By Jitsujo T. Gauthier
Introduction: The Crucible of Community Conflict
The room is heavy with tension. I am sitting at an interfaith gathering of local clergy who have convened to meet with representatives of the police department. The meeting takes place against the backdrop of a deeply troubling local incident: one of our unhoused neighbors—a middle-aged woman struggling acutely with her mental health—was recently shot with rubber bullets by law enforcement during a routine disturbance call.
The atmosphere is a volatile mix of grief, frustration, and righteous indignation. Some clergy members openly express outrage at what they characterize as excessive and violent police tactics targeting vulnerable populations. Others argue passionately for nuance, pointing out the desperate need for specialized mental health response services, comprehensive de-escalation training, and clear operational boundaries for both police officers and unhoused residents.
The dialogue fractures further as personal anecdotes are brought to the floor. One clergy member speaks up, their voice shaking: “I’ve witnessed a police officer unnecessarily use force with a community member right in the middle of the food pantry line.” Another counters from a different perspective: “We shouldn’t forget that the police protect our congregation from credible bomb threats and violent disruptions.”
Within moments, the conversation escalates into an emotionally charged debate. The room divides along ideological lines, locked in a painful dichotomy: Are our local police protectors, or are they perpetrators?
Feeling acutely torn between the palpable pain in the room and the conflicting, yet individually valid, truths being raised, I realize I cannot engage through standard debate or partisan posturing. I need an entirely different framework to meet this chaotic situation. I turn inward to my core spiritual practice: the three tenets of the Zen Peacemaker Order—not-knowing, bearing witness, and taking action.
First, I consciously let go of my own pre-existing opinions, political leanings, and judgments, resting instead in the spacious ground of not-knowing. Next, I open myself fully to bearing witness to the reality of what is happening in this exact moment. I hear the muffled traffic noise outside the brick walls and the sharp, raised voices echoing inside the room. Finally, operating from a grounded, centered, and compassionate place, I take action and speak my piece. I address the assembly not as two opposing, warring factions, but as a collective community team—one whose shared humanity is richly textured by diverse cultural experiences, distinct daily needs, and varied viewpoints.
The Chronology and Roots of the Three Tenets and Pure Precepts
The three foundational tenets are integral components of the Rule of the Zen Peacemaker Order (ZPO), an international network of socially engaged practitioners. The tenets were formally developed and articulated in 1997 by the late Roshi Bernie Glassman, a visionary Zen master, along with the founding teachers of the ZPO. Practiced sequentially, these tenets equip individuals and communities to act skillfully to alleviate the personal and systemic causes of suffering, with the ultimate aim of fostering a more compassionate, equitable, and peaceful world.
The framework begins with an invitation to surrender fixed dogmas, stereotypes, and rigid ideas about ourselves and the universe through the practice of not-knowing. This relinquishment of certainty clears mental clutter, allowing us—through bearing witness—to genuinely open ourselves to both the profound joy and the crushing suffering of the world. Finally, effective, transformative action arises naturally and organically from the open mind of not-knowing and the accurate, unvarnished perception made possible by bearing witness.
The Foundation of the Three Pure Precepts
These three tenets are deeply rooted in the traditional Three Pure Precepts, which form a core component of the sixteen bodhisattva precepts—the ethical and spiritual foundation of Mahayana Buddhist practice. The precepts are traditionally understood as follows:
- Refraining from all evil (or avoiding harmful actions)
- Performing all wholesome deeds (engaging in what is skillful and beneficial)
- Purifying the mind (cultivating an awakened heart-mind to benefit all living beings)
Viewed through this lens, "evil" is not an external cosmic force, but rather the foundational illusion of separation. Therefore, refraining from doing harm is essentially the daily practice of recognizing and honoring the fundamental truth of nonseparation.
When we take a moment to consciously drop the preconceptions, cultural assumptions, and psychological expectations that divide us from others, we enter the state of not-knowing. Pausing to take a single mindful breath creates vital mental space, allowing us to intentionally reconnect with life and step into the next unpredictable situation with an open heart-mind. By affirming our inherent interconnection with all beings—even if only for a fleeting moment—we rest safely in an infinite container free of division, bias, and exclusion.
The second pure precept—performing wholesome deeds and engaging in what is skillful—finds its direct expression in bearing witness. To bear witness means to commit time to deep, receptive listening across the many conflicting facets of a complex situation. It requires opening ourselves to complexity until the psychological boundary separating "me" and "the situation" dissolves entirely.
Should you ever feel overwhelmed by complexity, you can anchor yourself by turning inward, following the gentle rhythm of your body breathing, and quietly noting your experience with phrases like: "I notice… I see… I hear… I sense…" In this manner, you tune in to what genuinely resonates within your heart-mind as you bear witness to raw reality.
