ABSTRACT
The cover of this book shows the image of a dorje, or vajra in Sanskrit. In Tibetan Buddhism, this is an image symbolizing the union of relative and absolute truths, the feminine and the masculine, compassion and wisdom, spirit and commitment. Underlining this series of unions is the idea that the interaction between binaries leads to enlightenment: perhaps a lofty symbol for a textbook! Still, to us, this illustrates the potential of teaching and learning (a transformative, reciprocal, and human experience), even as it is joined to the institution of schooling (which is often dulling and dehumanizing-“drill and kill,” “sit still,” “wait for the bell”). We use the dorje to symbolize our commitment to social justice education as a tool of union and solidarity. Social justice education leads students to embrace and name their ways of knowing the world through new critical understandings of themselves, their communities, and the larger society. We believe these kinds of understanding are a form of transformation, even enlightenment, that we can all experience.
