TUWHIRI’S NEXT BOOK
Mindful Solidarity by Mike Slott
Democratic socialist politics and a secular form of Buddhism are both essential if we want to create a society in which we all have the opportunity to flourish, says Secular Buddhist Network editor, Mike Slott.
A secular approach to Buddhism enables us to recognize the ways in which we harm ourselves and others, as well as how our actions weaken progressive political movements.
At the same time, an ethically-informed, secular Buddhist meditation practice is an essential tool for activists working to transform oppressive social institutions, the source of so much human suffering.
So when we pursue individual and social transformation together, we will be enriching the Buddhist path, making it more ethically and socially focused.
In Mindful Solidarity: A Secular Buddhist–Democratic Socialist Dialogue, Mike Slott encourages political activists and Buddhist practitioners to connect with and learn from each other.
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Later this month, we will be seeking your support for a Kickstarter campaign to produce and publish Mindful Solidarity by Mike Slott. The campaign will open on 25 July.
Keep informed on what is happening with this campaign – sign up for the occasional Mindful Solidarity newsletter ⁂
COMMENT
Creativity and the sublime
From Italy, Stefano has posted a tantalising comment about creativity and motherhood on last month’s piece on ‘Brad Mehldau, the sublime and creativity’.
Readers who choose to pay for your News from Tuwhiri subscription can comment and respond. When you pay for your sub, you’ll also get a code giving you 15% off books in Tuwhiri’s online store.
A subscription costs USD $5 a month or USD $55 for a year. A Supporter sub is USD $300. ⁂
NOW AVAILABLE TO NEWS FROM TUWHIRI READERS
Published from April 2020 to May 2022, Creative Dharma, a newsletter was a COVID-19 lockdown project. News from Tuwhiri subscribers can now find the issues of Creative Dharma in the archive for this newsletter. Look for newsletters that start with CD.
Creative Dharma was a collaboration between editors Brad Parks (Santa Barbara, CA, USA), Ramsey Margolis (Wellington, Aotearoa) and Ronn Smith (Boston, MA, USA). ⁂
BOOK READING GROUP
What is this? Ancient questions for modern minds
The next What is this? online book reading group will be starting in September. Meeting at a suitable time for participants in the Americas and Europe/Africa, to register your interest send us an email.
When you register, we will send you a code giving you 10% off the price of What is this? – paper or digital – bought in Tuwhiri’s online store.
➡︎ Download an excerpt from What is this? ⁂
POEM
The journey
by Mary Oliver
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice –
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
‘Mend my life!’
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognised as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do –
determined to save
the only life you could save.
– from Dream Work by Mary Oliver (Grove/Atlantic 1986)
SECULAR DHARMA TALK
‘The teacher on my left shoulder’ by Anna Markey
‘An interesting phenomenon occurred to me when I was young,’ said South Australian dharma teacher, Anna Markey, ‘something that I’ve come to call “the teacher on my left shoulder”. You may have gone through similar experiences as a child, but have difficulty articulating as an adult.’
➡︎ Read and download The teacher on my left shoulder. ⁂
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JUST ONE MORE THING
Please don’t forget…
When you buy a book in our online store, we pay for the postage, worldwide. ⁂
We’re so, so grateful to you
When you read this newsletter, buy a book, let others know about Tuwhiri, or decide you’re going to pay for your newsletter, know that you’re part of the community which helps us to publish innovative secular dharma books. ⁂
Ngā manaakitanga,
Ramsey Margolis ❖ Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand
for Tuwhiri