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SYMPOSIUM FOR WESTERN SOCIALLY ENGAGED BUDDHISM

August 9 to 15, 2010 at the Mother House of the Zen Peacemakers in Montague, MA
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Honoring Robert Aitken & the Pioneers Who Followed

A major gathering of Western Socially Engaged Buddhist activists, academics and sponsors.

  • Description
  • Presenters
  • Schedule
  • Fees/Refunds
  • Volunteer Application

The Zen Peacemakers will host a one-week Symposium for Socially Engaged Buddhism from August 9 to August 14, 2010. The event is sponsored by the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, the Lenz Foundation and the Zen Peacemakers. Tricycle: The Buddhist Review is the exclusive media partner.

Robert Aitken's award will be accepted for him by one of his Dharma Successors.





A Plenary Panel will be held to honor Pioneers of Western Socially Engaged Buddhism:

Bernie Glassman, Paula Green, Joan Halifax, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Peter Matthiessen , Frank Ostaseski, Alan Senauke, Joanna Macy, and Gary Snyder. (Gary and Joanna will not be attending the Symposium.)

We are gathering leading Western activist practitioners, academics and sponsors of Socially Engaged Buddhism. Each day there will be a keynote address and panels on special topics. In the afternoon there will be  simultaneous presentations and workshops offered as electives in breakout sessions.

We will address special topics in the practice of Socially Engaged Buddhism, such as social service, social justice and activism, conflict resolution, compassionate care, prison work, ecological advocacy and activism, social entrepreneurship, mental health, wellness and body-mind healing practices, and arts for social change. The Plenary Panel featuring Western Pioneers of Socially Engaged Buddhism will take place on Saturday, August 14, 2010.

Purpose

The Symposium is meant to honor Robert Aitken and the pioneers of this movement; to promote the practice of Socially Engaged Buddhism; to inspire and encourage members of the Western Buddhist community to join this worldwide movement; to bring together the leading practitioners and theorists in this movement; to explore the breadth of activity being undertaken by socially engaged Buddhists; and to open opportunities for people to get involved by volunteering, joining training programs, and finding internships and jobs in Socially Engaged Buddhism.

Proceedings of the Symposium will be published with acknowledgement of the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation and Tricycle: The Buddhist Review for their support.

Please subscribe me to the Free Online Newsletter for Western Socially Engaged Buddhism

The information that follows is a work in process. We are firming up dates of arrivals and departures for the Presenters and will modify the events to accommodate their schedules.

Monday August 9: Welcome and Orientation

10:00am - 10:45am

Welcoming Hosts: Bernie Glassman, Caroline Pfohl-Ho, Christopher Queen

11:00am - 12:30pm

Asian Pioneers of Socially Engaged Buddhism:
Sallie King, David Loy, Christopher Queen

12:30pm - 2:00pm

Lunch

2:00pm - 3:45pm

Challenges for Western Socially Engaged Buddhism, Bernie Glassman
Mirabai Bush, Richard Reoch, Alan Senauke

4:00pm - 5:30pm

Discussion Groups
1. Asian Pioneers: Sallie King, Christopher Queen
2. Challenges for Western Socially Engaged Buddhism: Mirabai Bush, Bernie Glassman, Alan Senauke

6:00pm - 7:00pm

Dinner

Tuesday August 10: Community

6:45am - 8:00am

Meditation

8:00am - 9:00am

Yoga

10:00am - 10:15am

Invocation:

10:15am - 11:00am

Key Note Talk: Jan Willis

11:15am - 12:45pm

Zen House Movement: Moderator, Eve Marko
Kathe McKenna, Steve Ruhl, Karen Werner

12:45pm - 2:00pm

Lunch

2:00pm - 3:45pm

Alternative Communities: Moderator, Alan Senauke
Ken Byalin, Clare Carter, Anthony Stultz

4:00pm - 5:30pm

Discussion Groups
1. Community Development: Francisco Lugoviña, Kathe McKenna
2. Zen Houses: Ari Pliskin, Steve Ruhl, Karen Werner

6:00pm - 7:00pm

Dinner

7:30pm - 9:00pm

Entertainment

Wednesday August 11: Social Entrepreneurship

6:45am - 8:00am

Meditation

8:00am - 9:00am

Yoga

10:00am - 10:15am

Invocation:

10:15am - 11:00am

Key Note Talk: Peter Senge

11:15am - 12:45pm

Socially Engaged Businesses: Moderator, Joe Sibilia
Steve Brown, Richard Landry, Mark Mininberg

12:45pm - 2:00pm

Lunch

2:00pm - 3:45pm

Special Ministries: Moderator, Fleet Maull
Shugen Arnold, Francisco Lugoviña

4:00pm - 5:30pm

Discussion Groups
1. Prison Ministry: Shugen Arnold, Fleet Maull
2. Social Entrepreneurship: Richard Landry, Mark Mininberg, Peter Senge, Joe Sibilia

6:00pm - 7:00pm

Dinner

7:30pm - 9:00pm

Entertainment

Thursday August 12: Justice and Activism

6:45am - 8:00am

Meditation

8:00am - 9:00am

Yoga

10:00am - 10:15am

Invocation:

