Bearing Witness Blog

As Bernie’s Journey’s to the Field bring us to different parts of the world touched by war, poverty and genocide, the Bearing Witness Blog will help you stay informed. We’ll also continue to bring you the latest news in Socially Engaged Buddhism. We warmly invite you to join the conversation. ~Ari Setsudo Pliskin, editor

The views expressed by the authors of these articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the Zen Peacemakers.

Zen and Nonviolent Communication workshop: “Relationship with Self”

Posted by on May 21, 2012 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Zen and Nonviolent Communication workshop: “Relationship with Self”

Originally posted by Furnace Mountain Retreat Center. A Public Event · By Daniela Myozen Herzo Furnace Mountain Retreat Center, Clay City, KY June 8th, 2012 Relationship with SelfA weekend retreat exploring Zen Meditation, Nonviolent-Communication & Empathic Self-Connection June, 8-10, 2012 Furnace Mountain Zen Retreat Center Start: Friday 7:00pm (check-in 5:00pm) End: Sunday 12:30pm After last years great success with our first Zen & NVC retreat at Furnace Mountain we are happy to offer a slightly different theme...

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Occupy: Bringing mindfulness and activism together

Posted by on May 20, 2012 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Occupy: Bringing mindfulness and activism together

Originally posted by Shambhala SunSpace. How Buddhism can help people shed their deeply held veiws of the current economic system, back to the 60`s  as Jean Claude van Itallie explains.   Benjamin Riggs has found ways to bring Buddhist practices to his activism. The Occupy Wall Street movement is holding protests and strikes today to commemorate International Workers’ Day. The movement, which protested economic equality in cities around the world, had grown quiet over the winter, but organizers hope the May Day events will...

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Famed Buddhist nun in antinuclear hunger strike

Posted by on May 19, 2012 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Famed Buddhist nun in antinuclear hunger strike

Originally posted by Buddhist Channel. Buddhist nun Jakucho Setouchi and writer Hisae Sawachi join a hunger strike Wednesday in front of the industry ministry in Tokyo. KYODO Kyodo, Japan — Novelist and Buddhist nun Jakucho Setouchi joined a hunger strike Wednesday in front of the industry ministry in Tokyo in protest the government’s moves to restart idled reactors at the Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture.  Starving ‘em out: Nuclear foes (from left) writer Satoshi Kamata, novelist and Buddhist nun Jakucho Setouchi...

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Bernie’s Reflections on Issan Dorsey

Posted by on May 18, 2012 in Uncategorized | 1 comment

In my experience, many people come to Zen practice because they love the stories of Zen masters of long ago. They love reading about outrageous teachers who said strange things and acted in even stranger ways, seeming like children, fools, and even madmen to the rest of society. It has also been my experience that while we love these characters that lived hundreds of years ago, we don’t love them so much while they’re still living. We don’t always love our present day madmen and eccentrics, for these are the people who manifest our...

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Film Review: “The Lady,” Luc Besson’s Aung San Suu Kyi biopic

Posted by on May 17, 2012 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Film Review: “The Lady,” Luc Besson’s Aung San Suu Kyi biopic

Originally posted by Shambhala SunSpace.   The Lady (2011) Trailer – HD Movie – Luc Besson Movie See it here by following the link below http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SMYAzQC3UjI The Lady, which was released for awards consideration late last year, is now playing in limited release throughout the U.S. and Canada. At the time Danny Fisher saw the film at an advance screening, Burma was in the news as Hillary Clinton became the first U.S. Secretary of State to visit Burma in more than fifty years. Since...

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I’m running for Congress–Will you help?

Posted by on May 15, 2012 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

I’m running for Congress–Will you help?

Originally posted by No Impact Man.   The Green Party’s ballot status in New York State Dear Friends– I’ve decided to run for US Congress representing central Brooklyn in an attempt to bring our crises and the possibility of real solutions into the pubic discourse (see press release below). I feel that our politicians are not having the national conversation we need to have. I hope with your help, we can use this campaign as an opportunity to help bring crucial issues into the conversation. One way to do that is to talk...

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Read Beastie Boy Adam Yauch’s 1995 interview with the Dalai Lama

Posted by on May 13, 2012 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Read Beastie Boy Adam Yauch’s 1995 interview with the Dalai Lama

Originally posted by Shambhala SunSpace. Adam Yauch, the Beastie Boy, Budddhist and Tibet activist who died on Friday—sat down with the Dalai Lama in 1995 to talk about interdependence, the political situation in Tibet, and the importance of practicing compassion.         Photo: Sue Kwon As our Facebook friends saw, a new interview is available in which Adam Yauch — the Beastie Boy, Buddhist and Tibet activist who died on Friday — sat down with the Dalai Lama in 1995 to talk about interdependence, the...

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The Philosophy behind the Buddhist ethic of Ahimsa

Posted by on May 10, 2012 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

The Philosophy behind the Buddhist ethic of Ahimsa

Originally posted by Buddhist Channel. An article by Professor Mahinda Palihawadana, President of the Sri Lanka Vegetarian Society and Founder Member of the Society for the Protection of Animal Rights (SPAR), on this subject. Colombo, Sri Lanka — The concept of ‘ Ahimsa ‘ had its origins in the movement to oppose Animal Sacrifice initiated by the Buddha and Mahavira (also known as Nigganta Natha Putta ) the founder of Jainism, in the 6th Century B.C. We reproduce below an article by Professor Mahinda Palihawadana, President of the...

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Thailand’s young Buddhist nuns challenge social conventions

Posted by on May 9, 2012 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Thailand’s young Buddhist nuns challenge social conventions

Originally posted by The Buddhist Channel. Thai girls who choose to spend part of the school holiday as Buddhist nuns, down to having their heads shaven. Bangkok, Thailand — Beam Atchimapon is already three days late for the new school term in her native city, the Thai capital of Bangkok – but for a good cause. Novice Thai nuns are seen before they receive food from people during the Songkran festival at the Sathira-Dhammasathan Buddhist meditation centre in Bangkok April 13, 2011. REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang The nine-year-old is part of...

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Danny Fishers Visit to the White House as a Participant in the Historic First Dharmic Religious Leaders Conference

Posted by on May 7, 2012 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Danny Fishers Visit to the White House as a Participant in the Historic First Dharmic Religious Leaders Conference

Originally posted by Danny Fisher. Co-hosted by the White House Office of Public Engagement and White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships with Hindu American Seva Charities, the conference brought together a large group of religious and institutional leaders from Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and Jain communities to discuss service with various government departments and agencies. The Buddhist Delegation (with representatives from the White House and Hindu American Seva Charities) at the First Dharmic Religious Leaders...

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