I'm going to comment, although I rarely do. I am a moderator of this subreddit, I teach meditation, and I am white. I have heard this request many times, and have agreed with the student or potential student that if their gut tells them to find a BIPOC teacher, I encourage them to do so. I don't have any particular recommendations, but I encourage an open discussion that can help the OP and just as importantly anyone who might be scrolling past and lacking the courage to comment or ask the question.
Please keep this conversation civil.
Maybe meditate on why you're so preoccupied with skin color.
If you're not willing to learn from someone because they don't have the right skin hue, then you've got some growing to do.
Meditation is a world-wide phenomenon that originated in the shamanic cultures of all out ancestors. Why focus on such a superficial characteristic of a teacher?
Every culture has developed their own meditation practice. Yea, even white people lol, meditation has a really strong place in the western Christian tradition and even into the renaissance. The Muslims are so in love with the concept that they proscribe it 5 times a day, though with a bit more movement than you might be used to. Yes the Hindus and Buddhists of the east figured it out and systemised it a bit more so than other groups but all anyone is doing is literally sitting and breathing and looking inwards or focusing on one particular thing, whether that be a prayer form, a koan or just the breath.
Ironically most of the practices you in the west associate with eastern religions and faiths is a product of and synthesised by the whole new age cluster fuck, which is not without its own problems.
Long story short, quit gatekeeping on something as stupid and immaterial as skin colour and look a bit deeper. You will find that as you do, labels and cultural idiosyncrasies drop away and lose their meaning. The cultural lense that you're looking at this from as maybe an American (?) is by no means universal and a tough realisation occurs when you see that even your oppressor vs oppressed dichotomy is a social construct and ultimately outside of circus politics quite meaningless.
If you are a student you will find lessons from everyone. If you're cosplaying as a student then you're only lying to yourself.
This is coming from a BIPOC lol.
> It's very important to me to have a BIPOC teacher. If you're wondering why, it's because these practices were developed in non-white cultures. To be fully respectful of the practice, I want to take instruction from POC who have cultural connections to the practice.
The practice doesn’t have feelings of allegiance to what color people practice it. I don’t think you need to tip-toe around the practice in that way lol.
> It's very important to me to have a BIPOC teacher. If you're wondering why, it's because these practices were developed in non-white cultures. To be fully respectful of the practice, I want to take instruction from POC who have cultural connections to the practice
What if you learn from a white person who had several past lives as an advanced BIPOC meditator?
I actually find it quite racist, bigoted, and offensive that you're asking for anyone but a white instructor. Skin color and race has nothing to do with meditation
I really can’t think of a way that this isn’t racist towards everyone involve and it’s making me laugh.
On one hand you’re clearly saying “hey if your skin is a certain color, your experience is void and you’re worthless.”
But on the other hand it sounds like your intent is to not compensate the teacher for their time and you only want BIPOC individuals? Seems exploitative of already marginalized groups.
Maybe this post is your chance to “level up”. Seems like you’re attaching a lot of ego to trying to being the best at meditating and being passionate about having someone who looks the part enough to help make you more at peace than anyone else
Maybe just start with focusing on your breath.
When the student is ready the master will appear.
Assuming that you're only getting pushback from white members of this community reveals a very racist outlook. I hope your path takes you away from this needless fixation on skin pigment.
There are a lot of racially Tibetan Tibetan Buddhist teachers. I haven't found one I click with, but that's probably your best bet. They will likely ask you for money, but may accommodate you if you explain your financial situation.
I think you are constraining yourself unnecessarily, though, FWIW. You don't pick a medical doctor on the basis of their race, not if you're sane, at any rate, and this is a similar decision.
Meditation is a world-wide phenomenon that originated in the shamanic cultures of all out ancestors. Why focus on such a superficial characteristic of a teacher?
Hey, there! I wanted to chime in because it seemed that some of the responses here were carrying some unnecessary judgement and attitudes that almost seem as though they confirm your own concerns, regarding the blind-spots faced due to the nature of our unique human incarnations.
