Buddhist Peace Fellowship
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Buddhist Peace Fellowship is a socially engaged Buddhism organization which aims to employ the wisdom and compassion developed through Buddhist practice in social activism. The mission of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship (BPF) is to serve in the areas of the environment, the death penalty, prison work, racism and diversity, and women's issues, just to name a few.
BPF was conceived at the Maui Zendo, and founded in 1978 by Robert Baker Aitken, his wife Anne Hopkins Aitken, and Nelson Foster. Soon Gary Snyder, Joanna Macy, Jack Kornfield and others got involved. The newsletter evolved into the current award-winning Turning Wheel.
BPF initiated Buddhist Alliance for Social Engagement (BASE) communities. BASE provides six months of support for the practice and study of Engaged Buddhism. Participants work or volunteer in service or social action, and meet regularly for support, discussion, training, and meditation. The five program components are Service, Wisdom, Dharma Practice, Community, and Commitment.
BPF has 36 Chapters in the United States, and 11 International Chapters. In 2005, BPF organized the Chapters into 7 regions and recruited volunteer Regional Representatives. Based in San Francisco, connections between distant Chapters were haphazard. Much of the public associated BPF with the Turning Wheel magazine. The hub format of organization was intended to increase accountability and responsiveness between the Chapters and the Central Office.
