The Board of Madison Insight Meditation Group
Statement on Global Violence
may 2024 

As members of the Board of Madison Insight Meditation Group, we feel compelled to speak about the continued spread of violence and hatred at home and around the world.

Those injured or killed because of discrimination, gun violence, terrorism, religious imperialism, and war are family to all of us. We are a human family. Our vulnerability to war, poverty, and other forms of suffering may differ depending on the color of our skin, our ethnicity, our religion, or the land we live on, but we are as connected as the facets of a diamond. As a board, we affirm our aspiration for peace and our understanding that without freedom for all, none can be free. These winds of injury and suffering call on us to reexamine what each of us is doing to create conditions that promote compassion, generosity, understanding, equal opportunity, and fair treatment for all.

Our hope is that each of us and those who participate in our sangha seek not to blame or to castigate but to better understand the causes and conditions that lead to and perpetuate fear, hatred, anger, and prejudice. We commend those who stand up for peace and justice, engage in peaceful protest of ongoing injustices, and negotiate through right speech. We strive to eradicate our unexamined or habitual reliance on our ideas regarding race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, physical ability, political affiliation, or national identity that keep us from recognizing how connected we all are.  Our hope is that our sangha will be a refuge and an inspiration as we seek to embody in our conduct and Dhamma practice the understanding that our well-being depends on each other.

May we all take responsibility for our actions, and may good hearts and kindness prevail.

With metta,

The Board of Madison Insight Meditation Group, May 2024
Jayson Chung
Lori Creswell
Colleen Hermans
Cathy Loeb
Jean Rawson
Janice Sheppard
Katrina Daly Thompson
Brandon Warner
Judy Woodburn