We are, I am – Afrikan & Buddhist Wisdom: Path to Healing, Justice and Liberation

All welcome.
For Black History Month 2021, we explore the interconnection and cross-pollination relationship of Afrikan wisdom and Buddhism and what they bring to the challenges and social inequities of our time. This conversation between two Black Buddhist Teachers explores the multifaceted experience of being Black across the diaspora and the spiritual and contemplative wisdom they nurture towards individual and collective healing, justice and liberation.

Vimalasara Mason-John
Dr. Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John, M.A (hon.doc) is an award-winning Poet, author, and public speaker Valerie Mason-John (Vimalasara) is the award-winning author/editor of ten books. Their debut novel, Borrowed Body, won the 2006 Mind Book of the Year Award. They co-authored the award-winning book Eight Step Recovery: Using the Buddha’s Teachings to Overcome Addiction. And authored Detox Your Heart Meditations for Emotional Trauma.
Their most recent book, published in 2020, I Am Still Your Negro: An Homage to James Baldwin has won critical acclaim. They began writing as an international correspondent covering Aboriginal deaths in custody and land rights in Australia. They are a senior teacher in the Triratna Buddhist Community and one of the leading African descent voices in the field of mindfulness for addiction. In 2021 their new book an edited anthology Afrikan Wisdom, New Voices Talk Black Liberation, Buddhism and Beyond honours, embraces and builds on the legacy of Afrikan wisdom of their ancestors. They live on the Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Valerie uses the pronouns they/their/them because they do not subscribe to how society defines a woman. She/Her limits their capacity to be who they truly are. More information about Valerie can be found online at https://www.valeriemason-john.com

Nolitha Tsengiwe
Nolitha is a Dharma teacher and Director at Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat Center, in South Africa that was founded by Kittisaro and Thanisara Weinberg. She has practiced since 1997 under Kittisaro and Thanissara, who are of Ajahn Chah’s lineage. In her first retreat with these beloved teachers she discovered silence as a refuge and has never looked back. Nolitha completed the Community Dharma leadership program at Spirit Rock and is a teacher with IMS.
Nolitha is a Psychologist in private practice and is trained in Karuna (Group psychotherapy based on Buddhist principles) and Somatic Experiencing (SE). She is an executive coach and facilitator in leadership development and runs her own leadership development consulting company, Courage to Lead. In South African, under Dharmagiri , she offers Race Work for reconciliation using Insight Dialogue principles. She has recently been appointed by Spirit Rock as a mentor for the TTCP program. More information on Nolitha can be found on https://www.spiritrock.org/nolitha-tsengiwe and http://couragetolead.co.za