City Arts & Lectures Event with Jarvis, David Sheff & Rebecca Solnit to be Webcast 6/15

“The Buddhist on Death Row: David Sheff & Jarvis Jay Masters in conversation with Rebecca Solnit” event will now be webcast online here on Mon. June 15, 2020 at 7:30pm PST. Donations will benefit the GRIP Training Institute, which transforms violence and suffering into learning and healing.

Though the pandemic has now prevented the participation of Buddhist teacher Ven. Pema Chodron, who was previously featured in this public dialogue, she sent a recent message to Jarvis, which he wanted to share with his supporters:

“We hear again and again about systemic police brutality against African-Americans, and we see it played out year after year. Now this brutality is playing out again with the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis. Many people are asking if there will be justice, if the officer will be convicted, if we are at a turning point? Despite the overwhelming evidence of guilt, I dread the very real possibility that there will be no accountability or justice for the murder of George Floyd. Again, the police officers will be acquitted. Again, the senseless killing of an African-American will have no consequences. 

In this uncertain atmosphere,  I would like to invite any of you who feel inclined to join me and the monastics of Gampo Abbey in a prayer vigil on Friday, June 5th from 1-1:30 EST, for George Floyd, for his family, and for the countless African-Americans  who have been, and continue to be the recipients of police brutality.

My personal intention during this vigil will be to meditate for justice for George Floyd and all those suffering from systemic racism. May George Floyd’s death not be in vain and may we always be brave enough to face the ways that this injustice continues to live in us.

I am moved by those members of law enforcement across the United States, as well as those people around the world, who are showing their solidarity with the protestors, and I aspire that this spirit of compassion grow and flourish in the months and years to come.”