Bernie Glassman Explained

Birth Name:Bernard Glassman
Alias:Bernie Glassman
Dharma Name:Tetsugen
Birth Date:18 January 1939
Birth Place:Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Death Place:Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Religion:Buddhist
School:Zen Peacemaker Order
Lineage:White Plum Asanga
Roshi
Education:Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute
University of California, Los Angeles
Predecessor:Taizan Maezumi
Successor:Joan Halifax
Father Robert Kennedy
Wendy Egyoku Nakao
Pat Enkyo O'Hara
Lou Nordstrom
Don Singer
Grover Genro Gauntt
Anne Seisen Saunders
Francisco "Paco" Lugoviña
Barbara Salaam Wegmueller
Roland Yakushi Wegmueller
Spouse:Eve Marko
Website:zenpeacemakers.org

Bernie Glassman (January 18, 1939 – November 4, 2018) was an American Zen Buddhist roshi and founder of the Zen Peacemakers (previously the Zen Community of New York), an organization established in 1980. In 1996, he co-founded the Zen Peacemaker Order with his late wife Sandra Jishu Holmes. Glassman was a Dharma successor of the late Taizan Maezumi-roshi, and gave inka and Dharma transmission to several people.

Glassman was known as a pioneer of social enterprise, socially engaged Buddhism and "Bearing Witness Retreats" at Auschwitz and on the streets with homeless people.[1]

According to author James Ishmael Ford, in 2006 he

Biography

Bernie Glassman was born to Jewish immigrants in Brighton Beach,[1] Brooklyn, New York in 1939.[2] He attended university at the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute and received a degree in engineering. Following graduation he moved to California to work as an aeronautical engineer at McDonnell-Douglas. He then received his Ph.D. in applied mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles.[3]

Glassman first encountered Zen when he was assigned Huston Smith's The Religions of Man for an English class in 1958.[4] From there, he continued reading including books by Alan Watts, Christmas Humphreys, and D.T. Suzuki.[4] In the early 1960s, Glassman began meditating[4] and soon after sought a local Zen teacher.[4] He found Taizan Maezumi in Los Angeles, California[4] and Glassman became one of the original founding members of the Zen Center of Los Angeles. He received Dharma transmission in 1976 from Maezumi, who intended to create an inka shomei ceremony for him in 1995, shortly before Maezumi's death, conferring the influences of his own main teachers to Glassman.[2]

In 1980, he founded the Zen Community of New York. In 1982[5] Glassman opened Greyston Bakery in Yonkers, New York, which initially provided jobs for the Zen students and evolved into an effort to help alleviate the widespread homelessness in the area.[6] The bakery provided jobs for inner city residents who lacked education and skills.[6] Greyston employed low-skilled workers from the neighborhood, many of whom were homeless themselves, and sold baked goods to shops and restaurants in Manhattan. In 1989 Glassman entered an agreement with Ben & Jerry's, and Greyston Bakery has become the supplier of brownies for several lines of ice cream.[7]

Through the success of his bakery–which in 2016 was earning $12 million in revenues–Glassman founded the Greyston Foundation (sometimes called Greyston Mandala) with his wife Sandra Jishu Holmes in 1989. He retired from the Greyston Foundation in 1996 to pursue socially engaged Buddhist projects through the Zen Peacemakers.[8] As of 2004 the Foundation had developed $35 million worth in real estate development projects in Westchester County, New York. The Foundation offers HIV/AIDS programs, provides job training and housing, child care services, educational opportunities, and other endeavors. In 2003 the bakery moved to a new building, which allows for higher output and more employment opportunities.[9]

In 1996, Glassman, with his wife Sandra Jishu Holmes, founded the Zen Peacemaker Order. According to professor Christopher S. Queen, "The order is based on three principles: plunging into the unknown, bearing witness to the pain and joy of the world, and a commitment to heal oneself and the world."[1] Richard Hughes Seager writes, "The Zen Peacemaker Order...has the potential to rival Thich Nhat Hanh's groups and the Buddhist Peace Fellowship as a force in American activism."[10]

In 2012, Bernie Glassman founded The Stone Soup Cafe in Greenfield, MA (originally the "Let All Eat Cafe" in Montague, MA) together with Academy-Award-winning actor Jeff Bridges, his Zen student.[11] Bernie and Jeff were really into making people feel welcome and providing access to dignified treatment and making their meal experience one where they felt cared for, not rushed, and fed body, mind, and soul. The Stone Soup Cafe is inspired by the Zen Peacemakers' three tenets, which are to start with a mind of not knowing, letting go of fixed ideas so that you can bear witness to the joy and suffering around you, and then to do the actions that come out of that bearing witness. The Stone Soup Café still operates today as a Pay-What-You-Can Café - a mixed-income restaurant experience that brings people together, bridging across differences.[12]