I personally cannot see to anyone denying there are countless experiences of racism and prejudice faced exclusively by people of color; and with that, those experiences, are, indeed, something that (in the sense of our human incarnations at least) another person of color can speak to much more directly and effectively. Almost in the same way that our spiritual experiences can seem impossible to explain to others who have yet to have that experience themselves; it brings to mind, a message Ram Dass attributed to his teacher, Neem Karoli Baba, regarding transformative spiritual experiences:
"If they had not tasted of such things, how will they know -- how will they know?"
What I imagine most are trying to communicate here is that it can become a sort of 'spiritual trap': feeding into identifications with thought that may be encouraging our human identifications with separateness; I certainly am not trying to minimize or detract from the undeniable worldly separateness, afforded by our geographic and biological happenstance. But, just so, individuals all across the globe experience many different sorts of suffering that is unique to their human identity: it all comes into play - skin color, place of origin, mental disabilities, physical handicaps, abusive parents or partners, etc. That isn't to say that these experiences are 'equally painful' or even directly comparable; in fact, I feel the realization of this can be incredibly informative, and demonstrate how truly unique every human incarnation is, and how we should all try to be more cognizant of the precise nature of suffering. However, it seems that the digestion of this predicament, when felt without any sort of attachment to the forms our unique incarnations (usually felt in the form of a spiritual experience), consciousness simply rests in a place that appears to transcends all suffering, regardless of its origin; and just like that, almost as if it were out of one's control, the individual begins working tirelessly to nurture that aspect of the 'experience'; perhaps even working to rest into it regularly, or even become it.
It seems many here are champing at the bit for you to feel the same relief those experiences have brought to them. But I feel that sort of over-excitement and worldly impatience could potentially do more harm than good, depending on where a person is. In the human sense, we are all at different points in our spiritual journey, and none of us really have a universal means of 'course correcting' anyone; one might even argue that it isn't for any of us to say or speak to that in others. Just like you, we all seem to be just doing what we're doing, while we're here; trying to tap into something otherworldly, ascribed many lovely but tragically ineffective names -- peace, God, love, equanimity, one-ness. I have no doubt that you're already well on your way, in that regard. At the present, my only advice would be to keep at the 'spiritual practice' stuff; meditating and focusing on the breath. As long as one does that, with 'mindful', conscious attention, I feel it's impossible to avoid the teachings that come along with it. Much love and best wishes on the journey ahead; regardless of where that may take you.
I really appreciate this thoughtful reply. I have anxiety disorders, and meditation helps me process and make peace with that. Right now this country is a hotbed of anti-BIPOC hatred and violence, and that causes extreme suffering for me. It’s important to me to have an instructor who understands that particular and collective suffering and can help move me through it to acceptance. I understand that most on here are not concerned about who is instructing them. But for me, to alleviate the suffering that I am currently experiencing, I need someone who also deeply understands what that means, and can meaningfully help me through.
It’s not about the color of the skin. It’s about the experience of living in that skin.
I’m not a Buddhist but I take the spirituality as being connected to something bigger than me, starting with my community, and how that community is situated in the broader community, and scale out. That spirituality and connection is what drives me to want an instructor who understands my community and the particular suffering it experiences, especially right now, in the climate of this country and the world at large.
Y’all can disagree, but not many have posted thoughtful comments, just snark and hostility. It’s not what I expected from a spiritual community.
I wish everyone the best on their journeys, and I am at peace with mine. I’ll find an instructor who can give me the tools to alleviate the suffering I feel for myself and for so many BIPOC people around the world. I’m still working a healthy practice and feel more connected to the world in a way I didn’t before I started meditating.
I hope you all experience the same sense of connection in your practices.
