Many New York-based Buddhist groups could be spotted in the massive crowds declaring “Never again!” at the international March for Our Lives on Saturday, March 24. Organized by students who survived the February 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 people, the march drew more than 1.2 million people in the US and inspired rallies at over 800 locations worldwide. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's office estimated 175,000 demonstrators marched in Manhattan.
With calls to action from non-sectarian Buddhist activist groups like the Buddhist Council of New York, Compassion NYC, and the recently formed Buddhist Action Coalition, several independent sanghas arrived at Central Park West and 72nd Street on Saturday morning ready to demand social change. Participating sanghas included the Zen Center of New York City (the city branch of Zen Mountain Monastery, also known as the Fire Lotus Temple), Brooklyn Zen Center, the Village Zendo, New York Insight Meditation Center, New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, Chan Dharma Community, and Won Buddhism of Manhattan.
Read Full Article »