Glassman died on November 4, 2018, from complications of a stroke in Springfield, Massachusetts at the age of 79.[13]

Teachings

Glassman taught about what his teacher, the late Taizan Maezumi, called the "unknowing." Not-knowing is the first tenet of the Zen Peacemakers, and Glassman said of it, "In Zen the words source and essence are the equivalent of Unknowing, and they come up again and again. We have the absolute and the relative perspectives about life, and Unknowing is the one source of both of these."[1] Also, Glassman was known for his many "street retreats." Author James Ishmael Ford writes, "...'street retreats,' for instance, moves sesshin into the streets: participants eat in soup kitchens, and, if they know they're not displacing homeless people, sleep in homeless shelters or, otherwise, sleep in public places. Zazen takes place in parks."[2] In the 2000s, Glassman developed an experiment in sociocratic consensus-based zen training and interfaith facilitation, known initially as Peacemaker Circle International[14] [15] and later Zen Peacemaker Circles. Interconnected projects were established globally,[16] replacing the role of 'Zen teacher' with participants learning from each other and sharing ideas between Circles.[17] Starting in 2001, Glassman taught "Clowning Your Zen" workshops with Moshe Cohen,[18] and founded a "clown order" called the Order of Disorder[19] within the Zen Peacemaker Order.[20] In his last years, having disrobed from the priesthood, Glassman together with his third wife Eve Marko continued the work of his teacher Koryu Osaka Roshi[21] in developing lay forms of Zen practice.

Lineage

Bernie Glassman appointed several "senseis"[22] and "roshis" in traditional zen, and established the non-hierarchical roles of 'Steward' and 'Circle Dharmaholder' as coordinators and visionholders to continue the Zen Peacemaker Circles model. A number of his successors have also given dharma transmission to some of their own students:[23]