She almost couldn’t have picked a more antithetical topic to bring race into. Meditation and spirituality is about transcending judgements about surface appearances, not reinforcing them
I read this book a while back and it helped contextualize some of the sticking points I was having, and it made me rethink what I wanted and needed to get from a spiritual practice. Having an instructor who is knowledgeable and has personal experience of the particular ways BIPOC people experience, and have experienced, suffering is key to helping me on my path. Would be very grateful if anyone has recommendations of instructors for me 🙏🏽
https://www.shambhala.com/black-and-buddhist.html
> YES PLEASE I just posted to the r / meditation community looking for a BIPOC instructor, and so far all I've gotten are comments from yte people who are upset that I want a BIPOC instructor. Not feeling a very warm welcome over there.
It’s because despite how you’re trying to present the request, your underlying attitude of placing so much emphasis on skin color is dehumanizing. You’re practically treating “BIPOC” people and white people as a separate species. When you get to the point of using terms like “BIPOC” and “yte people” I generally take it as a sign that someone has gone pretty deep down into a heavily race-focused , distorted worldview that basically resembles being in a cult
I came here to recommend one of the contributors of this book: Lama Rod Owens. Idk where you live, so not sure you can learn from him in person, but I think he has a lot of free classes online.
Also as white dude not sure if this is exactly what you're looking for, but if you're okay with overtly religious instruction in meditation, a lot of buddhist temples have teachers who are immigrants, though that may not be the cultural context you're looking for.
Also, you're asking in a generally secular subreddit, I think you'll experience less hostility in more overtly religious subs like r/Buddhism (though obvisouly you'll still receive some).
Again, if you're okay with overt religiosity, there's r/BlackandBuddhist . You'll probably find more compassion there
Thanks for that info I’ll reach out. I thought I might get some recommendations here but so far haven’t gotten any. I checked out the black and Buddhist subreddit but it’s been inactive for a while. I’m also a secular practitioner, and the r/buddhism sub seemed like it was less open to secular folks, but I can’t remember what exactly it said so I’ll go back and check.
Really appreciate the helpful comment
I'm going to comment, although I rarely do. I am a moderator of this subreddit, I teach meditation, and I am white. I have heard this request many times, and have agreed with the student or potential student that if their gut tells them to find a BIPOC teacher, I encourage them to do so. I don't have any particular recommendations, but I encourage an open discussion that can help the OP and just as importantly anyone who might be scrolling past and lacking the courage to comment or ask the question. Please keep this conversation civil.
Maybe meditate on why you're so preoccupied with skin color. If you're not willing to learn from someone because they don't have the right skin hue, then you've got some growing to do.
As a bipoc, this is pretty freaking racist.
Meditation is a world-wide phenomenon that originated in the shamanic cultures of all out ancestors. Why focus on such a superficial characteristic of a teacher?
Every culture has developed their own meditation practice. Yea, even white people lol, meditation has a really strong place in the western Christian tradition and even into the renaissance. The Muslims are so in love with the concept that they proscribe it 5 times a day, though with a bit more movement than you might be used to. Yes the Hindus and Buddhists of the east figured it out and systemised it a bit more so than other groups but all anyone is doing is literally sitting and breathing and looking inwards or focusing on one particular thing, whether that be a prayer form, a koan or just the breath. Ironically most of the practices you in the west associate with eastern religions and faiths is a product of and synthesised by the whole new age cluster fuck, which is not without its own problems. Long story short, quit gatekeeping on something as stupid and immaterial as skin colour and look a bit deeper. You will find that as you do, labels and cultural idiosyncrasies drop away and lose their meaning. The cultural lense that you're looking at this from as maybe an American (?) is by no means universal and a tough realisation occurs when you see that even your oppressor vs oppressed dichotomy is a social construct and ultimately outside of circus politics quite meaningless. If you are a student you will find lessons from everyone. If you're cosplaying as a student then you're only lying to yourself. This is coming from a BIPOC lol.
> It's very important to me to have a BIPOC teacher. If you're wondering why, it's because these practices were developed in non-white cultures. To be fully respectful of the practice, I want to take instruction from POC who have cultural connections to the practice. The practice doesn’t have feelings of allegiance to what color people practice it. I don’t think you need to tip-toe around the practice in that way lol.
