Buddhist Education for Social Transformation (BEST) is a comprehensive and visionary one-year program of engaged Buddhism in Asia. This project is a partnership between the International Women’s Partnership for Peace and Justice (IWP), based in Thailand, and Upaya Zen Center’s Buddhist Chaplaincy Program, based in New Mexico, USA.
The course is intended for people who are seeking to integrate their spirituality and social change work, working to relieve the suffering of the world grounded in wisdom and compassion. The course is geared towards social activists, NGO workers, professionals in the social services, and teachers. Faculty for the course will include Thai and International Buddhist leaders, dharma teachers and professors.
The curriculum of the program will cover:
v Foundational teachings and practices of Buddhism, and their application in society
v Karma and social justice
v Principles of socially engaged Buddhism
v Buddhism, gender and sexuality
v Systems theory
v Buddhist social development
v Structural violence and systemic oppression
v Peace building and conflict transformation
v Nonviolence and nonviolent action
v Buddhist/feminist psychotherapy
v End-of-life care
v Asian Buddhist and interfaith peace movements
The course will be housed at the retreat center of International Women’s Partnership for Peace and Justice (IWP) in Mae Rim, northern Thailand. The course begins with a three-week intensive residential workshop in November 2011, followed by individual assignments and projects throughout 2012. The group will come back together in November 2012 for a week-long intensive and to graduate.
For more information about the course, contact ginger[at]womenforpeaceandjustice.org.
For more information about Upaya, visit the website: www.upaya.org
