Bernie Glassman (January 18, 1939 – November 4, 2018) was an American

Zen Buddhist Zen (; from Chinese: ''Chán''; in Korean: ''Sŏn'', and Vietnamese: ''Thiền'') is a Mahayana Buddhist tradition that developed in China during the Tang dynasty by blending Indian Mahayana Buddhism, particularly Yogacara and Madhyamaka phil ...

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 Hakuyū Taizan Maezumi ( Maezumi Hakuyū, February 24, 1931 – May 15, 1995) was a Japanese people, Japanese Sōtō Zen, Zen Buddhist priest who substantially contributed to development of Zen in the United States. In 1956 he was sent to the Uni ...

-roshi, and gave inka and Dharma transmission to several people. Glassman was known as a pioneer of

social enterprise A social enterprise is an organization that applies commercial strategies to maximize improvements in financial, social and environmental well-being. This may include maximizing social impact alongside profits for co-owners. Social enterprises ha ...

, socially

engaged Buddhism Engaged Buddhism, also known as socially engaged Buddhism, refers to a Buddhist social movement that emerged in Asia in the 20th century. It is composed of Buddhists who seek to apply Buddhist ethics, insights acquired from meditation practice, ...

and "Bearing Witness Retreats" at

Auschwitz Auschwitz, or Oświęcim, was a complex of over 40 concentration and extermination camps operated by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland (in a portion annexed into Germany in 1939) during World War II and the Holocaust. It consisted of Auschw ...

and on the streets with homeless people. According to author

James Ishmael Ford James Ishmael Ford (Zeno Myoun, Roshi) is an American Zen Buddhist priest and a retired Unitarian Universalist minister. He was born in Oakland, California on July 17, 1948. He earned a BA in psychology from Sonoma State University, as well as a ...

, in 2006 he

Biography

Bernie Glassman was born to

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

immigrants in

Brighton Beach Brighton Beach is a List of Brooklyn neighborhoods, neighborhood in the southern portion of the New York City Borough (New York City), borough of Brooklyn, within the greater Coney Island area along the Atlantic Ocean coastline. Brighton Beach ...

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

in 1939. He attended university at the

Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute The New York University Tandon School of Engineering (commonly referred to as Tandon) is the engineering and applied sciences school of New York University. Tandon is the second oldest private engineering and technology school in the United St ...

and received a degree in

engineering Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to Problem solving#Engineering, solve problems within technology, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve Systems engineering, s ...

. Following graduation he moved to

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

to work as an

aeronautical engineer Aerospace engineering is the primary field of engineering concerned with the development of aircraft and spacecraft. It has two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering. Avionics engineering is s ...

McDonnell-Douglas McDonnell Douglas Corporation was a major American aerospace manufacturing corporation and defense contractor, formed by the merger of McDonnell Aircraft and the Douglas Aircraft Company in 1967. Between then and its own merger with Boeing in 1 ...

. He then received his Ph.D. in

applied mathematics Applied mathematics is the application of mathematics, mathematical methods by different fields such as physics, engineering, medicine, biology, finance, business, computer science, and Industrial sector, industry. Thus, applied mathematics is a ...

from the

University of California, Los Angeles The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Its academic roots were established in 1881 as a normal school the ...

. Glassman first encountered Zen when he was assigned Huston Smith's '' The Religions of Man'' for an English class in 1958. From there, he continued reading including books by

Alan Watts Alan Wilson Watts (6 January 1915 – 16 November 1973) was a British and American writer, speaker, and self-styled "philosophical entertainer", known for interpreting and popularising Buddhist, Taoist, and Hinduism, Hindu philosophy for a Wes ...

Christmas Humphreys Travers Christmas Humphreys, QC (15 February 1901 – 13 April 1983) was a British jurist who prosecuted several controversial cases in the 1940s and 1950s, and who later became a judge at the Old Bailey. He also wrote a number of works on Maha ...

