Symposium: David Loy Explains Institutionalized Delusion

David Loy asked ‘What was Buddha trying to achieve when he started teaching?’ He asked whether we can explore this question without projecting our modern understanding of private/public sphere separation, based on the Protestant Reformation.  He explained that what we today call religions are really “reduced civilizations” which were much more ambitious in their origins.  […]

Symposium: Bikkhu Bodhi Elucidates Cannonical Roots of Engaged Buddhism

At the Symposium for Western Socially Engaged Buddhism, Chris Queen asked Bikkhu Bodhi to speak on the Canonical roots of engaged Buddhism.  Bikkhu Bodhi explained that many see Buddhism as a means of world-renouncing liberation, detachment and personal inward meditation.  Bikkhu Bodhi approached this task from the question of ‘What is the function of a […]

Bernie Establishes Hopes for Symposium.

Introducing the panel on the challenges of Socially Engaged Buddhsim, Bernie explained that when he first organized the Symposium, he wanted to honor the pioneers, give them chance to get together, see each other, share and network.  It would be a chance to learn new things and serve as sort of job and volunteer fair. […]

Organic & Protest History Contextualize Symposium Campus

Sensei Eve introduced and contextualized the Montague, MA campus on which the first major Symposium for Western Socially Engaged Buddhism is taking place (She is the head teacher of the Montague Farm Zendo, the local mediation group.)  She discussed the campus’ role as the headquarters of the international 70-affiliate Zen Peacemakers Sangha and also as […]

Zen Peacemakers to host Buddhist symposium

From the Daily Hampshire Gazette MONTAGUE CENTER – Most people probably know Jeff Bridges for his roles in Hollywood films, like his recent Oscar-winning role as troubled country singer Bad Blake in “Crazy Heart” or his role as The Dude, a slacker bowler in the Cohen Brothers 1998 film “The Big Lebowski.” But, most people […]

Buddhism symposium draws 500 looking to make a difference.

from the Springfield Republican Often, when people picture devout Buddhists, they see images of bald-headed monks performing foreign rituals in east Asia. But, Bernie Glassman, former aerospace engineer and founder and president of the Zen Peacemakers in Montague, is trying to change this perception with his organization’s presentation of the six-day, Socially-Engaged Buddhist Symposium, that […]

Symposium Presenter Anne Waldman Appeals for help for Naropa

Waldman will present in the first Symposium for Western Socially Engaged Buddhism on the topic of arts and social change.  Read her full letter at Elephant Journal, co-authored with Lisa Berman or read the following excerpt: We want you to know that we are here, that we support and acknowledge our students, that we are […]

Dudeism=Buddhism? Bridges, Bernie and Symposium

Watch the Tricycle Web Exclusive Jeff Bridges and Bernie Glassman: A Conversation, click here. Jeff Bridges is scheduled to perform and present at the Symposium for Western Socially Engaged Buddhism. What is Dudeism? According to dudeism.com, a website dedicated to deploying the wisdom of The Dude (Jeff Bridges) from the comedy The Big Lebowski, Dudeism […]

SEB Symposium presenter Anne Waldman to perform Ginsberg’s “Howl”

At an exhibit on the photos of Allen Ginsberg displayed at the National Gallery in Washington D.C., beat poet Anne Waldman will do a reading of Ginsberg’s famous poem “Howl.” Like Ginsberg, Waldman was a key figure of both the Beat Generation and the transmission of Buddhism to the West. On August 14, Walman will […]

Boston Herald Reports on Jeff Bridges' Participation in Symposium

“That Oscar winner Jeff Bridges will sing his Crazy Heart out at an Aug. 13 concert with his songwriter bud John Goodwin during the Zen Peacemakers’ ‘Symposium for Western Socially Engaged Buddhism’ in Montague. Goodwin co-wrote ‘Hold on You,’ a tune sung by Bridges in ‘Crazy Heart.’”  Bridges studies Zen with Bernie Glassman and you […]