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Directory of Western Socially Engaged Buddhist
Groups and Activists

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  • Alphabetical Listing
  • Listing by Location
  • Listing by Field of Engagement
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • W
  • Z

Robert Aitken
Social Activist
Honolulu, HI

Appalachian Zen House
Zen House Leader: Steve Kanji Ruhl
Julian, Pennsylvania

Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Sensei
Director: National Buddhist Prison Sangha
Mt. Trempner, NY

Lisa Hill
Awake in Action
Vancouver, BC Canada

Dharma Holder James Bastien
Social Activist
Sunderland, MA

Rev. Patricia Dai-En Bennage
Abbess: Mt. Equity Zendo
Social Activist
Pennsdale, PA

Clare Sangha Spiritual Director: Sensei Bruce Seiryu Blackman
Baltimore, MD

Buddhist Peace Fellowship
Oakland, CA

Sr. Clare Carter
Peace Activist
Leverett, MA

Sensei Michel Dubois
Social Activist
Paris, France

Roshi Norman Fischer
Social Activist
Muir Beach, CA

Foundation for Active Compassion
Founding teacher, Lama John Makransky
Cambridge, MA

Sensei Grover Genro Gauntt
Street Retreat Leader
Yonkers, NY

Richard Gere
Social Activist
New York, NY

Bernie Glassman
Social Activist
Montague, MA

Jim Gollin
Eco Activist
Santa Fe, NM

Daniel Goleman
Psychologist
Williamsburg, MA

Greyston
Founder: Roshi Bernie Glassman
Yonkers, NY

Haley House
Founder, House Leader: Kathe McKenna
Roxbury, MA

Roshi Joan Halifax
Social Activist
Santa Fe, NM

Roshi Paul Haller
Social Activist
San Francisco, CA

Jon Kabat-Zinn
Social Activist
Wooster, MA

Karuna Center for Peacebuilding
Founder and Director: Paula Green
Amherst, MA

Stephanie Kaza
Eco-philosopher, Social Activist
Burlington, VT

Sensei Francisco Genkoji "Paco" Lugoviña
Social Activist
Bronx, NY

Joanna Macy
Eco-philosopher, Social Activist
Berkeley, CA
Website: www.joannamacy.net

Mahabodhi Maitri Mandala
Hospice and HIV/AIDS Healthcare Advocacy
Los Angeles, CA

Sensei Eve Myonen Marko
Social Activist
Montague, MA

Lama John Makransky
Founding teacher, Foundation for Active Compassion
Social Activist
Cambridge, MA

Roshi Peter Muryo Matthiessen
Eco-writer, Social Activist
Sagapaneck, NY

Sensei Fleet Ryushin Maull
Social Activist
Boulder, CO

Kathe McKenna
Social Activist
Roxbury, MA

Heinz-Jürgen Metzger
Social Activist
Solingen, Germany

Brad Miller
Humane Farming Association
Animal Rights
San Rafael, CA

Dharma Holder Mark Minninberg
Zen Entrepreneur
Hartford, CN

National Buddhist Prison Sangha
Spiritual Director: Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Sensei
Mt. Trempner, NY

National Prison Hospice Association
Spiritual Director: Sensei Fleet Ryushin Maull
Boulder, CO

New England Peace Pagoda
Walk for Peace
Leverett, MA

New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care
Co-Founders and Co-Executive Directors : Koshin Paley Ellison, Robert Chodo Campbell
New York, NY

Mayumi Oda
Social Activist, Artist
Kealakekua, HI

Frank Ostaseski
Compassionate Care
San Francisco, CA

Anne Waldman
Social Activist, Poet
New York, NY

Vanya Palmers
Animal Rights
Romiti / Rigi, Switzerland

Dharma Holder Chris Panos
Zen Entrepreneur
San Francisco, CA

Prison Dharma Network
Spiritual Director: Sensei Fleet Ryushin Maull
Boulder, CO

Richard Reoch
President: Shambhala Community
Social Activist
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Matthieu Ricard
Social Activist
Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling Monastery
Kathmandu, Nepal

