By Dr. Morgan Perkins

Throughout history, humans have found ways to communicate over distance using constantly evolving technologies. The earliest evidence of a printed book is a copy of the Diamond Sutra from 868 CE. This sutra was printed using wood blocks to facilitate mass production in order to spread the Dharma.

It was a more recent technology–a webcam–that inspired this message. I expect few readers are not intimately familiar with these devices, as they are now integrated into our computers. You may love, hate, or be indifferent to them. You may avoid online meditation entirely, keep your camera off, or fully embrace the opportunities it provides. For me, seeing the face of the speaker, or a screen full of co-practitioners, provides intimacy despite the distance. This particular webcam, which was once at the cutting edge of online communication but is now obsolete, I might have thrown away as trash; instead, it has been transformed by an artist’s imagination, and now ‘sits,’ encouraging self-care.

What does this have to do with Engaged Buddhism?

Although I had visited DBZ for many years to join the Thanksgiving celebration, it was not until the COVID-19 pandemic—when ZSS began the Three-Fold Sangha online gatherings each Sunday for Dharma talks—that I began to engage with the Sangha more regularly. The webcam technology was there before, but we embraced it in new ways as we came together to practice, to share our joys and sorrows, to see and hear those whom we could not touch, and to alleviate some of the isolation imposed upon so many of us. During that time, I learned of the Engaged Buddhism discussions on Wednesday evenings, and here I am.

As the world returns to some new semblance of ‘normal,’ the use of online practice to complement meeting in person has endured. We who have reflected on what this means for the ZSS Engaged Buddhism efforts have certainly spent time considering the benefits of bringing people together from all over the globe to learn and practice. While many live in close proximity and can create initiatives that may seem more tangible, when we are working from a distance, we have to depend on technology and find alternative ways to engage. I for one am grateful for this humble and ingenious little device, for I do not live close enough to our practice centers to sit regularly in person.

So, even though I have not met all of you in person, thank you to Jikyo, Jifu, Michael, Yūki, Seiho, and everyone else who has participated in our gatherings, for being there on my screen and for helping me try to make my engagement more sincere. What can we do from afar? We can come together, up close. We hope you will join us.