The very challenging time we are living through invites each of us to engage with the world, perhaps in ways we haven’t done before. As I write this, many people are feeling energized and hopeful after millions showed up across the United States for an event called “Hands Off.” A number of folks on social media shared that it was the first time they’d participated in a protest like that; for some elders it was the first time they’d done so since the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s.
Over my years of being involved in socially engaged Buddhist groups, I’ve noticed that many people think of these large protests as the only or main form of activism. That can be a big turn-off for some because they don’t feel drawn to the often-confrontational energy that can dominate these kinds of actions. Even when protests are intentionally nonviolent, the sheer number of people taking part in them doesn’t feel right to everyone. And some rightfully wonder, “Is this actually going to make a difference?”
It can be helpful to understand the spectrum of actions and opportunities for engagement that make up a social justice/change movement. The Mandala of Socially Engaged Buddhism is a tool that helps people connect with ways of engagement that may resonate more authentically for them, and that may be more strategic given the situation.
Here’s the backstory of the mandala. It was inspired by an in-person gathering of Buddhist Peace Fellowship chapter leaders in 2003, in which everyone shared the kinds of activities that their chapters had organized and, just as importantly, how they organized these events and the qualities that were important in the process of organizing. During that time, the Iraq War was raging and for many of us a primary goal was to build a movement that would pressure the US government to end the war.
I was the designated note-taker at that meeting. After digesting all I heard that day, this mandala came to me as a visual way to summarize what everyone had shared. I realized that the types of activities or events could be clustered into four categories or quadrants. Then I included the six qualities that people consistently named as important parts of the process. Later, I added an archetype into each of the quadrants as that was an interesting dimension to play with.
The mandala was also influenced by Joanna Macy’s writings about the “Great Turning.” In fact, you’ll see some parallels. Macy says that in order for us to navigate the transition from an industrial society to a life-sustaining society, three actions are needed:
1) Holding Actions—similar to the “Warrior”
2) Alternative Structures and Analyses—similar to the “Creator/Visionary”
3) A Shift in Consciousness and Spiritual Awakening—not a separate part of this mandala, but woven in throughout
Over the years, the mandala has helped individuals and groups think through how we’ve engaged with social, political, and environmental issues. More recently I’ve rendered it in a secular way and it’s become “The Four Fields of Engagement.”
When I share the mandala now, I emphasize the archetypes and the qualities of energy each one carries. While the mandala still serves as a very practical map of actions and strategies, something about exploring the archetypal patterns really speaks to people. Perhaps it’s a way to combat activist burnout. The more we can align ourselves with the kind of energy that feels most nourishing, the more we can sustain our activism.
2019 version
These are the four archetypes found on the Mandala:
• Creator/Visionary has the courage to have a bold vision, to see what does not yet exist and help it come into being, to create new systems that embody the world we wish to see.
• Warrior carries protective energy, strength, and power—in the sense of power with, not power over. The Warrior fights for what is most important, and draws on inner power to stop harmful actions.
• Healer helps to make whole again. The Healer brings the essential energy of healing separations and divisions, both in individuals and in communities.
• Teacher is reflective, thoughtful, analytical, and conversational. The Teacher empowers with knowledge that leads to effective actions, works with information in a skillful way so that it inspires and informs rather than overwhelms.
You may want to consider which of those archetypes feels most resonant with your personality and the times we’re living in. Our most impactful actions will come when we can tap into the energy that is most alive for us.
Here are examples of the kinds of actions you might find in each of the four quadrants or fields:
Building Cultures of Peace (Creator/Visionary)
•Work with children and youth
•Building creative arts communities
•Monastic communities that are based on principles of sustainability and non-harming
Stopping Harmful Actions (Warrior)
•Participating in vigils, rallies, and marches
•Writing letters or calling legislators to demand a stop to harmful environmental practices, such as fracking
•Nonviolent civil disobedience and non-cooperation with life-destructive policies
Healing Polarities and Divisions (Healer)
•Reconciliation or listening circles with groups that have opposing points of view
•Practicing Nonviolent Communication
•Addressing issues of racism, classism, sexism, etc. within our sanghas and in society
Education and Organizing (Teacher)
•Empowering ourselves and others with information around a specific issue•Inquiry/Analysis. Ask questions: “Why is this situation like this? Who is suffering from this injustice? How can we change it? Who has the power to change it? How can we leverage that power?”
•Designing actions intended to shift power and encouraging others to participate in the change process.
It can be useful to think of people who clearly embody these archetypes. Some that come to mind: Grace Lee Boggs (Creator/Visionary), the Standing Rock Water Protectors (Warrior), Mother Teresa (Healer), and Barack Obama (Teacher).
One of the most important points about this mandala is that all parts of it are completely interdependent. All four quadrants of action are equally necessary, equally valuable. No one’s work is more or less important than anyone else.
I’m curious about how you relate to this mandala. Do you notice that your activism has tended to be in one of these quadrants more than others? Do you feel out of balance in any way as you engage with the world? Is there a quadrant or archetype you are interested in exploring? Are the six qualities present in your life and activism? What else might be missing from your personal mandala?
See more
Buddhist Peace Fellowship
The Great Turning (Yes! Magazine)
Related features from BDG
The Dharma of Engaging with the World
INEB Conference 2024: The Five Aggregates and Socially Engaged Spirituality
Rewired by Socially Engaged Buddhists
Living Mindfully in a Digital Universe
The Meaning of Mandalas
Bodhimandala