Zen House Leader: Steve Kanji Ruhl
Appalachian Zen House
Julian, Pennsylvania

Dharma Holder Paul Shoju Schwerdt
Social Activist
Aachen, Germany

Alan Hozan Senauke
Social Activist
Berkeley, CA

Gary Snyder
Eco-poet, Social Activist
Nevada City, CA

Anthony Stultz
Social Activist
Harrisburg, PA

Kazuaki Tanahashi
Social Activist
San Francisco, CA

Claude AnShin Thomas
Social Activist
Concord, MA

Upaya Institute
Founder and Spiritual Director: Roshi Joan Jiko Halifax
Santa Fe, NM

Anne Waldman
Social Activist, Poet
New York, NY

Circle Dharma Holder Barbara Salaam Wegmüller
Social Activist
Bern, Switzerland

Margaret Wheatley
Management Theory
Provo, Utah

Diana Winston
Social Activist
Los Angeles, CA

Zen Peacemakers
Spiritual Director: Bernie Glassman
Montague, MA

Zen Peacemaker Circle
Spiritual Director: Circle Dharma Holder Barbara Salaam Wegmüller
Bern, Switzerland

  • USA
  • Canada
  • Latin America
  • Europe
  • Asia
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Hawai'i
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • Utah
  • Vermont

Jeff Bridges
Social Activist
Santa Barbara, CA

Buddhist Peace Fellowship
Oakland, CA

Roshi Norman Fischer
Social Activist
Muir Beach, CA

Roshi Paul Haller
Social Activist
San Francisco, CA

Joanna Macy
Eco-philosopher, Social Activist
Berkeley, CA
Website: www.joannamacy.net

Mahabodhi Maitri Mandala
Hospice and HIV/AIDS Healthcare Advocacy
Los Angeles, CA

Metta Institute
Founder, President and Director : Frank Ostaseski
Sausalito, CA

Brad Miller
Humane Farming Association
Animal Rights
San Rafael, CA

Frank Ostaseski
Compassionate Care
San Francisco, CA

Dharma Holder Chris Panos
Zen Entrepreneur
San Francisco, CA

Alan Hozan Senauke
Social Activist
Berkeley, CA

Gary Snyder
Eco-poet, Social Activist
Nevada City, CA

Kazuaki Tanahashi
Social Activist
San Francisco, CA

Diana Winston
Social Activist
Los Angeles, CA

Sensei Fleet Ryushin Maull
Social Activist
Boulder, CO

National Prison Hospice Association
Spiritual Director: Sensei Fleet Ryushin Maull
Boulder, CO

Prison Dharma Network
Spiritual Director: Sensei Fleet Ryushin Maull
Boulder, CO

Dharma Holder Mark Minninberg
Zen Entrepreneur
Hartford, CN

Robert Aitken
Social Activist
Honolulu, HI

Mayumi Oda
Social Activist, Artist
Kealakekua, HI

Clare Sangha Spiritual Director: Sensei Bruce Seiryu Blackman
Baltimore, MD

Dharma Holder James Bastien
Social Activist
Sunderland, MA

Sr. Clare Carter
Peace Activist
Leverett, MA

Foundation for Active Compassion
Founding teacher, Lama John Makransky
Cambridge, MA

Daniel Goleman
Psychologist
Williamsburg, MA

Haley House
Founder, House Leader: Kathe McKenna
Roxbury, MA

Jon Kabat-Zinn
Social Activist
Wooster, MA

Karuna Center for Peacebuilding
Founder and Director: Paula Green
Amherst, MA

Lama John Makransky
Founding teacher, Foundation for Active Compassion
Social Activist
Cambridge, MA

Sensei Eve Myonen Marko
Social Activist
Montague, MA

Kathe McKenna
Social Activist
Roxbury, MA

New England Peace Pagoda
Walk for Peace
Leverett, MA

Claude AnShin Thomas
Social Activist
Concord, MA

Zen Peacemakers
Spiritual Director: Bernie Glassman
Montague, MA

content new jersey

Jim Gollin
Eco Activist
Santa Fe, NM

Roshi Joan Halifax
Social Activist
Santa Fe, NM

Upaya Institute
Founder and Spiritual Director: Roshi Joan Jiko Halifax
Santa Fe, NM

Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Sensei
Director: National Buddhist Prison Sangha
Mt. Trempner, NY

Sensei Grover Genro Gauntt
Street Retreat Leader
Yonkers, NY

Richard Gere
Social Activist
New York, NY

Greyston
Founder: Roshi Bernie Glassman
Yonkers, NY

Sensei Francisco Genkoji "Paco" Lugoviña
Social Activist
Bronx, NY

National Buddhist Prison Sangha
Spiritual Director: Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Sensei
Mt. Trempner, NY

