Buddhist Coalition for Democracy

BCD Weekly Meditation Group
2026-08-12 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-08-05 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-07-29 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-07-22 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-07-15 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-07-08 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-07-01 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-06-24 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) and 3 more dates | Zoom Event
​​This is a weekly meditation group facilitated by Linda Modaro. It is a welcoming drop-in group—join when you can.

Meeting ID: 818 7605 9491
Passcode: 100
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81876059491?pwd=[REDACTED]

What to Expect
Each session begins with an invitation to bring your thoughts, feelings, and experiences with activism into your meditation; holding them in the conditions of Kindness and Curiosity. This is a silent, self-guided meditation practice. You may discern if this feels right for you in the moment; if not, you are welcome to do the practice of your choice.
● During meditation, cameras are generally off so you can focus on your practice. If keeping your camera on helps you feel more connected, you are welcome to do so.
● After meditation, we encourage you to write down and reflect on your experience.
● A few participants will have the opportunity for a short conversation with Linda Modaro about their meditation while others listen and observe.
● Each session closes with a group discussion on topics that naturally emerged from meditation and reflection.
Session Flow
● 9:00–9:05 am PT – Invitation: for meditation and activism
● 9:05–9:25 am PT – Meditation: 20 minute silent meditation (cameras on or off)
● 9:25–9:35 am PT – Reflection: remembering and recollecting your experience
● 9:35–9:45 am PT – Sharing: short conversations about meditation experience between a meditator and Linda Modaro while others listen
● 9:45-10:00 am PT – Group discussion: on themes arising from practice and reflection
About the Facilitator
Linda Modaro is the founder and lead teacher at Sati Sangha, a vibrant online meditation community offering daily Reflective Meditation sessions and online retreats throughout the year. She is co-author (with Nelly Kaufer of Pine Street Sangha) of Reflective Meditation: Cultivating Kindness and Curiosity in the Buddha’s Company.

BCD Engaged Buddhist Book Club
2026-08-11 19:15 - 20:30, 2026-07-14 19:15 - 20:30, 2026-06-30 19:15 - 20:30, 2026-06-23 19:15 - 20:30, 2026-06-16 19:15 - 20:30, 2026-06-09 19:15 - 20:30, 2026-06-02 19:15 - 20:30 | Zoom Event
This weekly book club is hosted by Kat Symington Muendell. Each week, members will discuss a book or article related to engaged Buddhism.
Email Kat at bcdbookclub@gmail.com for the weekly reading assignment and Zoom link and to get on the Book Club mailing list.

BCD Women in Solidarity Group
2026-08-06 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-07-02 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-04 19:00 - 20:00 | 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 Poetry as Witness: A Contemplative Circle of Nature and Word (Recurring Monthly Group)
2026-07-30 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-06-25 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom Event
Poetry as Witness is a monthly online contemplative circle of Nature & Word designed as a space for literary expression, mindful witnessing, and relational reflection.
The circle is facilitated by Lorena Saavedra-Smith, BCD member, poet, pacha philosopher, and ecopsychologist. Originally from Perú, Lorena is a lifelong storyteller and keeper of Andean ancestral wisdom.
This circle invites both experienced writers and first-time participants to engage with poetry as a practice of presence.
• Providing contemplative space for authentic expression
• Encouraging mindful, non-reactive speech
• Cultivating moral imagination through shared language
The circle emphasizes presence over performance and listening over reaction.
Each session begins with a brief meditation to ground participants in shared presence. A suggested monthly theme will gently orient the gathering and allow participants time to reflect and prepare writing connected to interconnectedness, nature, or lived experience. A short selected poem will open the evening and anchor collective reflection.
To get on this group’s mailing list, write to poetryandnaturegroup@gmail.com.
To join on Zoom, click on: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87407397997?pwd=[REDACTED]
Or use Meeting ID: 874 0739 7997 and Passcode: [REDACTED]
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Ten Percent More Engaged (Monthly BCD Group)
2026-07-15 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-06-17 19:00 - 20:30 | 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

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)

BCD Communications Committee
2026-07-08 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Event
This is a members-only meeting for Communications Commitee members to dicuss communications strategy regarding the BCD website, press releases, social media, telecasts and podcasts, Substack publications, and newsletter.
If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact Amaury Cruz at <amaurycruz@yahoo.com>.

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.

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]
