The Path Ministry

  Topic: Recommended Reading: How to be an Antiracist Today we are talking about the nonfiction book How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, published 2019. First of all, I cannot recommend this book enough; it is well-written and teaches you to examine racism with a critical eye and identify racist ideas you may find within yourself as well as out in the world. This is going to be one of those books that we discuss more than once, because there are some great ideas to be unpacked and examined in its pages, and multiple lessons to be learned from it. Today we will be discussing the intrinsically harmful and irrational nature of racism itself, to lay the groundwork for discussions to come. There are two basic things we need to know about racism. The most important thing to know is that it is actively harmful to everyone involved. However, it is also irrational in the extreme. Although human beings come in a wide range of colors, heights, and shapes, there is no biological basis

  Topic: Recommended Reading: On Compassion Today we will be discussing the book On Compassion, written by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and available for free online. Compassion, as defined by Path doctrine, is a recognition of and desire to ease the suffering in the world. Paradoxically, the secret to Compassion lies in not giving a shit; to have no emotional involvement whatsoever. It is only when we set our personal feelings aside that we are able to act with true and pure Compassion. While His Holiness does not put it quite that way, that is the basic idea in this book. Let me provide you with a relevant example. It is easier to be Compassionate toward a trans person if you have no emotional involvement in what they call themselves. If you truly do not care if somebody is a man, a woman, or something in between, then you can treat them all with equal dignity and kindness. It is only because we like to categorize people and get emotionally attached to those categories, delibera

  Topic: Recommended Reading: Thud!   Today we are talking about the Discworld novel Thud by Terry Pratchett, published 2005, and its message of hope and inclusion.   Most of this book takes place in the city of Ankh- Morpork , which is the biggest and most cosmopolitan city on the Disc. Our primary protagonist is Sam Vimes, a regular policeman who married way above his station and was then promoted to Duke by the Patrician. There is unrest in the city, as the resident trolls and dwarfs, enemies of old, are gearing up to commemorate an ancient battle in which both sides ambushed each other. There are minor altercations in the days prior to the important anniversary, and Sam discovers there is more going on than anyone realizes.   One of the things I find interesting about the Discworld, and the city of Ankh- Morpork in particular, is that there is no racism. It is explained that the humans on the Disc recognize their similarities long ago and instead choose to discriminate against th