New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care
Co-Founders and Co-Executive Directors : Koshin Paley Ellison, Robert Chodo Campbell
New York, NY

Roshi Peter Muryo Matthiessen
Eco-writer, Social Activist
Sagapaneck, NY

Anne Waldman
Social Activist, Poet
New York, NY

Appalachian Zen House
Zen House Leader: Steve Kanji Ruhl
Julian, Pennsylvania

Rev. Patricia Dai-En Bennage
Abbess: Mt. Equity Zendo
Social Activist
Pennsdale, PA

Zen House Leader: Steve Kanji Ruhl
Appalachian Zen House
Julian, Pennsylvania

Anthony Stultz
Social Activist
Harrisburg, PA

Richard Reoch
President: Shambhala Community
Social Activist
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Lisa Hill
Awake in Action
Vancouver, BC Canada

  • Brazil
  • Mexico

Light Within Light
Spiritual Director: Shaykha Amina Al Jerrahi
Mexico City, Mexico

  • Austria
  • France
  • Germany
  • Ireland
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom

Vienna Zen Peacemaker Circle
Steward: Andreas Leszkovsky
Vienna, Austria

Sensei Michel Dubois
Social Activist
Paris, France

Dharma Holder Paul Shoju Schwerdt
Social Activist
Aachen, Germany

Heinz-Jürgen Metzger
Social Activist
Solingen, Germany

Zen Peacemaker Circle Dublin
Steward: Brendan Breen
Dublin, Ireland

Vanya Palmers
Animal Rights
Romiti / Rigi, Switzerland

Circle Dharma Holder Barbara Salaam Wegmüller
Social Activist
Bern, Switzerland

Zen Peacemaker Circle
Spiritual Director: Circle Dharma Holder Barbara Salaam Wegmüller
Bern, Switzerland

  • Nepal

Matthieu Ricard
Social Activist
Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling Monastery
Kathmandu, Nepal

  • Animal Rights
  • Arts
  • Business
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Consumerism
  • Compassionate Care
  • Dev. Soc. Eng. Bud.
  • Environment
  • Education
  • GLBT
  • Inner-City
  • Mental Health
  • Native American
  • Prison Work
  • Social Justice
  • Social Service
  • Street Ministry
  • Veterans Ministry
  • Women's Rights
  • Zen Houses

Articles

Individuals and Organizations

Brad Miller
Humane Farming Association
Animal Rights
San Rafael, CA

Vanya Palmers
Animal Rights
Romiti / Rigi, Switzerland

Articles

Court Dorsey: Arts and the World

Julian Marshall: Out Of The Darkness

Individuals and Organizations

Jeff Bridges
Social Activist, Actor
Santa Barbara, CA

Peter Matthiessen
Social Activist, Author
Sagaponeck, NY

Mayumi Oda
Social Activist, Artist
Kealakekua, HI

Kazuaki Tanahashi
Social Activist, Artist
San Francisco, CA

Anne Waldman
Social Activist, Poet
New York, NY

Articles

Mark Mininberg and Alternative Energy

Individuals and Organizations

Bernie Glassman
Social Activist
Montague, MA

Dharma Holder Mark Minninberg
Zen Entrepreneur
Hartford, CN

Dharma Holder Chris Panos
Zen Entrepreneur
San Francisco, CA

Margaret Wheatley
Management Theory
Provo, Utah

Articles

Dr. A.T.Ariyaratne
Paula Green: Exploring Peacebuilding
Profile: Paula Green
Profile: Joanna Macy
Peter Matthiessen: The Tragedy of Leonard Peltier vs. the US

Individuals and Organizations

Richard Gere
Social Activist
New York, NY

Bernie Glassman
Social Activist
Montague, MA

Roshi Joan Halifax
Social Activist
Santa Fe, NM

Roshi Paul Haller
Social Activist
San Francisco, CA

Karuna Center for Peacebuilding
Founder and Director: Paula Green
Amherst, MA

Sensei Francisco Genkoji "Paco" Lugoviña
Social Activist
Bronx, NY

Sensei Eve Myonen Marko
Social Activist
Montague, MA

Sensei Fleet Ryushin Maull
Social Activist
Boulder, CO

Heinz-Jürgen Metzger
Social Activist
Solingen, Germany

Richard Reoch
President: Shambhala Community
Social Activist
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Kazuaki Tanahashi
Social Activist
San Francisco, CA

