Beneath the Noise
Beneath the headlines and habits, beneath the conditioned clamor of race and place, there is a quieter truth—steady, wise, and waiting.
In a world flooded with noise and urgency, it takes courage to pause—to turn inward, to listen beneath the surface of our socialization and stories. When we do, we often find that beneath the inherited roles and reactions, there is a wellspring of clarity. There is a deeper knowing—one not defined by division, but shaped by our shared humanity.
This space is an invitation to dwell in that knowing. To rest in the quiet honesty of the body. To honor the emotional labor of racial awareness and the wisdom that arises through contemplative inquiry. Here, we listen not to fix, but to feel; not to escape, but to engage more fully—with tenderness, truth, and transformative care.
May these reflections remind us that healing is not a destination, but a path we walk together—one breath, one reckoning, one offering at a time.
About Ruth King
Racism is a heart disease, AND it’s curable! This conviction is the beating heart of my work. As the Founder of the Mindful of Race Institute™ and author of Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out, I support individuals and communities in healing the racial divide from the inside out—with presence, compassion, and courage.
I created the Institute out of a deep calling to address the root of racial harm—not just in systems, but in the human heart. My work is grounded in the understanding that racial suffering is not just societal, it is deeply personal, spiritual, and emotional. And it is through wise awareness that true transformation becomes possible.
My training, rooted in the Therevada Tradition of Buddhism (Insight Meditation), includes extensive meditation training at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and the Insight Meditation Society. In 2008, I was given permission to teach in this tradition by my mentor, Jack Kornfield, co-founder of the Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and since have been leading retreats and supporting Sanghas and dedicated practitioners worldwide.
My approach at the Mindful of Race Institute weaves my extensive meditation, a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology, and decades of experience as a leadership consultant to corporations and non-profits, into a living, evolving practice. I draw from indigenous wisdom, emotional healing, and the human experience—offering guidance that is intuitive, embodied, and responsive to the realities of our time.
At the heart of my work is a quiet invitation to: Slow down. Turn inward. Listen deeply. Meet yourself and others with tenderness, clarity, and truth.
Through teachings, courses, and coaching, I support contemplative leaders, artists, facilitators, counselors, and truth-seekers in building their capacity for racial awareness, inner freedom, and relational wellbeing.
There is a place within each of us—still, wise, and watchful. It is here that healing begins. It is here that I meet you.
May the reflections offered in Beneath the Noise be companions in the sacred work of waking up, softening harm, and remembering our shared belonging.
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