ABOUT US
The Buddhist Coalition for Democracy is a non-denominational Buddhist non-profit organization organized in March 2025 to serve as a vehicle for Buddhists to support democratic norms, institutions, and processes in their moment of peril. Our over 500 members come from a variety of Buddhist traditions including Insight Meditation, Zen, Vajrayana, Pure Land, and Secular Buddhism. We believe democratic governance is the best method yet devised for: 1) ensuring the dignity and fundamental rights of all persons, 2) enabling all members of society to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, 3) and settling passionately held differences of opinon through peaceful means. We commit to supporting democracy with methods that are consistent with the Buddhist principles of wisdom, compassion, right speech, and a commitment to nonviolence.

Coordinating Committee Members:

Brenda Collins is a facilitator for the Atlanta Shambhala BIPOC Community, a Dharma Leader/Teacher for the Bhumisparsha Community, Chair of the Community Relations Committee of the Shambhala Community, a member of Practice and Education Office of the Atlanta Shambhala Community, and a meditation instructor/discussion leader for the Atlanta Shambhala Center. She founded and owned Quantum Technical Information Services and is the founder and owner of Helen’s Vintage Closet.

Jean Currie is a retired feline veterinarian who lives in the greater Toronto area and practices with the Shambhala Online Community.

Rev. Seth Zuiho Segall is a Zen Buddhist priest and clinical psychologist. He is a contributing editor to Tricycle: The Buddhist Review and the author of The House We Live In:  Virtue, Wisdom, and Pluralism (Equinox, 2023) and Buddhism and Human Flourishing: A Modern Western Perspective (Palgrave, 2020). He leads Pamsula Zen of Westchester.

Mike Slott is a long-time political and labor movement activist, the manager of the Secular Buddhist Network, the editor of its monthly newsletter, Rethinking the Dharma/Reimagining Community, and the author of Mindful Solidarity: A Secular Buddhist Democratic Socialist Dialogue (Tuwhiri, 2024).

Karsten Struhl is a member of the Secular Buddhist Network who teaches political philosophy and cross-cultural philosophy at the New School for Public Engagement. He previously taught at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Adelphi University.