  1. Ancheta, Alfred Jitsudo Roshi
    1. Arbiter, Eric Kishin Sensei[24]
    2. Bruce-Fritz, Carol Myoshin Sensei[25]
    3. Elkin, Rick Issan Sensei
    4. Fritz, Ralph Kendo Sensei[25]
    5. Helzer, Douglas Red Heart Sensei
    6. Walter, Sydney Musai Roshi
    7. Whalen, Thomas Zenho Sensei
  2. Baker, Nancy Mujo Roshi
  3. Barragato, Stefano Mui Sensei (b. 1930)[26]
    1. Barragato, Margaret Ne-Eka
      1. Wohl, Peter Seishin Sensei
        1. Peter Joryu Harris
        2. Jaime Heiku McLeod
        3. Todd Hotai Watson
    2. Paquin, Linda-Lee Abhaya
  4. Bastien, James Daikan Sensei
  5. Byalin, Kenneth (Ken) Tetsuji Sensei
  6. Ciepielewski, Jakub Bokkuren Roshi
  7. Collande, Cornelius v. Roshi[27]
  8. Dubois, Michel Roshi[27]
  9. Gauntt, Grover Genro Sensei
  10. Gyger, Pia Jinji Roshi
  11. Halifax, Joan Jiko Roshi
    1. Bakker, Irene Kaigetsu Sensei[28]
    2. Byrnes, Brian Joshin Sensei[29]
    3. Kazniak, Al Genkai Sensei
    4. Stolte, Beate Sensei[30]
    5. Palma, José Shinzan Sensei [31]
    6. Quennell, Genzan Sensei[32]
  12. Krajewski, Andrzej Getsugen Roshi[27]
  13. Harkaspi, Helen Kobai Yuho
  14. Hixon, Lex Nur Jikai (1941-1995)[27]
  15. Hixon, Sheila Jinen Sensei
  16. Holmes, Sandra Jishu Angyo Roshi (1941-1998)
  17. Kahn, Paul Kuzan Genki Roshi[27]
    1. Ackerman, Joan Noge
    2. Brown, Tucker Sansui
    3. Bruce, Susan Kijin
    4. Bruner, David Moksui
    5. Dowd, Cathleen Kanno
    6. DuFrene Troy Kyokai
    7. Duncan, Shoko Sings-Alone
    8. Greenberg, Bill Jikai
    9. Kahn, Jacks Jocelyn Myoen
    10. Kahn, Monika Seiryo Genmitsu Roshi
      1. Johnson, Trish Kojindo
      2. Mancuso, John Mitsudo
    11. Kolman, Phil Sengetsu
    12. Koopalethes, Wally Toryu
    13. Noble, Greg Tensho
    14. Peterman, John Reizan
    15. Sato Gerpheide, Karen C. (KC) Zero Kyozen Sensei
    16. Schmachtenberg, Wolfgang Okami
    17. Stern, Paul Kisho Roshi
      1. Hansen, Eileen Toshin
    18. Tirch, Dennis Doshini
    19. Vardi, Eran Kyoka Junryu Roshi
    20. Wagner, Ann Ankai Roshi
      1. Senegeto, Thomas Kian Sensei
  18. Kennedy, Robert E. Jinsen S.J. Roshi (b. 1933-)[33]
    1. Abels, Gregory Hosho Sensei
    2. Abels, Janet Jiryu Roshi[34]
    3. Bachman, Carl Genjo Sensei
    4. Birx, Charles Shinkai Sensei (b. 1944)
      1. Pumphrey, Ben Mui Sensei
      2. Thompson, Scott H. (b. 1948) Dharma Holder (Assistant teacher)
    5. Birx, Ellen Jikai Roshi (b. 1950)
    6. Butler, Tim Tomei Sensei
    7. Cicetti, Raymond Ryuzan Roshi (b. 1950)
      1. Daniels, Michele Keido Sensei
    8. Eastman, Patrick Kundo Roshi[35]
      1. Averbeck, Marcus Hozan Sensei
      2. Collingwood, Chris Ryushin Sensei
      3. Woodcock, Jeremy Ryokan Sensei
    9. Efird, Susan KoDo Sensei
    10. Healy, Miriam Yukan Roshi
    11. Holleran, Michael Koryu Sensei
    12. Hunt, Kevin Jiun Roshi (b. 1933-), O.C.S.O (Order of Cistercians of the Strict Order)
      1. Taberner, Cynthia Kin Ryu Sensei
      2. Tacy, Madeleine Seikai Sensei
