Comments on: BG 167: I Vow to Feed All Hungers

By: Listen, Read, Watch, See – Full Contact Enlightenment

Listen, Read, Watch, See – Full Contact Enlightenment — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:40:51 +0000

[...] off, get yourself over to the Buddhist Geeks website and listen to the interview they conducted with Bernie Glassman titled “I Vow to Feed all Hungers”. It provides so [...]

By: Ari Pliskin

Ari Pliskin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:24:00 +0000

@OliverUv: Creating a knowledge base and action tips online is actually a current focus on Zen Peacemakers' current work. As his assistant, I work with Bernie on precisely that. Check out the following three resources on Western Socially Engaged Buddhism:

By: Larry

Larry — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:33:58 +0000

Not unlike Humanistic Buddhism, which I was reading about the other day.

Coming from a ethnic Chinese background, several organizations have a presence in the USA. I have had interactions with Tzu Chi USA.

By: OliverUv

OliverUv — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:21:10 +0000

Incredible to hear about this! A few months ago I thought about doing something like this once I finish my university studies (and get a job, and have money, "collecting ingredients" I guess..). Very nice to hear something like this has been done before! Knowing that it can be done, and having somebody to ask about how will enable so many to do this.

Is there a place (online) where these things can be discussed? Is there a knowledge base accessible online with guides/action plans/tips on how and what to do, what works and what doesn't? If not, wouldn't it be just the kind of next project that would be perfect for buddhist geeks?

By: Star

Star — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:46:50 +0000

Thank you for all that! Socially engaged Buddhism is the modern way to go. So many people, so many needs. We all need to think globally and act locally.

By: Ellen

Ellen — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:32:25 +0000

I was with Bernie at Greyston in the early days — preparing and serving meals in soup kitchens — and that has influenced my life so much. Now I work as a volunteer with an HIV+ group, cooking, serving, supporting, meditating, doing whatever needs to be done. I love Bernie's "making the best meal possible and offering it." He's bringing Dogen into the 21st century!

By: Ari Pliskin

Ari Pliskin — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:13:39 +0000

I agree David. Working with Bernie on ZP staff has been a real lesson in action. I've enjoyed catching up on most of the Buddhist Geeks cannon in the last few weeks and I'm glad to see another episode on Socially Engaged Buddhism. A major interest of mine is exploring how we can use online media to build a Socially Engaged Buddhist movement.

By: david A

david A — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:45:56 +0000

Very insightful,thanks BG and thank you Roshi!

I myself was inspired to start or work in the shelters from Roshi Bernie Glassman's work.
I have not yet been able to start something nor get to a shelter but once I am settled in my new city I will take action,more Buddhists need to be engaged like this.
The world is transient but it doesn't mean we reject helping this world in more than just a quite and rather conservative form that most Buddhists do these days.
-D

By: deedee

deedee — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:43:22 +0000

tenets, not tenants, and 3/4 doesn't need an s. Otherwise, thanks for a groovy interview.