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Maezumi Institute: Overview : Street Retreats Overview
Street retreats have been a core practice of the Zen Peacemakers since
1991, when Roshi Bernie Glassman led the first one in the streets of
the Bowery in New York City. Since then they have been held annually
in New York, Denver, Paris and Zurich, and occasionally in many other
cities around the world.
2,500 years ago Shakyamuni Buddha led his Buddhist monks each
morning in the practice of begging for their daily food. Each
day's offering was received with thanks regardless of its nature or
size, and consumed that day rather than hoarded from day to day.
In this way the Buddha encouraged simplicity, the generosity of
both giving and receiving, and undiscriminating appreciation. Locations Street Retreats have been held since 1993 in cities around the world including:
Street Retreat Policies The raising of the registration fee, by begging, is the beginning of the participation in the street retreats. It raises the participant's consciousness and that of others towards living on the streets, begging for sustenance and the work of the inner-city. It is an initiation into the life of a street dweller.
Some notes about the retreat itself. We ask that you:
Prior to the retreat, there is an orientation for all those attending the retreat. We hand out Street Sheets that list soup kitchens, shelters, etc. in the areas that we stay. We give maps and introduce the retreatants to their street cohorts and facilitators. We then discuss what to expect but the unexpected is the main teacher on the street. Contact Information Maezumi Institute InfoZen Peacemakers Phone: 413 367-2080, ext. 4# Fax: 413 367-2065 email: mi_info@zenpeacemakers.org |
Bernie's Zen
The Dude Abides