Rose and I have spent our lives together trying our best to be our best and make a difference in this world. We have observed and been involved with various organizations and have given to well over 100 non-profit organizations, so we know a little about each one's work.  

Each organization has a way of expressing it's self in trying to help our world. There are many streams to the oceans but few great rivers.  

We have had the good fortune to be introduced and befriended with two individuals who come from the deepest of places and express from such a place that the people who are in contact with them become layers in the growth of what truly will become a pyramid and may become a great river leading to great changes in consciousness. Their approach is different, magnetic, sensible, fun, educational, and a compelling experiential road to personal and global change.

Roshi Bernie Glassman and Jeff Bridges are an incomparable meeting of energies that have combined "Zen Peacemakers" and "Head for Peace" as a dynamic NPO that combines the traditional way of Zen with the coolness of who we are now, to programs that are changing consciousness and lives.

Bernie spent decades teaching Zen and working in Socially Engaged Buddhism, he is now spending these early years of his 70s giving workshops and serving in socially engaged projects around the world.   

At this event Bernie shared what he is doing around the world to wage peace and build hope.  He is making children laugh, feeding the hungry, promotes love, not hate, and bringing peace instead of war.  Bearing Witness retreat to the concentration camps of Auschwitz-Birkenau, to the Field include traveling to Rwanda to bear witness to the tragic horror of the Rwandan Genocide as well as the current healing and reconciliation efforts in Rwanda. The Rwanda Genocide was one of the worst genocides to occur in the 20th century. Bernie will also travel to Palestine, to assist Sami Awad in Non-Violent Peace Training. Due to the Arab Spring there is increased interest in non-violent peace training.  Bernie will also be clowning for kids in refugee camps.  Clowns Without Borders offers humor as a means of psychological support to communities that have suffered trauma.  Bernie will accompany Mr. YooWho (Bernie's clown mentor, and previous coordinator for Clowns Without Borders) to be a schleper and disturber in refugee camps.
 
Jeff Bridges, who has been fighting hunger for decades, has teamed up with the Zen Peacemakers to create "Let all Eat" cafes to feed their communities in ways tailored to each location.  Bernie met Jeff in Santa Barbara in 1999.   

This friendship has fostered interesting partnerships. Jeff's anti-hunger work overlaps with Bernie's work to create free community meals that are inclusive, diverse, and family-friendly.  
  
Jeff and Bernie are now writing a book to "explore the meaning of life, laughter, the movies and trying to do good in a difficult world".  The book, tentatively titled "The Dude and the Zen Master" is inspired by dharma talks between Jeff and Bernie.  The book is set for publication in November 2012.  Revealing the inspiration for the book, Bridges said "Making movies and life have a lot in common.  When you're making a movie, you've got a finite amount of time to do what you're going to do.  It's a communal art form, collaborative."  Bernie Glassman said of the book "I always like finding new ways of expressing the essence of Zen, which for me is all about the oneness and interdependence of life.  The Dude's life is different from mine, and not so different. And our life is different from other people's lives, and not so different."

The evening with Bernie Glassman and Jeff Bridges touched all that attended, awaking hearts to the deepest of places, inspired us to go to our highest places on a daily basis, and to become part of the great good changes of the 21st century.

An incredible group of community leaders attended their event and we are very honored to have been able to host it at The Sacred Space.

Please CLICK ON ORANGE NAMES they are links 

to these community leader's web sites.

Jeff Bridges & Bernie Glassman

Hale Milgrim & Jeff Bridges

Bernie Glassman & Rabbi Arthur Gross-Schaefer

Grant Couch & Todd Capps

 Carl Bendix, Rose Herschorn, Jack Canfield

Jack Herschorn, Jeff Bridges, Lama Dawa Tarchin Phillips, 

Rose Herschorn, Congresswoman Lois Capps

 Read more at: WIKIPEDIA about Bernie Glassman

We are truly inspired by these living examples of

what we can accomplish as individuals.

Incredible Ayurvedic Indian appetizers 

were served by Nimita's Cuisine

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Our red umbrellas, Buddhas and Deities are visible from Hwy 101
Exit #90 from the south (LA) or #91 from the north (Santa Barbara)


 The Sacred Space
2594 Lillie Avenue, Summerland, California 93067-0944 (805) 565-5535
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