Ten Percent More Engaged (Monthly BCD Group)
2026-05-20 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-06-17 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-07-15 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Event
BCD offers a monthly gathering for those who want to engage in mindful reflection and find practical ways to be more involved in making change happen.
Our gatherings take place on the third Wednesday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. EST.
We start with a meditation, after which we briefly share what came up for us. The bulk of the meeting is devoted to exploring ways in which we can be more involved and effective in reaching out and making change happen… in a way that is realistic and productive.
A concrete example of the types of discussion we have is: How we can use social media more effectively individually and as a group.
We conduct our gatherings in a respectful, supportive space that embodies our aspiration for mindfulness and democracy in action.
The gatherings are facilitated by Serge Prengel.
To register and receive monthly reminders of meetings, click here: https://tinyurl.com/bcdengaged

BCD Women in Solidarity Group
2026-06-04 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-07-02 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-08-06 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-09-03 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-10-01 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-11-05 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-12-03 19:00 - 20:00, 2027-01-07 19:00 - 20:00 and 15 more dates | Zoom Event
This is a group for women to express and discuss their own lived experience within the safety of a women’s-only space. The group’s focus is on matters relevant to engaged Buddhism. Topics may include patriarchy within Buddhist groups, activist groups, and society at large. Depending on the interests of the members, the group may discuss writings by Buddhist women and/or invite outside speakers. The group is facilitated by Kanchi Mary Richards and meets the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m.
Click here to be on the BCD Women in Solidarity mailing list and stay informed about upcoming groups: bcdwomeninsolidarity@gmail.com.
To join the meeting, click here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87096192102?pwd=[REDACTED]

BCD Live Event: New Horizons in Engaged Buddhism: Host Julia Sagebien interviews Joshin Byrnes
2026-06-25 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom Event
In this ninth episode in the New Horizons in Engaged Buddhism series, host Julia Sagebien interviews Joshin Byrnes. Joshin is a Zen priest and teacher at Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community in Middlebury, Vermont, a hub of community-engaged practice with direct service programs that include an active daily drop-in center called Gather and transitional supported housing at The Grove. He holds street retreats and bearing witness practices across the country, informed by decades of experience in HIV/AIDS activism—including work with AIDS Action Committee in Boston and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation—as well as leadership at community-based philanthropic organizations, including The Vermont Community Foundation and the Santa Fe Community Foundation. Before founding Bread Loaf Mountain, he served as president, vice abbot, and chaplaincy training director at Upaya Zen Center. Earlier in life, he studied philosophy and theology as a member of the Dominican Order, a social-justice oriented Catholic community, and trained as a musician and musicologist.
To attend this live event, click here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8246019794?pwd=[REDACTED]

First Sunday Independence Day Democracy Observance
2026-07-05 11:00 - 12:30 | Zoom Event
BCD is hosting a First Sunday Democracy Observance on July 5th at 11:00 a.m. ET. The event was initiated by member Morris Doshin Sullivan Sensei in conjunction with other Buddhist and interfaith organizations. The Zoom event will commemorate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence at a time when our democracy is under threat and our people are being subjected to violent oppression by authoritarians.
Sensei Morris is a Zen priest in the White Plum lineage, chair of the Bright Dawn leadership council, and founding teacher for Volusia Buddhist Fellowship. He will lead the service, joined by Seth Zuihō Segall, Zen priest at Pamsula Zen of Westchester and BCD Coordinating Committee member. There will be additional speakers and recorded chanting performed by members of the First Parish of Watertown.
The observance will be based on the Zen Peacemakers Three Tenets: Not Knowing, Bearing Witness, and Taking Action and will include:

Reflections from the speakers.
Group recitation of the Metta Sutta, the Metta Prayer, the Gate of Sweet Nectar, and Feeding the Hungry Spirits.
Bearing witness to those who have died at the hands of the country’s anti-democratic regime by meditating on their names.

