Abolish the Death Penalty and Halt All U.S. Federal Executions
I vow not to kill. Not killing life, the Buddha seed grows. Transmit the life of Buddha and do not kill
—Eihei Dogen Zenji
Every version of the Buddha’s ethical precepts begins with this principle: Do Not Kill. Buddha and all the great spiritual teachers — Jesus, Mohammed, the Hebrew prophets, Gandhi — tell us that life is sacred; that violence only begets violence. The logic of cause and effect, karma and its fruit, are inescapable even when you dress them in the emperor or president’s clothes of punitive and retributive justice.
On November 25, 2020 the U.S. Justice Department announced new regulations allowing for the use of new, or rather, old methods for federal executions, including the firing squad and electrocution. According to The New York Times:
Last week, the Justice Department announced that it plans to execute three more inmates on federal death row. If the administration does so, along with two other executions already scheduled, it will have put 13 prisoners to death since July, marking one of the deadliest periods in the history of federal capital punishment since at least 1927.
As Soto Zen Buddhist priests and teachers, as people of faith, we vigorously oppose state-sponsored murder and this rush to punish. We see capital punishment as the enactment of a cruel and primitive urge for vengeance draped in the fabric of legality. We believe that capital punishment degrades and brutalizes our society by teaching violence in reaction to violence.
The harm of capital punishment does not just fall on the person put to death, but on our whole society — on guards and technicians, wardens, governors, on families of victims, and on each of us allowing this barbarism to go forward in our name.
Capital punishment is the cutting edge of America’s penal system. Social scientists, clergy, politicians, and communities of color all know that this is a broken system, although it is remarkably effective for sowing the seeds of violence. We see no evidence or statistics that capital punishment serves as an effective deterrent to crime. Resting on a foundation of inequality, based on racism and privilege, capital punishment cannot be fixed. Let’s end it now, everywhere!
People of faith and conscience wish to build a new system of justice based on love, restoration, and redemption. Let those be the lights that guide us. We believe that social and personal transformation are always possible, and that even wounded people can change and contribute to society. While it is true that people reasonably expect protection from those who—by reason of mental illness, and extreme physical or psychological trauma — prey on others, the great majority of all prisoners are capable of transformation. This is our understanding of human nature. As for the handful who must be restrained or separated for their own protection and the safety of others, even these prisoners must be afforded life, a humane environment, and the possibility of meaningful work.
We believe that there is no fair or practical way to arrive at a sentence of death.
What is our work? Organize against the death penalty in your communities, in your centers and temples. Study and talk about the death penalty; debate it with your friends. Write to the U.S. Attorney General and the President—outgoing and incoming—and speak your opposition and convictions. When federal or state executions are scheduled, join with sisters and brothers of all faiths sitting at the prison gates to bear witness. This is important. We must speak for humane policy and compassion with our bodies.
Verse 129 of the Dhammapada, Shakyamuni Buddha’s early teaching, says: “All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.” May we live with this awareness and save all beings.
- We ask the U. S. Federal Government to immediately halt all planned Federal Executions.
- We ask for a Nationwide moratorium on Federal and State Executions.
- We ask for our legislatures to reform the justice system to be one of restoration and redemption.
