The Buddhist Coalition for Democracy (BCD) and Insight Meditation Community of Washington, DC (IMCW) are hosting a virtual town hall — The Bodhisattva Path in Action: How Buddhism, Politics, and Social Engagement Serve Democracy — on Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET via Zoom. Event panelists will include Tara Brach, Ben Connelly, and Kaira Jewel Lingo.

The Secular Buddhist Network (SBN) played an important role in the formation of BCD in March 2025. Activists in the SBN and other Buddhists came together to respond to the Trump administration’s attacks on our democratic rights. IMCW, one of the most prominent Insight meditation centers in the U.S., has for many years been active in social and political issues.

BCD and IMCW previously hosted a virtual town hall in November 2025 — Buddhist Voices for Immigration Justice: Compassion in Action — on how Buddhists should respond to the attacks on immigrants in the U.S.

This online forum will explore how Buddhist practice can inform compassionate and effective engagement in the context of the upcoming U.S. elections. The midterm elections are stirring anxiety, urgency, hope, and uncertainty for many of us. The September 24th forum will explore how Buddhist practice can guide us in meeting these challenges. Rather than debating political positions — or whether Buddhists should engage politically — the event will focus on how to engage

The event panelists include:

• Tara Brach — Spiritual teacher, psychologist, and author. Tara's teaching blends Western psychology and Eastern spiritual practices with a mindful attention to inner life and a dedication to creating a more just, equitable, and loving world.
• Ben Connelly — Soto Zen teacher and Dharma heir in the Katagiri lineage. Ben teaches mindfulness in a variety of secular contexts and works with multifaith groups focusing on intersectional liberation, racial justice, and climate justice.
• Kaira Jewel Lingo — Former ordained Zen nun (and trainee of Thich Nhat Hanh), teacher of Buddhist meditation, secular mindfulness, and compassion practices, as well as spiritual mentor with a focus on racial, climate, and social justice. 

The event will reflect on how the Dharma's teachings on non-harming, interdependence, wise speech, and compassion can help us:

• Respond to today's realities with wisdom rather than reactivity.
• Communicate across political differences without losing heart.
• Take meaningful action while avoiding further polarization.
• Ground civic engagement in the Bodhisattva path of awakening and service.

Registration is free and open to the public. To register for this event, click here.

Donations (dāna) are strongly encouraged. A portion of the funds raised will be donated to the nonpartisan nonprofit Protect Democracy Project, as well as to BCD and IMCW, to support their ongoing advocacy and teaching.