Inside BPF: An Interview with Chris Johnnidis, BPF Summer Intern

By Rosalie Z Fanshel

BPF Membership Communications Coordinator

BPF is grateful to have Chris Johnnidis join us as an intern for eight weeks this summer to begin the groundwork of developing our three Areas of Action - Right to Practice, One Peace, and Too Young to Do Time. Chris is laying the foundation for the Program Director we will bring on this autumn. I recently interviewed Chris about the work he is doing, and how he came to BPF.

Rosalie: What brought you to the Buddhist Peace Fellowship?

Chris: Well, I’ll start with the big picture. I graduated the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in psychology in 2007. Upon graduating I intentionally entered a wandering phase of my life. Based on the quote attributed to J.R. Tolkien, "All who wander are not lost," I set out to explore my freedom through meaningful engagement in the world in a way that is authentic to myself. I'd never been so free: I was done with school, didn't have a job, and didn't need much money. I'm not exactly soul searching. I feel that I went through that in college and am now figuring out how to engage that soul in the world.

R: So this brought you to Berkeley? 

C: I grew up in New York City and moved out here blind. I knew I wanted to do social justice work and that it was happening in California. Once I arrived I heard about the Metta Center for Nonviolence Education internship. Nonviolence is the tool that I want to use in the world.

R: And the Metta Center connected you to BPF?

C: Yes.  The Metta Center partners with First Congregational Church of Berkeley (where they are housed) to place ten interns in various social justice organizations. We all work at our respective organizations four days per week and meet as a group on Fridays at the Metta Center. The Metta Center is nonsectarian, but based on the nonviolence principles of Mahatma Gandhi. Because I have a Buddhist meditation practice I was placed with BPF.

R: Tell me about your practice: where you raised Buddhist?

C: I was first exposed to meditation in a 12th grade of high school short story class. My teacher taught mediation in prisons and incorporated it into our classes. I began meditating, but not in a specific tradition. A couple years ago I was exposed to Thich Nhat Hahn's teachings and started a mindfulness group at my college. I was raised Greek Orthodox Christian.  Buddhism is where my religious practices are now, but I still identify as Greek Orthodox.  Or at least I'm culturally Greek if not Orthodox!  I generally go to Greece every year.

R: What is your project at BPF?

C: I am laying the base for the three Areas of Action - Right to Practice, One Peace, and Too Young to Do Time.  I spent the first two weeks of my internship becoming familiar with socially engaged Buddhism and BPF's legacy. Now I am spending two weeks on each campaign area: researching the subject and networking with other local organizations. The goal is to figure out what BPF's unique contribution in the each program area, and find room for collaboration with other organizations wherever that makes sense. I am writing up a report on each Area of Action that will be useful to the new Program Director.

R: What are you currently working on?

C: I've started with "Right to Practice." This focuses on bearing witness to the atrocities being committed against religious groups in Asia, and supporting the practice of socially-engaged Buddhists there. I've been learning the history of the struggle for religious and cultural freedom in Burma and Tibet. It is very inspiring and awesome that the monks and nuns are leading a revolution in Burma.  This highlights the significance and place of socially engaged Buddhism in today's global scene, and shows the strength of combining spiritual and social liberation practice. The movements in Burma and Tibet have been going on in their present form for 50 years, and feel like they are culminating now.  A peaceful nonviolent turning toward democracy seems tangible. 

R: What excites you about what you are learning?

C: In each campaign I expect to find something I am passionate about, as each combines personal and social liberation on a country/global wide scale.  This ties so well into my intention of life right now.  As I research each area I reflect on it personally and see how I fit into the bigger picture.