Action Items and Information on the Death Penalty
- http://deathpenaltyaction.org/take-action
- https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-congress-abolish-the-federal-death-penalty/
- https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/death-penalty/
- https://action.aclu.org/petition/stop-federal-executions
- https://catholicsmobilizing.org/take-action-stop-federal-executions-1
Signed,
Rev. Sosan Flynn, SZBA President
Clouds in Water Zen Center, Guiding Teacher
Rev. Marc Lesser, SZBA Vice President
Mill Valley Zen, Head Teacher
Rev. Dokai Georgesen, SZBA Treasurer Hokyoji Zen Practice Community, Guiding Teacher
Rev. Inryū Bobbi Poncé-Barger, SZBA Secretary All Beings Zen Sangha, Guiding Teacher
Rev. Charlie Pokorny, SZBA Board Member Stone Creek Zen Center, Head priest
Rev. Chimyo Atkinson, SZBA Board Member
Rev. Koshin Paley Ellison, SZBA Board Member
New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, Guiding Teacher
Rev. Chodo Campbell New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, Guiding Teacher
Rev. Hozan Alan Senauke
Berkeley Zen Center, Head Priest
Rev. Colin Gipson Guiding Teacher, San Antonio Zen Center
Rev. Joan Jiko Halifax Abbot, Upaya Zen Center
Rev. Renshin Bunce Beginner’s Mind Zen in San Mateo CA, Guiding Teacher
Rev. Ben Connelly Senior Teacher, Minnesota Zen Meditation Center
Rev. Myoan Grace Schireson Central Valley Zen Foundation
Rev. John Busch Mt. Diablo Zen Group, Guiding Priest
Rev. Reirin Gumbel Milwaukee Zen Center
Rev. Kakumyo Lowe-Charde Abbot, Dharma Rain Zen Center
Rev. Eugene Bush
Practice Leader, Santa Cruz Zen Center and Head Teacher, Arcata Zen Group
Rev. Inzan Rose
Brooklyn Zen Center, NY, Ino
≈, PhD
Brevard Zen Center
Rev. Myoshin Kaniumoe
‘Alaneo zendo, Hilo, HI
Rev. Jill Kakushin Kaplan
Zen Heart Sangha, Woodside CA
Rev. Eido Frances Carney
Olympia Zen Center, Olympia, WA
Rev. Shosan Victoria Austin
San Francisco Zen Center
Rev. David Jindo Butler, MD
Yokoji-Zen Mountain Center
Rev. Wendy Egyoku Nakao
Zen Center of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Rev. Sarah Dojin Emerson
Stone Creek Zen Center, Graton, CA
Rev. Myozen Joan Amaral
Zen Center North Shore, Beverly, MA
Rev, Taigen Dan Leighton Ph.D.
Guiding Teacher, Ancient Dragon Zen Center, Chicago
Rev. Shinchi Linda Galijan, Ph.D.
San Francisco Zen Center
Rev. Kenshin Catherine Cascade
Bird Haven Zendo, Guiding Teacher
Dosho Port
Nebraska Zen Center & Vine of Obstacles, Teacher
Rev. Deborah Faith-Mind Thoresen
Zen Center of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Rev. Chris Fortin
Dharma Heart Zen, Guiding Teacher
Everyday Zen Foundation
Rev. Dōshin Mako Voelkel
Austin Zen Center, Head Teacher
Rev. Jisho Warner
Stone Creek Zen Center, Abiding Teacher
Rev. Zuiko Redding
Cedar Rapids Zen Center
Rev. Kokyo Henkel
Shunryu Suzuki Roshi Zen Lineage
Rev. Enkyo O’Hara
Village Zendo, New York City
Rev. Jisan Tova Green
San Francisco Zen Center
Rev. Rosan Osamu Yoshida
Missouri Zen Center
Rev. Eiko Joshin Carolyn Atkinson
Everyday Dharma Zen Community
Rev. Konjin Gaelyn Godwin
Abbot Auspicious Cloud Temple/Houston Zen Center
Rev. Shodo Spring
Guiding Teacher, Mountains and Waters Zen Community, Minnesota
Rev. Mary Mocine
Abbot, Vallejo Zen Center
Rev. Myoshin Kate McCandless
Co-Guiding Teacher, Mountain Rain Zen Community, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Rev. Shinmon Michael Newton