Claude AnShin Thomas
Social Activist
Concord, MA

Circle Dharma Holder Barbara Salaam Wegmüller
Social Activist
Bern, Switzerland

Zen Peacemaker Circle
Spiritual Director: Circle Dharma Holder Barbara Salaam Wegmüller
Bern, Switzerland

Articles

Individuals and Organizations

Alan Hozan Senauke
Social Activist
Berkeley, CA

Articles

Chaplaincy and Hospice

     NY Zen Center for Contemplative Care

     Upaya Chaplaincy Program

     Zen Hospice Project

     Metta Institute

     Profile: Frank Ostaseski

Individuals and Organizations

Richard Gere
Social Activist
New York, NY

Roshi Norman Fischer
Social Activist
Muir Beach, CA

Roshi Joan Halifax
Social Activist
Santa Fe, NM

Jon Kabat-Zinn
Social Activist
Wooster, MA

Mahabodhi Maitri Mandala
Hospice and HIV/AIDS Healthcare Advocacy
Los Angeles, CA

Metta Institute
Founder, President and Director : Frank Ostaseski
Sausalito, CA

New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care
Co-Founders and Co-Executive Directors : Koshin Paley Ellison, Robert Chodo Campbell
New York, NY

Pat Enkyo O'Hara
Social Activist
New York, NY

Frank Ostaseski
Compassionate Care
San Francisco, CA

Matthieu Ricard
Social Activist
Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling Monastery
Kathmandu, Nepal

Upaya Institute
Founder and Spiritual Director: Roshi Joan Jiko Halifax
Santa Fe, NM

Zen Hospice
Founder: Frank Ostaseski
San Francisco, CA

Articles

Dalai Lama/Glassman Dialogue

Christopher Queen: Fourth Yana

Individuals and Organizations

Robert Aitken
Social Activist
Honolulu, HI

Bernie Glassman
Social Activist
Montague, MA

Buddhist Peace Fellowship
Oakland, CA

Heinz-Jürgen Metzger
Social Activist
Sollingen, Germany

Matthieu Ricard
Social Activist
Kathmandu, Nepal

Alan Hozan Senauke
Social Activist
Berkeley, CA

Zen Peacemakers
Spiritual Director: Bernie Glassman

Montague, MA

Articles

Individuals and Organizations

Jim Gollin
Eco Activist
Santa Fe, NM

Roshi Joan Halifax
Social Activist
Santa Fe, NM

Stephanie Kaza
Eco-philosopher, Social Activist
Burlington, VT

Joanna Macy
Eco-philosopher, Social Activist
Berkeley, CA
Website: www.joannamacy.net

Roshi Peter Muryo Matthiessen
Eco-writer, Social Activist
Sagapaneck, NY

Gary Snyder
Eco-poet, Social Activist
Nevada City, CA

Kazuaki Tanahashi
Social Activist
San Francisco, CA

Articles

Ken Byalin develops John W. Lavelle Preparatory Charter School

Individuals and Organizations

Sensei Ken Tetsuji Byalin
Staten Island, NY

Articles glbt

Individuals and Organizations glbt

Articles

Individuals and Organizations

Melody Ermachild Chavis
Social Activist
Berkeley, CA

Bernie Glassman
Social Activist
Montague, MA

Sensei Francisco Genkoji "Paco" Lugoviña
Social Activist
Bronx, NY

Sensei Eve Myonen Marko
Social Activist
Montague, MA

Kathe McKenna
Social Activist
Roxbury, MA

Articles

James Bastien: Health & Healing

John Makransky: Compassion Beyond Fatigue

Individuals and Organizations

Dharma Holder James Bastien
Social Activist
Sunderland, MA

Daniel Goleman
Psychologist
Williamsburg, MA

Lama John Makransky
Educator
Cambridge, MA

Articles

Peter Matthiessen: The Tragedy of Leonard Peltier vs. the US

Individuals and Organizations

Roshi Peter Muryo Matthiessen
Eco-writer, Social Activist
Sagapaneck, NY

Articles

     Alan Senauke: Buddhas Behind Razor Wire

     Dai-En Bennage: No Freedom

     Dhamma Brothers

     Gary Janka: County Jail

     Melody Chavis: Theme of Justice

     National Buddhist Prison Sangha

     Pat Coffey: Prison Practice

     Prison Dharma Network

     William Graham: A Lotus in a Swamp

Individuals and Organizations

Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Sensei
Director: National Buddhist Prison Sangha
Mt. Trempner, NY

