Ven. Ayya Yeshe is an Australian bhikkhuni in the Tibetan tradition. She is a founder of the BGR partner organization Bodhicitta Foundation, a grassroots Buddhist organization empowering people in some of the world’s poorest and most oppressed communities. Ayya Yeshe found Buddhism early on in her life when, as she says, she was a “street kid” battling depression. Her first trip to India made her much more aware of the impact of poverty and the immense gap between rich and poor, especially women.

In this episode, we discuss her path to teaching, her work with the Bodhicitta Foundation, and the need for all of us to look outside of ourselves. Ayya Yeshe gives guidance on what each of us can do to break the cycle of being what she calls “samsaraholics” and become free of self-grasping. We discuss why it is essential to focus on assistance for women and young girls specifically. Finally, we speak about white supremacy, the necessity to recognize its roots, its omnipresent effects, and how to begin healing. Learn more about the Bodhicitta Dakini Monastery at bodhicitta-monastery.com.

In this episode, we also hear from Charon Hribar and Pauline Pisano of the Poor People’s Campaign. The Poor People’s Campaign is a movement begun by Martin Luther King in the 1960s and was recently taken up by the Revs. William Barber and Liz Theoharis. Their call for a “moral revival” echoes King’s belief in a non-violent but urgent movement that pressures legislators to center the needs of poor and working class communities in how they set public policy. We hear about art and advocacy, and the upcoming June 18 mobilization in Washington D.C.

Ep. 2 “Compassion Is Like A Muscle” (Ayya Yeshe, Poor People’s Campaign) By Buddhist Global Relief is licensed under a Creative Commons License.