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Bernie Glassman Research Paper

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Bernie Glassman, founder of the Zen Peacemakers Order, grew up in a Jewish family and was working as an aeronautical engineer before beginning to study Buddhism under Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi Roshi in 1967. Since becoming a Zen teacher in 1976, Glassman has changed the face of Socially Engaged Buddhism in America through his efforts to increase awareness of social issues by bearing witness to them, and through that, minimizing suffering. The main purpose of the Zen Peacemakers’ Order is the same as the main purpose of Buddhism: to minimize the suffering experienced in the world, both for oneself and for others. The ZPO views social action as a form of spiritual practice. Bernie Glassman and the rest of the American founding teachers of this organization …show more content…

All but the precept banning intoxication are included in ZPO’s modified precepts which include : 1. Non-killing, 2. Non-stealing, 3. Chaste conduct, 4. Non-lying, 5. Not being ignorant, 6. Not talking about others’ errors and faults, 7. Not elevating myself and blaming others, 8. Not being stingy, 9. Not holding onto anger, 10. Not disparaging the Three Treasures. Non-killing includes the refrain from causing any harm, which comes from recognizing the interconnectedness of all beings, including oneself. Non-stealing is connected to the idea of being content with what one has and not desiring anything else. This helps to minimize suffering as desire is identified as one of the main causes of suffering, along with ignorance and hatred. Chaste conduct is the parallel of not committing sexual misconduct, but also includes respect for the diversity of life. Non-lying mirrors the moral precept to not lie and the section of the Eightfold Path of right speech. Like right speech, this precept encourages active listening and mindful speaking to avoid false statements, slander, gossip, cursing, and harsh words. Not being ignorant is another direct alleviation of suffering, as ignorance is identified as one of the three main …show more content…

These programs focus on places where genocides or trauma have occurred, and on city streets in the United States where poverty and homelessness are abundant. In 2017, the programs included a Holocaust Bearing Witness Retreat at Auschwitz-Birkenau, another in Bosnia/Herzegovina, and a final one that offers service to the Cheyenne River Sioux Native Americans and bears witness to the Black

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