Precepts and Politics: Carrying Out Good – a monthly discussion group

How do we disrupt harm without making things worse? Many of us feel the urgency to respond to what’s happening politically, but we don’t want to get stuck in polarization, blame, or despair.

Dōgen reminds us that practice is about meeting the world as it is: “…carry out good with your body without being concerned whether they are worldly or human sentiments. This is the meaning of dropping body and mind.” (Zuimonki 2.1)

He’s not telling us to keep worldly and spiritual life separate. He’s calling us to bring our practice into the world—to take action without getting caught in blame, self-righteousness, or division. Carrying out good means stepping in with wisdom, care, a steady heart, and the courage to heal what is broken.

At Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community, we are not interested in feeding the partisan shouting match —but we do care deeply about responding to suffering with wise compassion wherever we see it, even in the arena of politics. The precepts teach us how to stand firm without turning against others. Real change starts with us—we are the first leverage point of change in a broken system.

This monthly gathering is a space not to complain, but to step back, reflect, and figure out how to act—grounded in the precepts, aligned with our deepest values.

📅 Mondays at 3:00 PM ET (60 minutes)
🗓 March 10 & 17 (intro), April 7, May 5, June 2, July 7, August 4, September 1, October 6, November 10, December 15

“It is more beneficial to save people in the secular world right now who are suffering from lack of something they need.” —Dōgen, Zuimonki 2.2

What to Expect

This is a practice space, not a place to vent or debate. Together, we will:
✅ Explore how the precepts guide real-world action
✅ Stay true to our values while resisting harm
✅ Find ways to respond without blame or getting stuck in outrage
✅ Support each other in showing up with courage, care, and integrity

Healing action takes many forms—protesting, writing, serving, disrupting, withholding consent, and more. Whatever we do, the real question is:
How do we take action that helps, rather than adds to the mess?

If you’re looking for a space to figure out what it means to act with wisdom and compassion, we invite you to join us.

📅 Mondays at 3:00 PM ET (60 minutes)
🗓 March 10 & 17 (getting started), April 7, May 5, June 2, July 7, August 4, September 1, October 6, November 10, December 15

Let’s explore what it means to “carry out good” in a world that needs it more than ever.

Facilitator:

Sensei Brian Joshin Byrnes

Joshin is a Zen priest and teacher in the White Plum Lineage and Zen Peacemakers. He is the guiding teacher of Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community.

Registration: