Bernie Glassman, 1939 - 2018

[Ryushi]

I've just seen on the San Fran Zen Center Facebook page that Bernie Glassman has passed away. Trying to find independent confirmation and information.

EDIT: confirmation from Zen Peacemakers

"Instructions to the Cook" was one of the earliest Zen books I read.

Sat today. Gassho.

[Kokuu]

Thank you for the information, Todd.

I am sad to hear of the passing of Bernie and send much metta to his friends, family and sangha members.

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday-

[Jundo]

Let us continue what he began.

Nine Bows, J

[Jakuden]

Aw. I knew he was having some health issues lately. Thank you for letting us know. I will send Metta to his Sangha and all who knew him.

Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Meitou]

Thank you for this Todd, I will sit for Bernie, his family and his Sangha.
Gassho
Meitou
satwithyoualltoday/lah

[Mp]

Thank you Todd ... as Jundo said, "let's continue what he started". May he be at peace ...

Deep bows,
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[martyrob]

Thanks Todd.
That’s really sad news, although I knew his health was faltering.
I found Bernie Glassman’s take on Buddhism and social activism inspirational. His voice is needed now more than ever and so Jundo’s invocation to continue what he started is the best tribute and honour we can give to his work and life.

Deep bows, Bernie, you’ll be missed.

Martyn.

Sat today.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Doshin]

Doshin
St

[Seishin]

Thank you Todd, sad news indeed. Metta to his family and Sangha.

[Tairin]

Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Shokai]

Stlah

[Jundo]

Let us be sad and Joyous for the old clown, all at once. Perhaps no teacher revolutionized Zen Buddhism in the west more than Bernie Roshi.

For one of many things, his street retreats, his attempts to make Sangha into work places for the homeless and others with no place to go ... "Bearing Witness" Sesshin at battlefields and concentration camps. I had the good experience of sitting one Zazen retreat with him years ago.

Many people will have much to say this week about his life. All our sitting and all activities in our Sangha this week is dedicated to Glassman Roshi. Our Lend A Hand project has been always very much inspired by his example.

Some Bernie quotes that show his many sides ...

When we bear witness, when we become the situation - homelessness, poverty, illness, violence, death - the right action arises by itself. We don't have to worry about what to do. We don't have to figure out solutions ahead of time. Peacemaking is the functioning of bearing witness. Once we listen with our entire body and mind, loving action arises.

...

I always have this red nose in my pocket, and if it looks like I'm taking things too seriously, or the person I'm talking to is taking them too seriously, I put the nose on. It doesn't matter what we're doing or talking about, it doesn't matter if we agree or disagree, the nose changes everything.

...

The pursuit of enlightenment is for the purpose of the world, not merely for the purpose of the individual. Practices for enlightenment must lead to action in the world.

...

The basic problem, actually, is how to get rid of the idea that we're going to get rid of our problems. Only then can we relate directly with the real issues of our life.

...

Each of is an arm of Kannon, enabling Kannon to do her work. Like her, we're also overwhelmed, but when we reallize that the millions of pieces are all operating as one, then there's no problem. The reason we get overwhelmed is that we're attached to a certain result or taht we want to achieve a certain result or that we to achieve a certain goal. If we weren't attached we wouldn't be overwhelmed. It's endless. And we just take one step after the next.

Nine Bows, J

STLah

[Shugen]

Deep Bows,

Shugen

Sattoday/LAH


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Meitou]

"I always have this red nose in my pocket, and if it looks like I'm taking things too seriously, or the person I'm talking to is taking them too seriously, I put the nose on. It doesn't matter what we're doing or talking about, it doesn't matter if we agree or disagree, the nose changes everything"

What a great idea! From now on, I shall keep a metaphorical red nose in my pocket at all times. Thank you Bernie Glassman.
Gassho
Meitou
Satwithyoualltoday lah

[Kotei]

Thank you.
Deep bows,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Washin]

Deep bows

Washin
stlah

[Lex]

I'm sorry to hear this but grateful for his work.

Gassho

Sat today

[sjlabat]

Memory eternal,
A visionary and creative teacher and leader.
gassho,
sjl
sat, lah

[Geika]

I started reading Instructions to the Cook in February last year when my husband bought it for me while away on his bachelor's trip in Portland, Oregon. His writing was so helpful as I went through the final stress, planning and action of our wedding. My memory of his words is tied up with the joyous and often terrified feelings leading up to marriage, and it was a great comfort. I have read it many times since, and watched a lot of YouTube talks with him. He really was such a great teacher. His words are as indispensable as Jundo's and Suzuki's in the way I have shaped my practice.

A big thank you for his spirit. He helped SO many people help themselves. I wish I knew how to do what he could do: Greyston Bakery is a shining example of good work and insight.

Sad to see him go, but happy to know how much good he left.

Sat today, lah

[Kyonin]

I read about Glassman Roshi's death last night. I have to admit I felt sad, but at the same time I felt joy because he guided and was there for so many people.

In silence I bow to him and his legacy.