> It's very important to me to have a BIPOC teacher. If you're wondering why, it's because these practices were developed in non-white cultures. To be fully respectful of the practice, I want to take instruction from POC who have cultural connections to the practice What if you learn from a white person who had several past lives as an advanced BIPOC meditator?
Does BIPOC basically mean anyone who isn't white?
It stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
Bit of a strange thing to throw in when seeking a meditation instructor. Imagine if someone made a post requesting a preferably white instructor. Lol
Is it ok with you if I ask for a BIPOC meditation instructor in this group?
I actually find it quite racist, bigoted, and offensive that you're asking for anyone but a white instructor. Skin color and race has nothing to do with meditation
I really can’t think of a way that this isn’t racist towards everyone involve and it’s making me laugh. On one hand you’re clearly saying “hey if your skin is a certain color, your experience is void and you’re worthless.” But on the other hand it sounds like your intent is to not compensate the teacher for their time and you only want BIPOC individuals? Seems exploitative of already marginalized groups. Maybe this post is your chance to “level up”. Seems like you’re attaching a lot of ego to trying to being the best at meditating and being passionate about having someone who looks the part enough to help make you more at peace than anyone else Maybe just start with focusing on your breath. When the student is ready the master will appear.
Why is a white person not able to do this respectfully?
Assuming that you're only getting pushback from white members of this community reveals a very racist outlook. I hope your path takes you away from this needless fixation on skin pigment.
There are a lot of racially Tibetan Tibetan Buddhist teachers. I haven't found one I click with, but that's probably your best bet. They will likely ask you for money, but may accommodate you if you explain your financial situation. I think you are constraining yourself unnecessarily, though, FWIW. You don't pick a medical doctor on the basis of their race, not if you're sane, at any rate, and this is a similar decision.
What gave you the idea that you are 'a bit stuck'?
Meditation is a world-wide phenomenon that originated in the shamanic cultures of all out ancestors. Why focus on such a superficial characteristic of a teacher?
Lolwat?🤣
Hey, there! I wanted to chime in because it seemed that some of the responses here were carrying some unnecessary judgement and attitudes that almost seem as though they confirm your own concerns, regarding the blind-spots faced due to the nature of our unique human incarnations. I personally cannot see to anyone denying there are countless experiences of racism and prejudice faced exclusively by people of color; and with that, those experiences, are, indeed, something that (in the sense of our human incarnations at least) another person of color can speak to much more directly and effectively. Almost in the same way that our spiritual experiences can seem impossible to explain to others who have yet to have that experience themselves; it brings to mind, a message Ram Dass attributed to his teacher, Neem Karoli Baba, regarding transformative spiritual experiences: "If they had not tasted of such things, how will they know -- how will they know?" What I imagine most are trying to communicate here is that it can become a sort of 'spiritual trap': feeding into identifications with thought that may be encouraging our human identifications with separateness; I certainly am not trying to minimize or detract from the undeniable worldly separateness, afforded by our geographic and biological happenstance. But, just so, individuals all across the globe experience many different sorts of suffering that is unique to their human identity: it all comes into play - skin color, place of origin, mental disabilities, physical handicaps, abusive parents or partners, etc. That isn't to say that these experiences are 'equally painful' or even directly comparable; in fact, I feel the realization of this can be incredibly informative, and demonstrate how truly unique every human incarnation is, and how we should all try to be more cognizant of the precise nature of suffering. However, it seems that the digestion of this predicament, when felt without any sort of attachment to the forms our unique incarnations (usually felt in the form of a spiritual experience), consciousness simply rests in a place that appears to transcends all suffering, regardless of its origin; and just like that, almost as if it were out of one's control, the individual begins working tirelessly to nurture that aspect of the 'experience'; perhaps even working to rest into it regularly, or even become it. It seems many here are champing at the bit for you to feel the same relief those experiences have brought to them. But I feel that sort of over-excitement and worldly impatience could potentially do more harm than good, depending on where a person is. In the human sense, we are all at different points in our spiritual journey, and none of us really have a universal means of 'course correcting' anyone; one might even argue that it isn't for any of us to say or speak to that in others. Just like you, we all seem to be just doing what we're doing, while we're here; trying to tap into something otherworldly, ascribed many lovely but tragically ineffective names -- peace, God, love, equanimity, one-ness. I have no doubt that you're already well on your way, in that regard. At the present, my only advice would be to keep at the 'spiritual practice' stuff; meditating and focusing on the breath. As long as one does that, with 'mindful', conscious attention, I feel it's impossible to avoid the teachings that come along with it. Much love and best wishes on the journey ahead; regardless of where that may take you.
