Bernie Glassman and Ellen Burstyn in the streets of Manhatten
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.
We go on the streets with no money and just the clothes on our back.
We eat in soup kitchens and beg for money or food at times when soup
kitchens are not open. We sleep outdoors or in abandoned housing,
though not in shelters since there are not enough beds. We don't say
we're homeless; we're simply living on the streets for several days,
relying on the generosity of the streets to take care of us. While at
times we break up into smaller groups, we come together several times a
day to share our experiences in a council practice and chant the Gate
of Sweet Nectar liturgy, which is about feeding the hungry ghosts. We
also spend our nights together.
This is a powerful practice of not-knowing and bearing witness, where
the unpredictable life on the streets is the main teacher. It is a
time of raw intimacy, a plunge into a side of life we look at only
rarely.
There have been many
accounts of street retreats.
It is described in
detail in Bernie Glassman's book, Bearing Witness: A Zen Master's
Lessons on Living a Life That Matters.
You abide
by the rules of street retreats. The first is the assembly of a mala.
Mala practice is also a core practice of the Zen Peacemakers, in
essence a begging practice. We are asking you to beg family, friends,
and associates to do the street retreat. You
can not use your own funds for this purpose, you must ask for money
from others.
Claude Anshin Thomas Begging
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.
We continue this begging practice by assembling a Mala, or beads
that are strung together and worn like a bracelet or necklace.
Each bead represents a person who sponsors that participant's
street retreat, and the entire Mala represents the Member's
community of support. We will wear our malas on the street retreat.
For more information on malas, link here.
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.
On the Steps of St. John Cathedral
Some notes about the retreat itself. We ask that you:
Not shave, nor wash your hair for 1 week to 10 days prior to the retreat.
This will also start your street experience prior to leaving home.
Wear old clothes, as many layers as you feel appropiate for the time
of year, and do not bring any change of clothes for the retreat.
Wear good, but not new, walking shoes.
Bring one piece of ID only (this is required by some shelters).
Do not bring any money.
Do not wear any jewelry including ear rings and watches.
Besides the clothes you are wearing, bring only an empty bag (shopping, plastic) for collecting
food from shelters, etc. You should not bring any books, bedding,
conveniences etc.
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.
Maezumi Institute Info
Zen Peacemakers
Phone: 413 367-2080, ext. 103
Fax: 413 367-2065
email: mi_info@zenpeacemakers.org
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