The third pure precept—to purify the mind and cultivate an awakened consciousness—directly parallels taking action. Having purified cognitive biases through not-knowing and deep bearing witness, subsequent action becomes spontaneous, intuitive, and remarkably skillful. It is neither over-preconceived nor driven by anxious ego-calculation. Instead, it is simple, organic, and effortless. By opening to not-knowing and bearing witness to the totality of the present moment, new and unexpected pathways for skillful action naturally emerge.
Supporting Data and Conceptual Frameworks
In contemporary spiritual and psychological landscapes, contemplative practices that address systemic trauma and community polarization are gaining empirical and social validation. Sociology and conflict-resolution studies increasingly demonstrate that traditional adversarial debates entrenched in "us versus them" paradigms tend to harden ideological divides, whereas contemplative listening models foster psychological safety and cooperative problem-solving.
The Zen Peacemaker framework bridges individual contemplative discipline with macro-level social engagement. According to organizational data from peace-building networks, communities that integrate mindfulness-based stress reduction and deep-listening circles report significant decreases in reactive hostility during municipal and interfaith forums involving law enforcement and marginalized populations.
Official Responses and Perspectives on Community Safety
The incident involving the unhoused woman and the deployment of rubber bullets prompted diverse official responses from civic and municipal authorities, highlighting the friction between public safety mandates and compassionate care infrastructure.
Law Enforcement Statements
In an official statement released following the incident, the local police department defended the officers’ tactical decisions, emphasizing the inherent volatility of responding to mental health crises in public spaces. A department spokesperson stated:
"Our officers are frequently placed in high-risk environments where public safety is threatened. While less-lethal options, such as rubber projectile systems, are regrettable, they are deployed strictly when de-escalation protocols fail and physical safety is compromised. We remain committed to partnering with mental health crisis intervention teams moving forward."
Municipal and Social Services Response
Conversely, local city council members and municipal social service directors have called for an independent review of police protocols regarding unhoused individuals experiencing psychiatric episodes. In a joint advisory, community advocates stressed that armed law enforcement officers are ill-equipped to serve as primary responders for mental health emergencies.
"Criminalizing mental illness through kinetic force is unacceptable," the advisory noted. "Our city must immediately allocate funding toward specialized, unarmed crisis response units that pair licensed mental health clinicians with peer support specialists."
The Three Tenets Mala: A Somatic Tool for Contemplation
In Buddhist traditions, a mala is a traditional string of prayer beads used to anchor concentration during mantras, breath counting, and spiritual invocations. To operationalize the three tenets amidst daily friction, Roshi Wendy Egyoku Nakao—my teacher—developed the Three Tenets Mala (TTMala) in 2016. This specialized tool offers a tangible, physical method for working with the tenets in real time.
You can engage with the TTMala whenever you feel emotionally stuck, triggered, drained of energy, overwhelmed by external events, or caught in negative loops of thought and emotion. It is equally valuable when processing personal conflict, navigating a toxic workplace dynamic, or simply attempting to cultivate gratitude and deeper appreciation for others.
Structurally, the Three Tenets Mala is divided into five distinct sections, representing:
- The Situation
- Not-Knowing
- Bearing Witness
- Taking Action
- Love
Each section begins with a large "head bead," followed by a series of smaller beads associated with specific contemplations and spoken phrases. By passing each bead through your fingers while reciting the corresponding invocation aloud, you engage both mind and body.
The Somatic Power of Tactile Practice
The tactile feedback of holding mala beads helps anchor a scattered mind, inviting a necessary pause in moments of emotional turbulence. Touching each bead and articulating the traditional phrases allows practitioners to move beyond cognitive over-thinking, ego-driven self-protection, and rigid temporal constructs.
This devotional practice grounds us squarely in life as it is. It deliberately invites into our circle of awareness everything we typically try to ignore, exclude, demonize, or cast away. Through this radical inclusivity, we begin to sense a profound mirroring between the self and the other. This somatic expansion dissolves artificial barriers, replacing division with a visceral, embodied experience of interconnection.
How to Make Your Own Three Tenets Mala
Constructing a Three Tenets Mala is a meditative art project in itself. You can source components from local craft stores, or repurpose beads from unused jewelry or neglected malas.
Materials Needed:
- 5 Large Beads (to serve as anchor beads for the five primary sections)
- 19 Smaller Beads (divided into specific groupings for each section)
- Spacer Beads (optional, to separate individual beads for ease of movement)
- Strong Beading Cord, Wire, or Thread
- A Tassel or Charm (to anchor the bottom of the mala)
- Clear Nail Polish (optional, to stiffen the cord ends for effortless threading)
Step-by-Step Assembly Guide:
- Select the Anchor Beads: Carefully choose five large beads that visually and energetically represent the five sections: the situation, not-knowing, bearing witness, taking action, and love. Ask yourself: What does not-knowing feel like in bead form? How do I visualize love or action?