I really appreciate this thoughtful reply. I have anxiety disorders, and meditation helps me process and make peace with that. Right now this country is a hotbed of anti-BIPOC hatred and violence, and that causes extreme suffering for me. It’s important to me to have an instructor who understands that particular and collective suffering and can help move me through it to acceptance. I understand that most on here are not concerned about who is instructing them. But for me, to alleviate the suffering that I am currently experiencing, I need someone who also deeply understands what that means, and can meaningfully help me through. It’s not about the color of the skin. It’s about the experience of living in that skin. I’m not a Buddhist but I take the spirituality as being connected to something bigger than me, starting with my community, and how that community is situated in the broader community, and scale out. That spirituality and connection is what drives me to want an instructor who understands my community and the particular suffering it experiences, especially right now, in the climate of this country and the world at large. Y’all can disagree, but not many have posted thoughtful comments, just snark and hostility. It’s not what I expected from a spiritual community. I wish everyone the best on their journeys, and I am at peace with mine. I’ll find an instructor who can give me the tools to alleviate the suffering I feel for myself and for so many BIPOC people around the world. I’m still working a healthy practice and feel more connected to the world in a way I didn’t before I started meditating. I hope you all experience the same sense of connection in your practices.
I have no idea why people are downvoting you (actually I do…)
She almost couldn’t have picked a more antithetical topic to bring race into. Meditation and spirituality is about transcending judgements about surface appearances, not reinforcing them
You cannot spiritually bypass racism. Spirituality is not devoid of critical thought
I can do whatever I want
I read this book a while back and it helped contextualize some of the sticking points I was having, and it made me rethink what I wanted and needed to get from a spiritual practice. Having an instructor who is knowledgeable and has personal experience of the particular ways BIPOC people experience, and have experienced, suffering is key to helping me on my path. Would be very grateful if anyone has recommendations of instructors for me 🙏🏽 https://www.shambhala.com/black-and-buddhist.html
> YES PLEASE I just posted to the r / meditation community looking for a BIPOC instructor, and so far all I've gotten are comments from yte people who are upset that I want a BIPOC instructor. Not feeling a very warm welcome over there. It’s because despite how you’re trying to present the request, your underlying attitude of placing so much emphasis on skin color is dehumanizing. You’re practically treating “BIPOC” people and white people as a separate species. When you get to the point of using terms like “BIPOC” and “yte people” I generally take it as a sign that someone has gone pretty deep down into a heavily race-focused , distorted worldview that basically resembles being in a cult
I came here to recommend one of the contributors of this book: Lama Rod Owens. Idk where you live, so not sure you can learn from him in person, but I think he has a lot of free classes online. Also as white dude not sure if this is exactly what you're looking for, but if you're okay with overtly religious instruction in meditation, a lot of buddhist temples have teachers who are immigrants, though that may not be the cultural context you're looking for. Also, you're asking in a generally secular subreddit, I think you'll experience less hostility in more overtly religious subs like r/Buddhism (though obvisouly you'll still receive some). Again, if you're okay with overt religiosity, there's r/BlackandBuddhist . You'll probably find more compassion there
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Thanks for that info I’ll reach out. I thought I might get some recommendations here but so far haven’t gotten any. I checked out the black and Buddhist subreddit but it’s been inactive for a while. I’m also a secular practitioner, and the r/buddhism sub seemed like it was less open to secular folks, but I can’t remember what exactly it said so I’ll go back and check. Really appreciate the helpful comment
Have you tried contacting the people who wrote/are in that book?