#7 - John Freese: The Dependent Origination of Whiteness

2019-12-15

John Freese is a co-host of the Down With the Dharma podcast, and recently published an academic article titled, The Dependent Origination of Whiteness. In this episode, we take the serious topics of social justice, race relations, Buddhist philosophy, and mental health, and deliver them in a fun, upbeat, and enjoyably informative conversation that’s easy to follow along. The article itself "argues that whiteness is a deeply rooted existential experience in the bodies and minds of European Americans that serves as a firewall against perpetrator guilt and trauma; it also explains why the threat white people perceive in demographic shifts triggers an existential fear of annihilation." In the paper, connections to clinical trauma therapy are included to ground the discussion in a secular, empirical, and trauma-informed context.

At University of the West in Rosemead, CA, John teaches courses on contemplative practice, Buddhist social ethics, service learning, and religion. John draws on many years of practice, travel, and study, including practicing in South India with a Hindu teacher and also training as a Buddhist monk for 12 years, including 6 with Thich Nhat Hanh. He is also currently a lay member of Thich Nhat Hanh's Order of Interbeing. John holds a Master's of Divinity and is currently working on his Ph.D. at Claremont School of Theology, where his research and clinical training are focused on developing a Buddhist model of pastoral care and counseling. John has taught Buddhism and meditation in prisons in the past, is a co-founder of the Engaged Buddhist alliance that continues those efforts today, and he currently works with formerly incarcerated and other practitioners.

This conversation was originally recorded on Saturday, September 21st, 2019 in the great outdoors of Claremont, California.

Down With the Dharma podcast: https://downwiththedharma.podomatic.com/

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/tt/podcast/down-with-the-dharma/id1460834956

The Dependent Origination of Whiteness - https://tupjournals.temple.edu/index.php/kalfou/article/view/220

Academia.edu - https://www.academia.edu/37959295/The_Dependent_Origination_of_Whiteness

More from and about John Freese can be found on his blog at https://johnfreese.wordpress.com/

John Freese is on Twitter @johnfreese72 - https://twitter.com/johnfreese72

Kalfou: A Journal of Comparative and Relational Ethnic Studies - https://tupjournals.temple.edu/index.php/kalfou/

Buddhist Peace Fellowship (Buddhism and Social Justice) - http://www.buddhistpeacefellowship.org/

Lama Rod Owens - https://www.lamarod.com/

Rev. Angel Kyodo Williams - https://angelkyodowilliams.com/

Ann Gleig on Twitter - https://twitter.com/agleig