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General Information: Overview : History Index : 2003

Formation of Zen Peacemaker Circle

While the vision and mission have remained the same, the organizational model has been evolving. In the fall of 2003, Zen Peacemaker Order changed its name to Zen Peacemaker Circle to reflect its work with circles.

Inspired by Indra's Net, the Zen Peacemaker Circle has become a network of interlocking circles, the aim of which is to bring about the awareness and actualization of the oneness and interconnection of life.

May 6, 2003 Report from ZPC-USA Steward

With input from members of the ZPC-USA Circle,
Margi Teido Gregory, Steward

Name Change to Zen Peacemaker Circle

Over the last couple of months, the ZPC-USA Circle, which is the governing body of the ZPC, has continued to meet intensively with our co-founder, Bernie Glassman. A number of significant changes have emerged from our discussions. Although our vision and mission remain the same, our organizational model has been evolving, and this evolution is reflected in our name change to the Zen Peacemaker Circle. However, we have learned from and have been building on what we have been until now, and deeply appreciate the dedication that Robert Joshin Althouse brought to his job as Director of ZPC. He has resigned from this position, and we have chosen to proceed without the position of director, as we investigate what it means to take Indra's Net as our model and to attempt to concretize this model organizationally.

As Indra's Net, we are a network of interlocking circles, the aim of which is to bring about the awareness and actualization of the oneness of life. We provide a container for Zen practitioners, who are interested in social action, to train together, to receive support from one another and to engage in actions arising from their deepening understanding of the oneness of life. We practice not-knowing, bearing witness and loving action, looking to the four commitments and precepts as a guide.

Within this model, the scope of enlightenment encompasses not only individual enlightenment, but also the enlightenment of the circle and of the world. We practice sharing of ourselves as peers within interlocking circles, interacting with one another and with all of life as our teacher.

Local Circles

All members of the ZPC sangha will be members of a circle, for the essential building block of the ZPC is the local circle, each of which is a pearl in Indra's Net, reflecting every other circle. These local circles will meet regularly and intensively. Although the ZPC-USA Circle will be formulating standards, trainings and procedures, each local circle will decide on its course of study and how it wishes to support its members personally and in their social engagement. Each circle will choose a steward, who is aware of and nurtures the life of the circle, and seatholders, who bring to the circle the energies of the five Buddha families, namely spirituality, training, action, resources, and integration. Each circle will also elect two representatives to state or regional circles, who will in turn elect representatives to national and then global circles. Thus each circle will contribute to all other circles and will also be enriched and enlivened by its connection with all the other circles. There will be trainings and gatherings offered to all members of circles and specific trainings and gatherings for the stewards and seatholders.

Steward Training

At the moment, emphasis is being put on steward training. For the ZPC model to work it is important for each circle to have a steward. This training will include looking at "What is a circle?" as well as the role of a steward within the circle. In early April, a steward training was attended by Chris Panos, (San Francisco Bay area), Paco Lugoviña (New York City) and Margi Gregory (Western Massachusetts), so that circles can now be opened in those areas for members and prospective members to join. The next steward training will be offered July 30 — Aug 3, in Montague, MA. At future steward trainings there will be opportunities for people holding the same seatholder positions to come together at these gatherings, which are planned to take place 3 - 4 times a year.

It is anticipated that meetings will be scheduled in the following way:

  • Day 1: What is ZPC? An overview of the model for new members.
  • Day 2 and 3: Steward and seatholder trainings
  • Day 4: New stewards and seatholders meet with currently functioning stewards, seatholders and members of the ZPC-USA Circle to discuss and evaluate how the circles are functioning.
  • Day 5: ZPC-USA Circle meeting

Transitional ZPC-USA Circle

Within our current organizational scheme, there are significant implications of this model of interlocking peer circles. The current ZPC-USA Circle is now seen as functioning as a transitional circle, until representatives can be elected from local or regional circles. The elders who developed the "Rule" and who have been meeting periodically to give direction to the ZPC, have just recently resigned, so that space can be made for elders to arise out of the circles. We sincerely appreciate the guidance given to us by Pat Enkyo O'Hara Sensei, Wendy Egyoku Nakao Sensei, Eve Myonen Marko Sensei and Grover Genro Gaunt Sensei. We also appreciate their offer to serve and advise during this transition and hope they will join a local circle, so that they will continue to be connected to the ZPC.

