Buddhist Peace Fellowship

The Buddhist Peace Fellowship (BPF) is a nonsectarian international network of engaged Buddhists participating in various forms of non-violent social activism and environmentalism.^[1][2] The non-profit BPF is an affiliate of the international Fellowship of Reconciliation^[3][4] working toward global disarmament and peace, helping individuals suffering under governmental tyranny^[5] in places such as Burma, Bangladesh, Tibet and Vietnam.^[6] Headquartered in Oakland, California, BPF was incorporated in 1978 in Hawaii by Robert Baker Aitken, his wife Anne Hopkins Aitken, Nelson Foster, Ryo Imamura and others. Shortly after other notable individuals joined, including Gary Snyder, Alfred Bloom, Joanna Macy, and Jack Kornfield.^[7] Generally speaking, the BPF has a tendency to approach social issues from a left-wing perspective and, while the fellowship is nonsectarian, the majority of its members are practitioners of Zen Buddhism.^[8]

BPF's work includes:

1. Sparking conversation at the intersection of Buddhism and social justice;
2. Training Buddhist political activists;
3. Mobilizing people to action from a Buddhist perspective;
4. Building a network of radical Buddhist activists.

BPF is led by Interim Director Sarwang Parikh and a national board of five individuals.