Not only does the Buddha exemplify a person who has traversed the path to freedom, he also personifies the full potential for awakening and compassion found in each of us.

To take refuge in the Dharma is, in part, to take refuge in the teachings and practices taught by the Buddha. However, more deeply, the Dharma is the marvelous and immediate awareness unobscured by our greed, hatred, and delusion.

To take refuge in the Sangha is to take refuge in the community of people who share in Buddhist practice. It can be inspiring to know that others are dedicated to living the Buddha’s teachings through their ethics, mindfulness and compassion. More specifically and traditionally, taking refuge in the Sangha refers to taking refuge with the community of people who have tasted liberation — the awakening of the Buddha. To have the example and guidance of such people can be phenomenally encouraging.

Taking refuge is one of the most common rituals a lay practitioner performs in Theravada Buddhism. While it is done as a matter of course at ceremonies, during retreats, and when visiting a temple, it can be a pivotal moment when, for the first time, one takes refuge with the conscious intent of orienting one’s life in accordance to one’s deepest values and aspirations. Relating our practice to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha helps ensure that our practice is not limited to intellectual concerns or issues of personal therapy. It helps solidify a wide foundation of trust and respect from which the entire practice can grow.

Complement these passages from The Issue at Hand with the lectures by Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi on the First Noble Truth, the Second Noble Truth, and the Noble Eightfold Path.