10:15am - 11:00am

Key Note Talk: Robert Thurman

11:15am - 12:45pm

Politics: Moderator, Paul Haller
Melody Chavis, Paula Green, Taigen Leighton

12:45pm - 2:00pm

Lunch

2:00pm - 3:45pm

Environment: Moderator, Ken Kraft
Stephanie Kaza, Peter Matthiessen

4:00pm - 5:30pm

Discussion Groups
1. Nuclear Free World: Clare Carter, Mayumi Oda
2. Street Ministry: Grover Gauntt, Fleet Maull
3. Race & Diversity: Jules Harris, Francisco Lugoviña, Jan Willis

6:00pm - 7:00pm

Dinner

7:30pm - 9:00pm

Entertainment

Friday August 13: Wellness and Healing

6:45am - 8:00am

Meditation

8:00am - 9:00am

Yoga

10:00am - 10:15am

Invocation:

10:15am - 11:00am

Key Note Talk: Jon Kabat-Zinn

11:15am - 12:45pm

Compassionate Care: Moderator, Pat O'Hara
Koshin Ellison, Joan Halifax, Frank Ostaseski

12:45pm - 2:00pm

Lunch

2:00pm - 3:45pm

Mental Health: Moderator, John Makransky
Zayda Vallejo, Jim Bastien, Daniel Goleman,

4:00pm - 5:30pm

Discussion Groups
1. Chaplaincy: Robert Campbell, Joan Halifax
2. Stress Reduction: Zayda Allego
3. Trauma: Jim Bastien

6:00pm - 7:00pm

Dinner

7:30pm - 9:00pm

Group Discussion: Jeff Bridges and Ellen Burstyn (Depends on Filming Schedule)

Saturday August 14: Arts, Media and the Future

6:45am - 8:00am

Meditation

8:00am - 9:00am

Yoga

10:00am - 10:15am

Invocation:

10:15am - 11:00am

Key Note Talk: Richard Gere (Depends on Filming Schedule)

11:15am - 12:45pm

Arts and Media: Moderator, Caroline Pfohl-Ho
Richard Landry, Mayumi Oda, James Shaheen, Anne Waldman

12:45pm - 2:00pm

Lunch

2:00pm - 3:45pm

Future of Socially Engaged Buddhism: Moderator, Sallie King
Bernie Glassman, Joan Halifax, Reggie Ray

4:00pm - 5:30pm

Discussion Groups
1. Arts for Social Change: Court Dorsey, Julian Marshall ,Mayumi Oda, Anne Waldman
2. Fundraising for Socially Engaged Buddhism: Norman Oberstein, Caroline Pfohl-Ho
3. Internet and Media: Richard Landry, James Shaheen

6:00pm -9:00pm

Banquet and Closing Ceremony
Honoring the Pioneers: Moderators, Caroline Pfohl-Ho and Christopher Queen
Bernie Glassman, Paula Green, Joan Halifax, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Peter Matthiessen, Frank Ostaseski, Alan Senauke

Fees

The fee for the entire Symposium (Mon-Sun) is $600. Link here to pay the full fee now. The fee includes tuition, continental breakfast and lunch. It does not include lodging and dinner.

A Deposit of $300 can be made to reserve a place at the Symposium (link here to pay your deposit.) Once our Symposium participant level has been reached, priority will be given to fully paid participants. Participants having paid deposits will be notified as we are reaching our participant level and, if they don’t pay the full fee, will receive refunds of all but $50 of their fees.

The full fee of the Symposium ($600) must be paid within 3 months of the Symposium.

Starting in March 2010, we will post registrations for part-time participants. Priority will be given to full-time participants.

Refund Policy

If the Symposium is canceled by the Zen Peacemakers, registrants will receive full credits or refunds of the paid registration fees. No refunds can be made for lodging, airfare or any other expenses related to attending the workshop.

If a registration is canceled by the participant more than one month (31 days) prior to the retreat start date, all but $50 of the paid fees will be refunded.

If you cancel 15-30 days before the start date of the workshop, you will receive all but $100 of your retreat fee.

Fees are nonrefundable if a registration is cancelled by the participant within two weeks (14 days) of the start date of the retreat.

All refunds will be processed within 60 days of notification of cancellation.

Please fill out one Application Form for each volunteer.

Please fill out the form below and push the submit button (at the bottom of the form), the return key,
or the enter key to send it to us. The tab key will take you from field to field.

We have a limited number of volunteer spots available for which you could apply.  Volunteers will help with a variety of tasks, joining the leaders of Socially Engaged Buddhism in organizing an historic event. There will be opportunities to attend panels and also to get a behind-the-scenes perspective of the symposium.  As temporary Zen Peacemakers staff, you may be required to be of assistance at any point.  Candidates must commit to the entire event (Aug 9-14), plus one day of preparation before and one day of clean-up after.  Ideally volunteers will not require room and board.  While there is no financial renumeration for this position, we expect that this will be a rewarding experience.

Volunteer Application Due Date: June, 1, 2010

Possible volunteer Tasks:
Assisting symposim participants
Registration
Parking
Event set-up and clean-up


First Name      Last Name  

Address  

Address2  

City    State   or Province  

Country   Zip Code  


Home Telephone            Office Telephone                               Cellular Telephone
   

E-Mail Address

Please briefly answer the following questions

1. Are you available for the whole conference plus set-up and take-down, or just select days?

2. Do you require room and/or board?



3. Why do you wish to attend the symposium?



4. What is your background/history with Socially Engaged Buddhism?



5. How did you hear about the symposium? Zen Peacemakers?



6. Certain qualifications are particularly desirable including event administration experience, EMT/CPR training, certified yoga insruction. Do have these or any other skills that you could offer as a volunteer?



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