Series Description: Upaya’s Abbot and social activist Roshi Joan Halifax and the wonderful Buddhist scholar Dr. John Dunne guide participants through a unique and rich exploration of Buddhist visions of leadership. They draw on classical and contemporary Buddhist perspectives, including the early teachings in the Pali Canon on leadership and social responsibility, an exploration of the Dasa-Raja-Dhamma (the Ten virtues of a Leader), the legacy of King Ashoka, the work of second century scholar Nāgārjuna, unique and powerful Mahayana perspectives on leadership, Dogen’s views on leadership, and radical approaches from socially engaged Buddhism.

The program took a deep plunge into ways that key Buddhist perspectives and practices around the core themes of wisdom and compassion give us insight into pressing contemporary questions, such as environmental responsibility, nonviolence, and ways to nurture communities of awakening in a time of great social and environmental upheaval. Roshi and John brought their unique backgrounds in Buddhist scholarship and social change to participants through deep teachings, lively online discussions, and unusual practices that leaders and social activists can use as they meet a world of great uncertainty.

Episode Description: In Part 1 of this multi-part series, Roshi Joan Halifax and John Dunne begin by exploring the historical Buddha’s model of leadership. John considers how the Buddha was more of an “anti-leader,” rejecting power and domination, requiring encouragement to teach, and failing to reach the first person he tried to teach. How the Buddha led aligns with his teachings that all people must be lamps upon themselves. Roshi explains that the Buddha probably did not intend for a line of patriarchs and rather advocated for a community that had internalized the teachings and so did not require a leader. John notes that the Vinaya, the set of rules to guide monastic communities, were only implemented as the Buddha’s community grew and each rule was accompanied by a story about why it was necessary. Roshi explains how clear structures and policies have helped Buddhist communities to survive. She also cites examples of how these structures and policies have shifted through time and been adapted by different Buddhist leaders .

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