#350 How to Be Courageous | Stacy McClendon

Many of us know that meditation can confer benefits such as self-awareness, calm, and compassion, but what about courage? My guest today says, yes. Meditation can boost your courage quotient. And she will talk about exactly how. Her name is Stacy McClendon. She is a teacher at the Common Ground Meditation Center in Minneapolis. She also has a background in social work. This is the second episode in our weeklong series marking the one year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. Stacy has been organizing and hosting weekly Truth and Justice Vigils online, available to anyone, during and after the trials of the men charged with murdering George Floyd. In this conversation, we talk about: a Buddhist list called the Ten Paramis, and how those qualities can support courage; how white people can step up and be courageous; how compassion is a not a weakness; and how to be what she calls a “compassionate agitator.”

One technical note, you might hear a little background noise, including church bells, birds, and Stacy’s 20 year old cat, Rain, who happened to share some opinions.

One more thing: we're offering 40% off the price of a year-long subscription for the Ten Percent Happier app until June 1st. Visit www.tenpercent.com/may to sign up today.

For More Information about Stacy and the Truth and Justice Vigils: 

• A Truth and Justice Vigil

• Common Ground Meditation Center

• The Black, Indigenous, People of Color Sangha at Common Ground Meditation Center

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Derek Chauvin Found Guilty Of George Floyd's Murder
• When LA Erupted In Anger: A Look Back At The Rodney King Riots
• Angulimala
• The Pāramis: Heart of Buddha’s Teachings and Our Own Practice, from Barre Center for Buddhist Studies

• Dr. Luana Marques

• Clouds in Water Zen Center
• My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies, by Resmaa Menakem
• How to Do Metta
• “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” - Mother Theresa
• Pamela Ayo Yetunde 
• Buddhist Justice Reporter: The George Floyd Trials
• Buddhist Justice Reporter Team
• Buddhist Justice Reporter published by Tricycle

Additional Resources:

• Ten Percent Happier Live: https://meditatehappier.com/live
• Coronavirus Sanity Guide: https://www.meditatehappier.com/coronavirussanityguide
• Free App access for Frontline Workers: https://meditatehappier.com/care