Rev. Patricia Dai-En Bennage
Abbess: Mt. Equity Zendo
Social Activist
Pennsdale, PA

Clare Sangha Spiritual Director: Sensei Bruce Seiryu Blackman
Baltimore, MD

Melody Ermachild Chavis
Social Activist
Berkeley, CA

Vinny Ferraro
Social Activist
New York, NY

Richard Gere
Social Activist
New York, NY

Lisa Hill
Awake in Action
Vancouver, BC Canada

Haley House
Founder, House Leader: Kathe McKenna
Roxbury, MA

Joan Halifax
Social Activist
Santa Fe, NM

Sensei Fleet Ryushin Maull
Social Activist
Boulder, CO

National Buddhist Prison Sangha
Spiritual Director: Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Sensei
Mt. Trempner, NY

National Prison Hospice Association
Spiritual Director: Sensei Fleet Ryushin Maull
Boulder, CO

Prison Dharma Network
Spiritual Director: Sensei Fleet Ryushin Maull
Boulder, CO

Articles

Individuals and Organizations

Jeff Bridges
Social Activist
Santa Barbara, CA

Sr. Clare Carter
Peace Activist
Leverett, MA

Foundation for Active Compassion
Founding teacher, Lama John Makransky
Cambridge, MA

Bernie Glassman
Social Activist
Montague, MA

Roshi Joan Halifax
Social Activist
Santa Fe, NM

Roshi Paul Haller
Social Activist
San Francisco, CA

Sensei Francisco Genkoji "Paco" Lugoviña
Social Activist
Bronx, NY

Joanna Macy
Eco-philosopher, Social Activist
Berkeley, CA
Website: www.joannamacy.net

Lama John Makransky
Founding teacher, Foundation for Active Compassion
Social Activist
Cambridge, MA

Sensei Fleet Ryushin Maull
Social Activist
Boulder, CO

Heinz-Jürgen Metzger
Social Activist
Solingen, Germany

New England Peace Pagoda
Walk for Peace
Leverett, MA

Mayumi Oda
Social Activist, Artist
Kealakekua, HI

Pat Enkyo O'Hara
Social Activist
New York, NY

Alan Hozan Senauke
Social Activist
Berkeley, CA

Kazuaki Tanahashi
Social Activist
San Francisco, CA

Circle Dharma Holder Barbara Salaam Wegmüller
Social Activist
Bern, Switzerland

Zen Peacemaker Circle
Spiritual Director: Circle Dharma Holder Barbara Salaam Wegmüller
Bern, Switzerland

Articles

Individuals and Organizations

Appalachian Zen House
Zen House Leader: Steve Kanji Ruhl
Julian, Pennsylvania

Foundation for Active Compassion
Founding teacher, Lama John Makransky
Cambridge, MA

Bernie Glassman
Social Activist
Montague, MA

Greyston
Founder: Roshi Bernie Glassman
Yonkers, NY

Haley House
Founder, House Leader: Kathe McKenna
Roxbury, MA

Kathe McKenna
Social Activist
Roxbury, MA

Zen House Leader: Steve Kanji Ruhl
Appalachian Zen House
Julian, Pennsylvania

Dharma Holder Paul Shoju Schwerdt
Social Activist
Aachen, Germany

Anthony Stultz
Social Activist
Harrisburg, PA

Diana Winston
Social Activist
Los Angeles, CA

Articles

Individuals and Organizations

Sensei Michel Dubois
Social Activist
Paris, France

Sensei Grover Genro Gauntt
Street Retreat Leader
Yonkers, NY

Bernie Glassman
Social Activist
Montague, MA

Lisa Hill
Awake in Action
Vancouver, BC Canada

Claude AnShin Thomas
Social Activist
Concord, MA

Articles

Individuals and Organizations

Claude AnShin Thomas
Social Activist
Concord, MA

Articles

Individuals and Organizations

Pat Enkyo O'Hara
Social Activist
New York, NY