There will be opportunities to share and reflect following the formal service.
To attend the service, click here.
Meeting ID: 868 5876 3648
Passcode: [REDACTED]
The event is free. Please consider supporting one or more of the participating organizations:
Bright Dawn
Buddhist Coalition for Democracy
First Parish Watertown
Pamsula Zen of Westchester
Volusia Buddhist Fellowship
Zen Peacemakers International
Contact Morris Sullivan for more information.

Day of Remembering Our Interdependence
2026-07-12 08:00 - 20:00 | New York City
This is a Buddhist-led, inter-faith, day-long practice and pilgrimage in NYC Inspired by the Buddhist Monks’ 2,300-mile Walk for Peace.

Pilgrims will do sitting and walking meditation, transferring merit and metta practice, chanting and ceremonies for everyone’s safety and protection. The day will culminate in a joyful gathering, with songs, poetry, movement, food.

All are welcome to join the entire five-borough pilgrimage or parts of it.

To register or volunteer to help, click here.

PILGRIMAGE ROUTE (TENTATIVE):

All are welcome to join the entire pilgrimage or join at any point.
In the hours between convergence points, we will do walking meditation, travel by ferry or subway or bus, and rest. Please note that this route is not final.
Two separate starting points—please join either one:
8-9AM – Staten Island, The Staten Island September 11th Memorial (Bank St., North Shore Waterfront Esplanade Park)
8-9AM – The Bronx, Banana Kelly Double Dutch (Intervale Ave. and Kelly St.), a sculpture by John Ahearn and Rigoberto Torres, an homage to the people of the Bronx.
11AM-12PM – Manhattan, African Burial Ground National Monument (Duane St. and Elk St.)/Foley Square, with blessings from Ramapo Munsee Lenape elder Grandmother Clara Soaring Hawk, along with Owl Steven Dennison Smith
2-3PM – Brooklyn, Metropolitan Detention Center (116 29th St.), where people arrested/abducted by ICE are being held
5-7PM – Queens, Socrates Sculpture Park (Vernon Blvd. and Broadway)

The Bodhisattva Path in Action: How Buddhism, Politics, and Social Engagement Serve Democracy
2026-09-24 18:00 - 19:30
The Bodhisattva Path in Action: How Buddhism, Politics, and Social Engagement Serve Democracy
Thursday, September 24th 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET
Co-Sponsors: Buddhist Coalition for Democracy (BCD)
Insight Meditation Community of Washington, DC (IMCW)
Intention: As communities navigate increasing polarization, threats to democratic norms, and growing social division, many Buddhist practitioners are asking how the Dharma can inform compassionate and effective engagement in public life. This online forum will explore how Buddhist practice can support democratic values such as participation, dialogue, mutual respect, shared responsibility, and concern for the common good. Rather than focusing on political parties, candidates, or policy positions, the discussion will examine how practitioners can embody Buddhist principles while engaging in civic and social life.
Panelists:
Tara Brach
Spiritual teacher, psychologist, and author. Tara’s teaching blends Western psychology and Eastern spiritual practices with a mindful attention to inner life and a dedication to creating a more just, equitable, and loving world.
Ben Connelly
Soto Zen teacher and Dharma heir in the Katagiri lineage. Ben teaches mindfulness in a variety of secular contexts and works with multifaith groups focusing on intersectional liberation, racial justice, and climate justice.
Kaira Jewel Lingo
Former ordained Zen nun (and trainee of Thich Nhat Hanh), teacher of Buddhist meditation, secular mindfulness, and compassion practices, as well as spiritual mentor with a focus on racial, climate, and social justice.
A timely dialogue in advance of the midterm elections. The forum will provide space for learning, reflection, and dialogue on how Buddhists can participate in social and political life in ways that are:
Grounded in Buddha’s teachings.
Responsive to present-day realities.
Supportive of connection rather than division.

You must pre-register for this event: https://imcw.org/event/?eventId=1747
