Purpose
The Plum Village Solidarity Council is a group of Plum Village practitioners who are actively working for Palestinian freedom in this historic time of genocide. The Solidarity Council includes members from ARISE Sangha, Plum Village Palestine Justice Sangha, SWANA+ Sangha, Jews for Palestine Sangha, Sacred Justice Coalition, Parallax Press, and the Fellowship of Reconciliation-USA. We acknowledge that the liberation of Palestinians is inseparable from the liberation of all beings, and therefore we take a clear stance against the oppression and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people, and a clear stance for ending the current violent Israeli military campaign and occupation of Palestine. This firm and loving stance is grounded in our Bodhisattva vows to respond to injustice with compassion, and is sustained by a practice that supports nonviolent resistance, and the upliftment of the voices of the oppressed. We affirm our commitment to looking deeply to find better ways to prevent war, preserve life, and build peace.
Vision
We envision a world where spiritual communities rise to meet the suffering of our times and bear witness to it with clarity, compassion, understanding, and collective courage. A world where both lay and monastic practitioners embody the heart of Engaged Buddhism—acting in deep collaboration with one another to nurture a future where all beings can thrive. Where the essence of Engaged Buddhism calls us to turn toward suffering—not with fear or apathy, but with love and wise, committed action.
We envision a sangha where the roots of Plum Village are honored and regularly reflected upon. A sangha that acknowledges both the deep historical lineage of our spiritual ancestors and the fresh, radical understanding of Engaged Buddhism that Thích Nhất Hạnh fostered and encouraged future generations to continue. A sangha that not only studies the Mindfulness Trainings, but embodies them.
We envision a sangha that does not turn away from the realities of our world—genocide, apartheid, displacement, and other forms of state-sanctioned and structural violence and oppression—but names them with honesty and integrity. A sangha that stands up against injustice, recognizing that doing so affirms the humanity and interbeing of all people.. A sangha that understands that silence in the face of injustice, with claims of neutrality, is violent and perpetuates immeasurable harm.
We envision a world that honors the role of speaking truth as an ethical act of compassion and a spiritual responsibility. A world that cultivates determined courage in people of all ages and experiences—an essential quality that is required for truth to be spoken in the face of fear, threats, and exclusion.
We envision a sangha where the liberation of Palestinians is understood as inseparable from the liberation of all beings. That takes a clear and courageous stance against injustice and oppression, which are rooted in greed, hatred, and delusion. This firm and loving stance is grounded in the power of the Three Jewels—Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha—and sustained by deep, embodied practice.
We envision a world where Thay’s teachings on interbeing and collective liberation are fully alive in our thinking, speech, and actions. A world where we diligently cultivate joy and compassion to grow our hearts so that they have space to hold raw emotions and anger—understanding that transforming the suffering of the world is a path toward both individual and collective freedom.
We envision a sangha where false binaries are deconstructed and new ways of seeing are founded on the truth of interbeing, where we truly understand that our liberation is bound together. A spiritual community rooted in bridge-building and solidarity—supporting one another across sanghas and affinity groups, engaging in courageous conversations, and moving as a river. We envision a sangha made up of members who extend both hands: one to stop harm from perpetuating, and the other to offer care and deep support.
We envision a sangha that nourishes an access-centered culture. Where we are each aware of our social identities, our positions of power and privilege, and our varying levels of risk tolerance. We are mindful of burdens placed on marginalized individuals and continually work to create spaces where people feel genuinely welcomed, heard, and held in their identities, rather than their inclusion being symbolic, shallow, or creating further weight for them to carry. We support one another to own our power with integrity, and to use it in service of a liberated and loving community.
The Plum Village Solidarity Council is not affiliated with nor does it receive direct funding from the Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism, Inc. or the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation. The council is comprised of Plum Village practitioners and we invite the manyfold sangha to join us in this work to end genocide for the benefit of all beings.