LGBTQ+ Spirituality and the 5 Precepts

In celebration of both LGBTQ+ Pride Month and Black Music Month, this conversation will center on the The Five Precepts. Instead of thinking them in terms of "morality," this talk with tink through the joy, diginity, and celebration that can come with living life ethically and with care. Especially focused on LGBTQ+ and BIPOC, all welcome.

Dr. Shanté Paradigm Smalls (They/Them) is a teacher and student in Vajrayana/Tantric Buddhism. They currently study under Lama Rod Owens and Lama Justin von Bujdoss, co-founders of Bhumisparsha. Shanté began studying and practicing Buddhism at age 17 and has practiced in Zen, Sokka Gakkai International, Shambhala, and Bhumisparsa communities. They began on the teaching path in 2009 and were authorized by the Shambhala lineage to teach meditation and buddhadharma in 2015. Shanté is focused on the healing impact of meditation in Black & Indigenous communities, People of Color communities, LGBTQ+ communities, and incarcerated and recovery communities. Shanté is a Teacher on the Liberate App and is a Lead Teacher on Weekly Dharma Gathering, which they co-founded and curate. Shanté identifies as a Black Indigenous person who is queer and genderqueer. They live on Canarsie Munsee Lenapehoking Territory (Brooklyn, NY).
For my teaching schedule, please see: https://linktr.ee/shanteparadigm
Teachers: Lama Rod Owens and Lama Justin von Bujdoss

Lineage: Tantric/Vajrayana: Shambhala, Kagyu, Nyingma, Rimé

Sangha: I do not belong to any organized sangha. I practice with emergent Black and BIPOC communities, as well as Bhumisparsha, Weekly Dharma Gathering, and Racial Justice & Dharma

Root Guru: The Kongma Sakyong, Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche*.
*NB: In 2018, credible allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse were revealed against Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, to read more about this: https://bit.ly/32RqR5R. I have not studied or practiced with the Sakyong since 2018.

Private Instruction:If you would like to work with Shanté as a private meditation student, please email their Dharma Assistant, Daesha Elliott at assistant AT shanteparadigm DOT com. Shanté is currently prioritizing Black and Indigenous, and People of Color students, as well as Queer, Trans, and Intersex students. This is a dana-based (donation) relationship.