I am wearing my red clown nose for him today.




Gassho,

Kyonin
Sat/LAH

[Souchi]

Thank you for this information.

Deep bows,
Souchi

SatToday

[Hoseki]

Hi guys,

Would anyone (Jundo cough cough ) be able to recommend a book by Glassman Roshi?

Thanks,

Gassho
Hoseki
Sattoday

[Mp]

Hi guys,

Would anyone (Jundo cough cough ) be able to recommend a book by Glassman Roshi?

Thanks,

Gassho
Hoseki
Sattoday

I have read Infinite Circle by Bernie Roshi and found it to be lovely. =)

https://www.amazon.com/Infinite-Circ.../dp/1590300793

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Eishuu]

I read Infinite Circle last Ango and would also recommend it. He was such an inspiration. Very sad to hear of his death.

Gassho
Eishuu
ST/LAH

[Hoseki]

Thanks guys!

Gassho
Hoseki
Sattoday

[Jundo]

Thanks guys!

Gassho
Hoseki
Sattoday

Well, I have just been inspired to read Infinite Circle, which I did not know.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Ryushi]

Would anyone... be able to recommend a book by Glassman Roshi?

Instructions to the Cook: A Zen Master's Lessons in Living a Life That Matters

[Geika]

Instructions to the Cook: A Zen Master's Lessons in Living a Life That Matters

I second this. Had not heard of the other one yet. Maybe I will get it.

Sat today, lah

[Shinshi]

Just saw this tweet from Joan Halifax and thought i would pass it along.


At 5:30PM, today, Wednesday, if you cannot join us in Upaya's temple for Roshi Bernie's memorial, please join us online. The service will be livestreamed on Upaya's Facebook page. Roshi Joan and Frank Ostaseski will lead the memorial.

Here is a link to their Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/upaya/

The time is 5:30 Mountain Time.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Geika]

Just saw this tweet from Joan Halifax and thought i would pass it along.


At 5:30PM, today, Wednesday, if you cannot join us in Upaya's temple for Roshi Bernie's memorial, please join us online. The service will be livestreamed on Upaya's Facebook page. Roshi Joan and Frank Ostaseski will lead the memorial.

Here is a link to their Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/upaya/

The time is 5:30 Mountain Time.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

Looks like the Treeleaf style is catching on! Wish I was able to join in. I was working at the time.

Sat today, lah

[Nindo]

It seems to be available as a recording at the link posted.
Gassho
Nindo
s.t.

[Geika]

It seems to be available as a recording at the link posted.
Gassho
Nindo
s.t.

Thank you for letting me know, I didn't try!

Sat today, lah

[Jundo]

CNN has a beautiful article on Bernie Glassman ...

An American Zen Master has died: An oral history of Roshi Bernie Glassman
By Daniel Burke, CNN Religion Editor

Glassman, who died November 4 at age 79, was a Brooklyn-born Jew, a recognized Zen master, a Buddhist trailblazer, a restless mensch and a serial plunger.
Glassman plunged into aeronautical engineering, into Zen, into leading a Buddhist community, into running a bakery, into growing that bakery into a constellation of social services, into holding spiritual retreats among the homeless and at Holocaust-haunted concentration camps, into writing a book of koans with a Hollywood star, into mourning when his second wife died and into learning to walk and talk again two years ago after a stroke.

The plunges, as Glassman called them, served a spiritual purpose: to uproot preconditioned ideas, bear witness to what's going on and serve those most in need. At a time when many American Buddhists preferred self-development to social engagement, Glassman dismissed "mannequin meditation" and carried his Zen practice from clean-aired monasteries to chaotic city streets, where he led weeklong retreats on sidewalks and in crowded parks.

"Bernie was very clear that meditation was not a refuge from life," said Roshi Eve Myonen Marko, Glassman's third wife. "For him, meditation was total engagement."

https://us.cnn.com/2018/11/30/us/ber...ter/index.html

Gassho, J

STLah

[Geika]

Lovely, thank you for sharing. He was a master.

Gassho, sat today, lah

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Washin]

Great article! Thank you for sharing

Gassho
Washin
stlah

[Mp]

Lovely writeup, thank you for sharing. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Ryushi]

I was up last night, couldn't sleep, watching YouTube. One video was Jeff Bridges going through all his roles. When it came to The Big Lebowski, he said this:

A friend of mine, Bernie Glassman, who happened to be a Zen master said, 'You realize in many circles The Dude is considered a Zen master.'

I said, 'What are you talking about? We never talked spirituality, Buddhism, or none of that.'

He said, 'Oh, yeah. Who wrote and directed the film? THE KOAN BROTHERS.'

A koan are these zen questions like what's the sound of one hand clapping, these sort of things. He said, 'That movie, The Big Lebowski, is filled with modern day koans.'

I say, 'Really?'

He says, 'Sure. Like, "the Dude abides", that's a very Buddhist kind of thought. Or, 'That's just like your opinion, man'

Sat today. Gassho.