Soto Zen Buddhist priests call to abolish death penalty, halt federal executions

“We believe that there is no fair or practical way to arrive at a sentence of death,” the statement reads.

The Soto Zen Buddhist Association (SZBA) has released a statement calling for an end to the death penalty and to halt all U.S. federal executions.

The statement comes following new regulations announced by the U.S. Justice Department on November 25 that would permit more methods for federal execution including firing squads and electrocution, as reported by the New York Times. The new regulations alongside the Trump administration’s push to carry out federal executions before Joe Biden’s inauguration will make this year “one of the deadliest periods in the history of federal capital punishment since at least 1927,” the New York Times writes.

The statement was posted to Change.org as a petition so others can add their signature:

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, President
Clouds in Water Zen Center, Guiding Teacher

Rev. Marc Lesser, Vice President Mill Valley Zen, Head Teacher

Rev. Dokai Georgesen, Treasurer
Hokyoji Zen Practice Community, Guiding Teacher

Rev. Inryū Bobbi Poncé-Barger, Secretary All Beings Zen Sangha, Guiding Teacher

Rev. Charlie Pokorny, Board Member Stone Creek Zen Center, Head priest

Rev. Chimyo Atkinson, Board Member

Rev. Koshin Paley Ellison, 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