      3. Onge, Timothy Mangetsu Sensei
      4. Seul, Jeff Kōgen Sensei
    13. Laheen, Mary Soshin Sensei
    14. Maher, Carl Chimon Sensei
    15. Montecel, Maria "Cuca" Kosen Roblwedo Sensei
    16. Richardson, Janet Jinne, CSJP Roshi
      1. Blackman, Bruce Seiryu Sensei (b. 1942)[36]
      2. Craig, Barbara Shoshin, RSM Sensei [Religious Sisters of Mercy] (b. 1932)
        1. Falcone, Anthony Hoetsu Sensei
        2. Hebb, John Joho Sensei
        3. Sullivan, Edward Sangetsu Sensei
      3. Dougherty, Rose Mary Myoan Sensei[37]
        1. Dietrich, William (Bill) Ji An Sensei
        2. Ertman, Robert Jin Gen Sensei
          1. Palmiter, Martine Taikai Sensei
            1. Gary, Jan JinKai Sensei
          2. Hawes, Rebecca MuSeiDo Sensei
      4. McQuaide, Rosalie Jishin, CSJP Sensei
    17. Schubert, Paul Seiko Sensei
    18. Yee, Amy Enhai Sensei
    19. Viggiani, Carl Chimon Sensei
    20. von Wobeser-Hopfner, Inge Eigen
  19. Lee, Robert Sokan Roshi
  20. Lugovina, Francisco Genkoji "Paco" Roshi[27]
    1. williams, angel Kyodo Sensei
    2. Nelson, Craig Daiken Sensei
    3. Salazar, Joaquin Ryusho Sensei
  21. Marko, Eve Myonen
  22. Matthiessen, Peter Muryo Roshi (May 22, 1927 – April 5, 2014)
    1. Bastis, Madeline Ko-i Sensei
      1. Cantor, Mitchell Doshin Sensei
        1. May, Wilbur Mushin Sensei
    2. Dobbs, Michel Engu Sensei
    3. Friedman, Dorothy Dai-en (Daien) Sensei
      1. Campbell, Chodo Sensei
      2. Paley Ellison, Koshin Sensei
  23. Maull, Fleet Shinryu Roshi[27]
  24. Merzel, Dennis Genpo Roshi
  25. Nakao, Wendy Lou Egyoku Roshi
    1. Berge, Raul Ensho, Dharma Holder (2006)
    2. Boyd, Merle Kodo Plum Dragon Sensei
    3. Hawley, Kipp Ryodo Sensei
    4. Janka, Gary Myogen Koan Sensei
  26. Nordstrom, Louis Mitsunen Roshi (b. 1943)
    1. Denton, Timothy Issai Sensei
    2. Hawkins, Roger Shikan Sensei
    3. Thompson, Phil Zenkai Sensei
    4. Rubin, Jeffrey Jiko Sensei
    5. Gallagher, Jim Genjo Sensei
    6. Hicks, Greg ShinShyou Roshi
    7. Olmos, Mico Ryutaku Roshi
    8. Boyles, Sarah Nanshin Sensei
  27. O'Hara, Pat Enkyo Roshi
    1. Eiger, Randall Ryotan Roshi
      1. Lisa Soshin Dufour Sensei
      2. Douglass Fugan Dineen Sensei
      3. Timothy Bokushu Tucker Sensei
    2. Harris, Jules Shuzen Roshi
      1. Rapaport, Al Tendo Fusho[38]
        1. Linda Myoki Lehrhaupt[39]
        2. Joshua Kojo Paszkiewicz[40]
    3. Hondorp, Catherine Anraku Eishun Sensei
    4. O'Hara, Barbara Joshin Roshi
    5. Terestman, Julie Myoko Kirin Roshi
    6. Thomson, Sinclair Shinryu Roshi
    7. Robert Kaku Gunn Sensei
    8. Jeremy Tokuyu Manasia Sensei
    9. Allan JoAn Tibbetts Sensei
    10. Traven Fusho Rice Sensei
  28. Saunders, Anne Seisen[41]
    1. Deer, Herb Eko[41]
    2. Wild, Sara Kokyo[42]
  29. Singer, Don Ani Shalom Rabbi Sensei
  30. Richardson, Janet Jinne Roshi[27]
  31. Waele, Frank de Roshi[27]
  32. Wegmueller, Barbara Salaam Roshi
  33. Wegmueller, Roland Yakushi Roshi

