The Buddha taught a path of awakened living, but how does that manifest in today’s world of constant connectivity and widespread suffering?
How do we keep our hearts open without being defined or hardened by the pain that surrounds us, whether personal, collective, or historical? How do we navigate the paradox of holding both pain and joy without mistaking suffering for punishment or personal failure? Can we infuse our compassion with wisdom and perspective to find the agency to take meaningful action in our communities? In her new series, Engaged Compassion, Sharon delves into these questions and more, engaging in candid conversations with a diverse group of teachers, activists, and changemakers.
For the sixth episode in the series, Sharon’s speaks with teacher and change-maker Reggie Hubbard, marking his third appearance on the Metta Hour. Reggie is an internationally recognized yoga and meditation teacher and the founder and chief serving officer of Active Peace Yoga. Reggie’s yoga and meditation practice have served as a sanctuary of peace and perspective while navigating the stresses of being a Black man in the world. He has been a featured speaker on new consciousness, racial justice, and civic engagement for leading wellness publications. In addition, Reggie has held many senior strategic and logistical roles across a variety of fields, ranging from global marketing to Presidential campaigning. His life’s work sits at the intersection of bringing more peace and balance to activists, guiding the wellness community toward being more engaged, concerned citizens, and enhancing the well-being of all walks of life.
In this conversation, Reggie and Sharon speak about:
• Democracy as call and response
• Re-imagining our current circumstance
• What Reggie learned from his stroke
• The ability to hope is crucial
• Wisdom from Joanna Macy
• External circumstance is not the end of the story
• How spiritual life informs activism
• There is no harvest without planting seeds
• Reggie’s healing retreats for Men of Color
• The challenges men face from patriarchy
• Tending and mending grief
• The importance of not-being-okay
• Compassion versus the rising tides of hatred
• “Love’s in need of love today” – Stevie Wonder
• Why extend goodwill to those who harm us?
• Compassion doesn’t dictate certain actions
• Impermanence as a hope in dark times
• What sphere of influence can you impact?
• Joy as a radical act of self-care
• There must be dancing in the revolution
• Finding peace amidst extreme challenges
Additional Resources
To close out the episode, Reggie leads a gratitude and sound meditation. You can learn more about Reggie’s work right here.
Related Metta Hour Episodes
Episode 210: Reggie’s first appearance on the Metta Hour as part of the Mental Health Series, released in 2023.
Episode 250: Reggie’s second appearance on the Metta Hour, speaking on Election Stress, released in 2024.