, and D.T. Suzuki. In the early 1960s, Glassman began meditating and soon after sought a local

Zen Zen (; from Chinese: ''Chán''; in Korean: ''Sŏn'', and Vietnamese: ''Thiền'') is a Mahayana Buddhist tradition that developed in China during the Tang dynasty by blending Indian Mahayana Buddhism, particularly Yogacara and Madhyamaka phil ...

teacher. He found

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

and Glassman became one of the original founding members of the

Zen Center of Los Angeles The Zen Center of Los Angeles (ZCLA), temple name Buddha Essence Temple, is a Zen center founded by Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi in 1967 that practices in the White Plum lineage. ZCLA observes a daily schedule of zazen, Buddhist services, and work pr ...

. He received

Dharma transmission In Chan and Zen Buddhism, dharma transmission is a custom in which a person is established as a "successor in an unbroken lineage of teachers and disciples, a spiritual 'bloodline' ('' kechimyaku'') theoretically traced back to the Buddha him ...

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. In 1980, he founded the Zen Community of New York. In 1982 Glassman opened Greyston Bakery in

Yonkers, New York Yonkers () is the List of municipalities in New York, third-most populous city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and the most-populous City (New York), city in Westchester County, New York, Westchester County. A centrally locate ...

, which initially provided jobs for the Zen students and evolved into an effort to help alleviate the widespread

homelessness Homelessness, also known as houselessness or being unhoused or unsheltered, is the condition of lacking stable, safe, and functional housing. It includes living on the streets, moving between temporary accommodation with family or friends, liv ...

in the area. The bakery provided jobs for inner city residents who lacked education and skills. Greyston employed low-skilled workers from the neighborhood, many of whom were homeless themselves, and sold baked goods to shops and restaurants in

Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...

. In 1989 Glassman entered an agreement with

Ben & Jerry's Ben & Jerry's Homemade Holdings Inc., trading and commonly known as Ben & Jerry's, is an American company that manufactures ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sorbet. Founded in 1978 in Burlington, Vermont, the company went from a single ice cream p ...

, and Greyston Bakery has become the supplier of brownies for several lines of

ice cream Ice cream is a frozen dessert typically made from milk or cream that has been flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as Chocolate, cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit, such as strawberries or peaches. Food ...

. 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. As of 2004 the Foundation had developed $35 million worth in real estate development projects in

Westchester County, New York Westchester County is a County (United States), county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, bordering the Long Island Sound and the Byram River to its east and the Hudson River on its west. The c ...

. The Foundation offers

HIV/AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...

programs, provides job training and housing,

child care Child care, also known as day care, is the care and supervision of one or more children, typically ranging from three months to 18 years old. Although most parents spend a significant amount of time caring for their child(ren), childcare typica ...

services, educational opportunities, and other endeavors. In 2003 the bakery moved to a new building, which allows for higher output and more employment opportunities. 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." Richard Hughes Seager writes, "The Zen Peacemaker Order...has the potential to rival

Thich Nhat Hanh Thích is a name that Vietnamese monks and nuns take as their Buddhist surname to show affinity with the Buddha. Notable Vietnamese monks with the name include: * Thích Huyền Quang (1919–2008), dissident and activist * Thích Quảng Độ (1 ...

's groups and the Buddhist Peace Fellowship as a force in American activism." 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 Jeffrey Leon Bridges (born December 4, 1949) is an American actor. He is known for his Leading actor, leading man roles in film and television. In a career spanning over seven decades, he has received List of awards and nominations received by ...

, his Zen student. Bernie and Jeff strove to make people feel welcome and worked to provide them with access to dignified treatment. They made their meal experience one where they felt cared for and not rushed, where not only their body, but also their mind and soul, were nourished. The Stone Soup Cafe is inspired by the

Zen Peacemakers The Zen Peacemakers is a diverse network of socially engaged Buddhists, currently including the formal structures of the Zen Peacemakers International, the Zen Peacemaker Order and the Zen Peacemaker Circles, many affiliated individuals and grou ...