Circle Zen Dharmaholders:

  1. Margueritte Gregory
    1. Jeana Moore
  2. Barbara Wegmueller
    1. Gabriele Blankertz
    2. Chris Starbuck
      1. Geoff Taylor and the Western Massachusetts Circle
      2. Frances Collins
    3. Steve Hart
    4. Franziska Schneider
    5. Kathleen Battke
  3. Roland Wegmueller
  4. Ohad Pele Ezrahi (Rabbi)

Bibliography

Other media

Audio

Book: Glassman, Bernard. Fields, Rick. Instructions to the Cook: A Zen Master's Lessons in Living a Life That Matters. Shambhala Lion Editions. 1996. 1-57062-260-4. 35811026.

Video

Selected honors

Selected board participation

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Buddhism, activism, and Unknowing: a day with Bernie Glassman (interview with Zen Peacemaker Order founder) . Christopher S. Queen . Tikkun . 13 . 1 . 64–66 . 2010-12-14 .
  2. Book: James Ishmael Ford . Zen master who? : a guide to the people and stories of Zen . 2006 . Wisdom Publications . 167–168 . 0-86171-509-8 .
  3. Book: Christopher S. Queen . Engaged Buddhism in the west . 2000 . Wisdom publications . 0-86171-159-9.
  4. Web site: Sweeping Zen Interview with Bernie Glassman . May 2012 . Sweeping Zen .
  5. News: Ari L. Goldman . Cookies, Civic Pride And Zen . . December 23, 1991 . 2010-12-14 .
  6. Book: Perry Garfinkel . Buddha or Bust . 2006 . Harmony Books . 33–34 . 978-1-4000-8217-9 .
  7. Book: Robert Egger . Howard Yoon . Begging for change : the dollars and sense of making nonprofits responsive, efficient, and rewarding for all . 2004 . HarperBusiness . 136–137 . 0-06-054171-7 .
  8. Recipes for Empowering Community Greyston, Mandala, Yonkers . Chris Lazarus . New Village Journal . 1 . 2010-12-14 .
  9. Book: Mark Roseland . Toward sustainable communities : resources for citizens and their governments . 2005 . New Society Publishers . 173 . limited . 0-86571-535-1 .
  10. Book: Richard Hughes Seager . Buddhism in America . 1999 . Columbia University Press . 209 . limited . 0-231-10868-0 .
  11. News: I used to eat at soup kitchens to survive. Now as a volunteer, I see it from the other side. . 2023-07-17 . The Washington Post.
  12. Web site: Café History. Stone Soup Cafe.
  13. Web site: Roshi Bernie Glassman Passes Away. Matthew. Abrahams. November 5, 2018. Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.
  14. http://www.peacemakercircles.org Peacemaker Circle International
  15. Eve Marko, in Women Practicing Buddhism: American Experiences by Peter Gregory and Susanne Mrozik (1998, Wisdom Books US), p114
  16. Web site: UK Zen Peacemakers . ukzenpeacemakers.blogspot.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130515081936/http://ukzenpeacemakers.blogspot.com/ . 2013-05-15.
  17. Web site: "Bernie Glassman 2: The Circles Are Us" . Michael Stone Teachings . 11 October 2014 . 9 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211109135146/https://michaelstoneteaching.com/bernie-glassman-2-the-circles-are-us/ . 9 November 2021.
  18. Web site: My Story . Moshe Cohen . 9 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211109133247/https://moshecohen.net/my-story/ . 9 November 2021.
  19. Web site: Zen-Buddhist Clown And Associate Of Human Evolutionary Biology . Red Nose Factory . 14 February 2019 . 9 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211109133549/https://rednosefactory.com/uncategorized/clown-spotlight-zen-buddhist-clown-and-associate-of-human-evolutionary-biology/ . 9 November 2021 . "The Zen Peacemakers founder, the late zen teacher and author Bernie Glassman also started a clown order known as the Order of Disorder [...]. Bernie thought that clowning and Zen have a lot in common and that clowning could help people not to be too serious with their practice.".
  20. Web site: Order of Disorder . Zen Peacemakers . 9 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211109134451/https://zenpeacemakers.org/zen-peacemaker-order-home/order-of-disorder/ . 9 November 2021.
  21. Web site: Koryu Osaka Roshi.
  22. http://www.ciolek.com/WWWVLPages/ZenPages/HaradaYasutani.html Sanbo Kyodan: Harada-Yasutani School of Zen Buddhism and its Teachers
  23. Web site: White Plum Asanga teachers (Maezumi lineage).
  24. Web site: Houston Zen Center .
  25. Web site: Forest Wind Zendo . 2020-06-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190125080437/https://forestwindzen.org/ . 2019-01-25 . dead .
  26. Web site: Lineage . Treetop Zen Center . 9 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211109131515/https://www.treetopzencenter.org/about/lineage/ . 9 November 2021.
  27. Web site: Bernie's Zen Teachers & Dharma Successors. zenpeacemakers.org. 22 February 2012. en-US. 2020-09-28.
  28. News: Sensei Irene Kaigetsu Bakker @ Upaya Zen Center. Upaya Zen Center. 2018-03-04. en-US.
  29. News: Sensei Joshin Byrnes (Vice Abbot) @ Upaya Zen Center. Upaya Zen Center. 2018-03-04. en-US.
  30. Web site: Stolte, Beate Genko Sweeping Zen. https://web.archive.org/web/20151101092804/http://sweepingzen.com/beate-genko-stolte-bio/. November 1, 2015. sweepingzen.com. en-US. 2018-03-04.
  31. Web site: About me.... Shinzan. en-US. 2018-03-04.
  32. News: Sensei Genzan Quennell (Guiding Teacher and Temple Coordinator) @ Upaya Zen Center. Upaya Zen Center. 2018-03-04. en-US.
  33. Web site: Morning Star Zendo . 3 May 2015.
  34. Web site: Our Teachers · Still Mind Zendo. Still Mind Zendo.
  35. Web site: Wild Goose Zen Sangha . 2019-11-08.
  36. Web site: Zen Peacemaker biographies . 3 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130716075901/http://zenpeacemakers.org/zen-peacemakers/who-we-are/zen-peacemakers-sangha/zen-peacemakers-sangha/affiliate-bios-north-america-usa-maryland/ . 16 July 2013 . dead .
  37. Web site: One Heart Sangha Zen Meditation. One Heart Sangha Zen Meditation.
  38. Web site: Rapaport, Al Tendo Fusho. https://web.archive.org/web/20150719055029/http://sweepingzen.com/al-fusho-rapaport-bio/. July 19, 2015. SweepingZen.
  39. Web site: Lehrhaupt, Linda Myoki. https://web.archive.org/web/20150719033855/http://sweepingzen.com/lehrhaupt-linda-myoki/. July 19, 2015. SweepingZen.
  40. Web site: Our Teachers – Open Mind Zen . 2024-07-30 . en-US.
  41. Web site: Teachers. Sweetwater Zen Center.
  42. Web site: Sara Kokyo Wildi, Yogalehrerin und Leiterin von sarva. www.sarva.ch. 2016-01-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20160125153441/http://www.sarva.ch/sara-kokyo-wildi.php. 2016-01-25. dead.

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