Co-Guiding Teacher, Mountain Rain Zen Community, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Rev. Ryuten Paul Rosenblum
Vice Abbot, Genrinji, Herrischried, DE
Rev. Heiku Jaime McLeod
Co-Guiding Teacher, Treetop Zen Center
Oakland, Maine, USA
Rev. Choro Carla Antonaccio
Austin Zen Center
Rev. Kisei Amy Costenbader
Head Priest, Great Vow Zen Monastery
Clatskanie, OR
Rev. Myogo Mary-Allen Macneil
Guiding Teacher, Bodhi Oak Zen Sangha
Oakhurst, California, USA
Rev. Jyoshin Clay
Priest, Dharma Rain Zen Center
Co-Guiding Teacher, Wy’East Zen Center
Rev. Eric Daishin McCabe
Zen Fields
Ames, Iowa
Rev. Sara Jisho Siebert
Zen Fields
Ames, Iowa
Rev. Zenshin Greg Fain
Head of Practice, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center
Rev. Tenku Ruff
Head Priest, Beacon Zen Temple
Rev. Shinryu Thomson
Village Zendo, New York City
Centro Zen Phajjsi Qollut Jalsu, La Paz, Bolivia
Rev. Ryushin Hart
Gorinji Corvallis, Oregon
Rev. Myojo Myphon Hunt
Yuba City, California
Rev. Myozan Kodo Kilroy
Founding Teacher, Zen Buddhism Ireland
Dublin, Ireland
Rev. Koun Franz
Thousand Harbours Zen, Guiding Teacher
Rev. Taihaku Priest
Shao Shan Temple, Abbot
Woodbury, Vermont
Rev. Kenzan Seidenberg
Shao Shan Temple, Vice Abbot
Woodbury, Vermont
Rev. Kotoku Crivello
Deep Spring Temple
Sewickley PA
Rev. Taiun M Elliston, Abbot
Atlanta Soto Zen Center Inc
Silent Thunder Order Inc
Atlanta GA
Josho Pat Phelan, Abbess
Chapel Hill Zen Center
Chapel Hill, NC
Rev. Myoko Laura Demuth
Decorah Zen Center, Decorah, Iowa
Co-guiding teacher
Rev. Shoun Dean Williams
Guiding teacher, Crooked River Zen Center
Rev. Myoshin Tricia Teater
Guiding Teacher, Udumbara Zen Sangha
Evanston, IL
Rev. Bussho Lahn
Guiding Teacher, Flying Cloud Zen; Senior Teacher, Minnesota Zen Center
Kido Jimmyle Listenbee, guiding teacher
Oxford Soto Zen
Oxford, MS
Rev. Allan Jo An Tibbetts
New Paltz Zen Center
New Paltz, NY (Village Zendo affiliate)
Rev Jody Hojin Kimmel
Head Priest Zen Mountain Monastery
Fire Lotus Temple : Brooklyn NY
Mt Tremper, NY
Rev. Yuji Catherine Gammon
Neighborhood Zen
Pittsburgh, PA
Jakuko Mo Ferrell
Chapel Hill Zen Center
Chapel Hill, NC
Rev. Daijaku Kinst
Rev. Shinshu Roberts
Guiding Teachers
Ocean Gate Zen Center
Santa Cruz, CA
Rev. Zenku Jerry Smyers
Guiding Teacher
Mission Mountain Zen Center
Dayton, Montana
Rev. Melissa Myozen Blacker
Guiding Teacher and Abbot
Boundless Way Temple/Boundless Way Zen
Worcester, MA
Rev. Jishi Jeff Bickner
Everyday Zen Foundation
Rev. Jose Shinzan Palma
Open Gate Zen Collective / Upaya Zen Center
Rev. Dana Lederhos-Hull
Upright Noble Zen
Rev. Jundo Cohen
Treeleaf Sangha
Rev. Hokai Max Swanger
Saratoga, California
Josho Joseph Ott, JD
Missouri Zen Center
Rev. Rakugo Annalisa Castaldo
Soji Zen Center, Lansdowne, PA
Rev. Domyo Burk
Bright Way Zen, Portland Oregon
Rev. Kosen Gregory Snyder
Brooklyn Zen Center
Union Theological Seminary
Rev. Jikyo Cheryl Wolfer
Wandering monk
No fixed address
Rev. Onryu Patrick Teverbaugh
Warm Jewel Temple
Santa Cruz Zen Center
Santa Cruz, CA
Rev. Daigaku Rummé, Teacher
Confluence Zen Center STL
St. Louis, MO
Rev. Zenki Kathleen Batson
Chapel Hill Zen Center
Chapel Hill, NC
Rev. Tenzen David Zimmerman
San Francisco Zen Center / Beginner’s Mind Temple
San Francisco, CA
Note** Rev. Inryū Bobbi Poncé-Barger, Sensei is the Resident and Guiding Teacher for All Beings Zen Sangha. She is a member of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association of North America and serves on the Executive team of its Board of Directors as Secretary.