The last several weeks on our campus have been painful for us to experience and witness. In response, I have felt deep anger and grief. It has taken me time to return to practices that help to alleviate suffering. I’ve been meditating on what it takes to heal and I am reminded of the teachings of venerable Buddhist monastic, Thich Nhat Hahn, affectionately referred to by his students as Thay (Vietnamese for “teacher”). I remember sitting and listening to Thay in 2004 at Deer Park, one of the monasteries he founded in Escondido, California, as we reflected on war and suffering. Thay taught us how to use the tools of mindfulness to quiet our minds and bodies and look deeply into the nature of violence and social oppression. Thay says, “Our body and mind have the capacity to heal themselves if we allow them to rest…stopping, calming, and resting are preconditions for healing. If we cannot stop, the course of our destruction will continue.” In a time of constant contact, information and stimulation – through news, social media, texts on our phones – I am reflecting on the importance of stopping, becoming still, and sitting with the totality of all that we are feeling and experiencing. I am seeking ways for us to be with one another, holding each other in gentle mindfulness as we seek the path forward towards healing.
Thay also tells us, “When you look into your consciousness and see your own pain, you also see the suffering and confusion of your society…To help others, we have to go to them with arms extended, filled with loving kindness and compassion.” There are no easy answers at this moment that will satisfy. Instead I look to our rich inheritance of the ancestors who survived so that we can be here today and I reach out to you, to our community, with compassion and loving kindness. The path forward requires this of us – that we quiet our bodies and minds, root down into the soil of our being and touch peace. As many have said, “There is no way to peace, peace is the way.” We are in this moment together. I am with you. Wrestling, struggling, taking many deep breaths to water the seeds of loving kindness within us so that we may be the peace that we seek.
In this time and in the coming weeks and months, we encourage you to lean into those practices that ground you and offer you insight. Reach out to one another to have coffee and connect. Pick up a new book or podcast to gain perspective and more information. If you would like to engage further with us or have ideas for programs to support our alumni at this time, please reach out to us at diversity@alumni.ucla.edu. We look forward to hearing from you.
Actor Sean Astin '97 delivers remarks at the UCLA College commencement ceremony. His words include reflections on this moment and an affirmation of the importance of mutual respect and accountability. He closed with a call for us all to model courage, tenacity, peace and forgiveness.
Engage
Save the date (Saturday, Aug. 10 at 10 a.m. (PDT) for our next Mixin' It Up program! UCLA Alumni Diversity Programs & Initiatives in partnership with UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association andSearch to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) will host an alumni mixer and volunteer opportunity in Los Angeles' Historic Filipinotown.
Welcome New Bruins
Throughout the summer UCLA alumni will welcome new Bruins in their community atNew Bruin Send-Offs.hosted by individual alumni, regional, diversity and affinity networks, these celebratory and casual gatherings bring together students, families and alumni for events ranging from backyard gatherings to picnics in community parks. Check the UCLA Alumnievents calendar to find a program near you.
Share Your Ideas With Us And Inform Future Events!
To help us to improve and expand our event offerings, we encourage you to fill out oursignature event suggestion form. Your ideas are essential to ensuring we provide enriching, engaging, and relevant experiences for our community. Whether you have a specific topic in mind, an idea for a guest speaker, or a more general area for us to explore, we would love to hear from you.