' 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 continues to operate as a pay-what-you-can cafe, a mixed-income restaurant experience that brings people together from a variety of backgrounds. Glassman died on November 4, 2018, from complications of a

stroke Stroke is a medical condition in which poor cerebral circulation, blood flow to a part of the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: brain ischemia, ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and intracranial hemorrhage, hemor ...

, in

Springfield, Massachusetts Springfield is the most populous city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, and its county seat. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers: the western Westfield River, the ea ...

, at the age of 79.

Teachings

Glassman taught about what his teacher, the late

, 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." Also, Glassman was known for his many "street retreats." Author

writes, "...'street retreats,' for instance, moves

sesshin A ''sesshin'' (接心, or also 摂心/攝心 literally "touching the heart-mind") is a period of intensive meditation (zazen) retreat in a Japanese Zen monastery, or in a Zen monastery or Zen center that belongs to one of the Japanese Zen trad ...

into the streets: participants eat in

soup kitchen A soup kitchen, food kitchen, or meal center is a place where food is offered to Hunger, hungry and homeless people, usually for no price, cost, or sometimes at a below-market price (such as coin Donation, donations). Frequently located in Low i ...

s, and, if they know they're not displacing homeless people, sleep in homeless shelters or, otherwise, sleep in public places.

Zazen ''Zazen'' is a meditative discipline that is typically the primary practice of the Zen Buddhist tradition. The generalized Japanese term for meditation is 瞑想 (''meisō''); however, ''zazen'' has been used informally to include all forms ...

takes place in parks." In the 2000s, Glassman developed an experiment in sociocratic consensus-based zen training and interfaith facilitation, known initially as Peacemaker Circle International and later Zen Peacemaker Circles. Interconnected projects were established globally, replacing the role of 'Zen teacher' with participants learning from each other and sharing ideas between Circles. Starting in 2001, Glassman taught "Clowning Your Zen" workshops with Moshe Cohen, and founded a "clown order" called the Order of Disorder within the Zen Peacemaker Order. 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 in developing lay forms of Zen practice.

Lineage

Bernie Glassman appointed several "

sensei The term "先生", read in Chinese, in Japanese, in Korean, and in Vietnamese, is an honorific used in the Sinosphere. In Japanese, the term literally means "person born before another" or "one who comes before". It is generally used ...

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

Bibliography

* * * * * *

Other media

Audio

Video

* * * * *

Selected honors

* 1991 Best of America Award for Social Action, U.S. News & World Report * Ethics in Action Award, Ethical Culture Society of Westchester * E-chievement Award, E-Town, Tom's of Maine * Man of the Year, Westchester Coalition of Food Pantries * 2016 Babson College Lewis Institute Social Innovator Award

Selected board participation

* The Temple of Understanding *

White Plum Asanga White Plum Asanga, sometimes termed White Plum Sangha, is a loose (hence asangha) "organization of peers whose members are leaders of Zen Communities in the lineage of Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi," created by Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi and Tetsugen Ber ...

* AIDS Interfaith National Network * Social Venture Network * Westchester Interfaith Housing Corp.

References

External links

Zen Peacemakers

www.greyston.org/

www.greystonbakery.com/

Peacemaker Circles International

Shambhala Sun interview with Roshi Bernie

White Plum Asanga

Videos about Zen Peacemakers and Bernie Glassman

Audio Interview Series
on Buddhist Geeks {{DEFAULTSORT:Glassman, Tetsugen Bernard 1939 births 2018 deaths Zen Buddhism writers Engaged Buddhists Soto Zen Buddhists White Plum Asanga Rōshi 20th-century American Jews American Zen Buddhists Converts to Buddhism People from Brighton Beach Polytechnic Institute of New York University alumni Writers from Brooklyn