Kenyon Interfaith Partnership (KIP) and the Department of Religious Studies welcome Ben Connelly to Kenyon.
Connelly is a Soto Zen teacher. He also teaches mindfulness in a wide variety of secular contexts including police training and addiction recovery groups, and works with multi-faith groups focused on social and climate justice. Connelly is based at Minnesota Zen Meditation Center, travels to teach across the United States, has written for Tricycle and Lion’s Roar magazines and is author of "Inside the Grass Hut," "Inside Vasubandhu's Yogacara," "Mindfulness and Intimacy," "Vasubandhu's 'Three Natures'" and "Inside the Flower Garland Sutra: Huayan Buddhism and the Modern World."
Huayan Buddhism arose in the sixth century in China rooted in the Mahayana Flower Garland (Huayan) Sutra. Huayan is relational, practical, and positive. Its emphasis on interdependence, celebration of the sensual world, and diversity of people and practices provides inspiration for what Thich Nhat Hanh called "engaged Buddhism."
In this public talk, Connelly will present important teachings from his new book, "Inside the Flower Garland." Connelly will explain the significance of Huayan teachings for Buddhist practice, and explores how Huayan offers particular wisdom for those concerned about how to care for their own lives as they work to end harms such as ecological devastation, poverty, militarism, addiction, marginalization and exploitation.
This event is co-sponsored by Kenyon Interfaith Partnership (KIP) and the Department of Religious Studies.