Social Justice Committee

The Rime Buddhist Center has partnered with More2 a social justice organization representing different faith traditions, cultural backgrounds, races, and economic means. We also encourage our members to work with SURj-KC a local network organizing white people for racial justice in accountability to the BBIPOC community. The following posts are activities of the Social Justice Committee.

Resisting Oppression, Upholding Compassion: A Path Forward Through the Six Paramitas in Troubled Times

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The current political climate is deeply troubling, as policies and actions that seem to contradict democratic principles, human rights, and compassion are rapidly gaining ground. This has caused widespread fear, especially concerning the erosion of freedoms, equality, and social justice. There is a palpable sense of loss, as hard-fought progress made over decades is being rolled back, leaving vulnerable communities exposed to greater harm. Continue reading →

Lama Matt’s Reflection from the 2024 Greater Kansas City Martin Luther King, Jr. Interfaith Service

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Reflection on the Life and Vision of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr from the Buddhist Tradition.

2024 Greater Kansas City Martin Luther King, Jr. Interfaith Service

I am grateful for the opportunity to join you today in friendship and reflection. I am thankful that we are able to take a moment out of our busy lives to embrace each other in the sacred and beloved community. In reflecting on the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, I am reminded of the Buddha’s teachings of interconnectedness, non-violence, and active compassion. Continue reading →

Volunteers Needed for the Rime Center’s Juneteenth Booth

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The Rime Buddhist Center is needing assistance with our upcoming Juneteenth booth. This year, we will be hosting a booth at the 12th Annual JuneteenthKC Heritage Festival to celebrate this important day. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up with the link below.

Sign Up

We are looking for volunteers to help us with a variety of tasks, including:

  • Setting up and breaking down the booth
  • Greeting attendees and answering questions about the Rime Center
  • Distributing information about the Rime Center and our upcoming Meditation Workshop and Basics of Buddhism class

Rescheduled: Secret Path of the Siddhas With Younge Khachab Rinpoche

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May 27-28, 2023

Due to a flight delay Rinpoche’s teachings are postponed a week and will occur on May 27-28th.

Younge Khachab Rinpoche will be teaching from his upcoming new book, Secret Path of the Siddhas. The teachings of the great masters and siddhas of the past in India and Tibet are made available and accessible to modern practitioners in this guide. Read more.

Letter of Solidarity for the Dialogue Institute of Kansas City and the Kansas City Raindrop Foundation

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On October 21,2022, the offices and community center of the Dialogue Institute of Kansas City and Kansas City Raindrop Foundation, was the target of vandalism. Three teenage vandals broke in through a window and ransacked the building leaving a swastika, the anarchy symbol and obscene phrases scrawled across walls. On Nov 10, 2022 Lama Matt and other community leaders came together to stand in solidarity with the Dialogue Institute and Raindrop against this act of hate. Lama Matt read the following statement at the event.

The Buddha taught about our interconnectedness to all sentient beings around us. In the Buddhist scripture, The Flower Garland Sutra, the Buddha uses the metaphor of Indra’s net. Continue reading →

Radical Dharma: An Online Book Discussion

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October 11, 2021 @ 7:45 pm

The Rime Center’s Social Justice Committee is proud to sponsor a 5 week online book discussion on Radical Dharma. Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation, ignites a long-overdue dialogue about how the legacy of racial injustice and white supremacy plays out in society at large and Buddhist communities in particular. Read more…

Black and Buddhist: A Book Discussion

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August 4, 2021 @ 7:45 pm

The Rime Center’s Social Justice Committee is proud to sponsor a 4 week discussion on Black and Buddhist. We will be discussing the book Black and Buddhist, which brings together a powerful collection of writings from African American teachers who are from all the major Buddhist traditions, as they tell their stories of how race and Buddhist practice have intersected in their lives. Read more…