- Thread the Situation Section: Thread your chosen large Situation bead onto the cord, followed by three identical smaller beads (and optional spacer beads).
- Thread the Not-Knowing Section: Add the large Not-Knowing bead, followed by three smaller identical beads and spacers.
- Thread the Bearing-Witness Section: Thread the large Bearing-Witness bead, followed by nine (or more) identical smaller beads and spacers. Using nine or more beads in this section provides physical room to mentally inventory the multiple ingredients and perspectives of a complex situation.
- Thread the Taking-Action Section: Add the large Taking-Action bead, followed by three smaller identical beads and spacers.
- Thread the Love Section: Thread the large Love bead, followed by three smaller identical beads and spacers.
- Secure and Finish: Tie a secure knot to close the mala loop. Ensure the tension allows the beads to slide smoothly without being overly loose. Use the tail ends of the knot to attach your tassel, securing it with a dab of glue if necessary.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Perform Three Tenets Mala Practice
Once your mala is assembled, you can use it during moments of emotional complexity, uncertainty, or interpersonal conflict. Move bead by bead, allowing the spoken phrases to soften your defenses and reconnect you with the wholeness of life.
1. Getting Started
Begin by rubbing the mala gently between your palms to generate warmth, and state:
"I affirm the oneness of all life. All things coexist in relationship to each other."
2. The Situation
- Hold the large Situation bead between your thumb and index finger and say: "I call the buddhas and bodhisattvas to witness my process." State aloud the who, what, when, where, and how of your current challenge with as much factual specificity as possible.
- Bead 1: "I acknowledge the awakened nature of all beings."
- Bead 2: "I meet all beings with respect and dignity."
- Bead 3: "I invite all hungry beings into my practice."
3. Not-Knowing
- Hold the large Not-Knowing bead and say: "I practice not-knowing."
- Bead 1: "I open my mind by releasing my knowing." (Reflect: What dogmas, opinions, and judgments am I holding onto?)
- Bead 2: "I open my heart by releasing my fears and resentments." (Reflect: What resentments are clouding my judgment?)
- Bead 3: "I open my being to new possibilities." (Reflect: What fixed ideas and physical tensions can I drop right now?)
4. Bearing Witness
- Hold the Bearing-Witness bead and say: "I practice bearing witness."
- Small Beads: Holding each smaller bead in turn, name one "ingredient" arising from your situation. Articulate what you see, hear, sense, feel, or wonder. Use framing such as: "I notice that…" or "I feel that…" If your ingredients outnumber the beads, simply loop back to the first small bead and continue.
5. Taking Action
- Hold the large Taking-Action bead (the "Do" bead) and say: "I use my energy and love to serve the wholeness of life. I will…" (State your intended action clearly).
- Bead 1: "By this action, I serve the situation."
- Bead 2: "By this action, I serve…" (Name specific individuals involved).
- Bead 3: "By this action, I take care of myself by…" (Name concrete forms of self-care).
6. Love
- Hold the large Love bead and say: "I affirm love as the great force of my life."
- Bead 1: "I offer my gratitude and thankfulness to…" (Name specific individuals).
- Bead 2: "I dedicate the merit of this practice to…" (Name someone other than yourself who is suffering).
- Bead 3: "I humbly take my place in the circle of life."
7. Conclusion
To conclude your practice, rub the mala once more between your palms and silently reaffirm the living oneness of all existence.
Broader Implications and Future Outlook
The integration of contemplative practices like the Three Tenets and mala meditation into community organizing, interfaith coalition building, and social justice work carries profound implications for our society.
As civic polarization deepens and public institutions—such as law enforcement agencies, municipal governments, and social safety nets—strain under the weight of intersecting crises, traditional adversarial approaches frequently exacerbate suffering. By replacing reactive hostility with structured inquiry, radical inclusivity, and somatic grounding, practitioners can transform the very nature of community dialogue.
Ultimately, moving from not-knowing through bearing witness to skillful action offers a viable roadmap for communities striving to heal deep systemic wounds. It reminds us that even within the most fractured spaces of civic life, profound transformation begins with a single, mindful breath and the willingness to see the interconnected human being standing on the other side of the divide.
About the Author
Jitsujo T. Gauthier is a Dharma teacher, co-spiritual director, and one of the five seat-holders for the Zen Peacemakers Order. She serves at the University of the West as an associate professor and chair of Buddhist chaplaincy, training the next generation of spiritual caregivers and social changemakers.