The role of director is now being shared by all members of the ZPC-USA Circle. Current members are Bernie Glassman, Grover Genro Gauntt, Jeana Teiju Corbett, Noemi Santana, Paco Lugoviña, Chris Panos, Sheila Hixon, Margi Gregory, Michael Daigu O'Keefe, and Fleet Maull. Seatholders elected for the ZPC-USA Circle are:

  • Spirituality — Bernie Glassman
  • Resources — Paco Lugoviña
  • Action — Noemi Santana
  • Training — Grover Genro Gauntt
  • Integration — Jeana Teiju Corbett

Margi Teido Gregory elected Steward

Margi has been elected the steward for this circle. Bernie is co-founder of the Zen Peacemaker Community, now Zen Peacemaker Circle, and in this capacity will be continuing to ensure that the model he has envisioned is maintained, although there will, of course, be room for continuing evolution. Members are encouraged to read Bernie's newest book, Infinite Circle as well as Liberating Intimacy by Peter Herschock, and Linked. The New Science of Networks by Albert-Laszlo and Barabasi.

ZPC-USA will be closely connected to ZPC Europe, and both circles will maintain the same gestalt, although details will be different. Members and prospective members are encouraged to attend workshops and meetings held on both continents, as well as joint gatherings. There is a global gathering planned for Oct. 4 & 5 in Montague, MA. There are circle meetings planned prior to the gathering, so check with Laura, in the ZPC Office, before scheduling the dates for your trip.

Membership Categories

An example of how we may evolve in similar, yet slightly diverse ways, is our recent ZPC-USA Circle discussion about membership categories. We studied the European plan that has three categories: applicant, apprentice and companion. However, following considerable discussion about what it means to be peers within circles, we decided that we would have only two categories: applicant and companion. In the United States, circles will also become empowered to transition applicants to companions. For both continents, elders will be coming up with rites of passage for transitions.

There is no top or bottom within Indra's Net. Although we are peers, each person will bring something different to the circle and will benefit the circle in different ways. Some will bring more knowledge and experience to the circle; some will bring fresh thought. Right now there are two important tasks before us all. ZPC needs the full involvement of all members working together to develop and refine processes that support our members within circles and processes that enable our circles to link in ways that empower us all and enlighten our circles and our world. Circle practice is spiritual practice. How do we function as peers, put ourselves fully into our circle practice, offer our selves to our utmost, yet let go of our selves and feel the energy and enlightenment of the circle? What does the "enlightenment of the circle mean"?

Circle Processes

In its functioning, the ZPC-USA Circle is attempting to model processes that will be used by all circles. These processes include: consensus, council, meditation, a derivation of the sociocratic method of voting, a derivation of the Leonardo process for brainstorming, facilitation centered on stewardship and the contribution of the energies of the five Buddha families. We affirm the importance of acknowledging the "shadow' in our work. We affirm the value of partnership between men and women. We affirm the guiding importance of the "Rule". Trainings will be developed to include these and other tools, such as Non-Violent Communication.

Membership Fees

Because there is no longer a director, membership fees have been reduce to $50/month, with opportunity to make a general donation and/or a contribution to a scholarship fund. The membership fee will pay for the salary of a part-time administrative support person. Diane Crowe is currently filling this position in Montague. Because fees have been reduced, members will need to pay for trainings. The one-time application fee is $108 plus $50/month. The resource seatholder will help develop funding strategies for the local circles.

Members of the ZPC-USA Circle are energized and excited. We are enjoying our meetings, and feel that this model offers tremendous possibilities for our members to benefit from the fruit of the energy of their circles, as they engage actively in our world. We look forward to joining our energies together with you in Indra's Web.


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