Events Calendar
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This page will list events in three seperate categories: WESPAN-organized events, other events at Wesleyan, and other events anywhere else in the world that students and alumni want each other to know about. If the Wesleyan Computer gods let us use dynamic code, then anyone will be able to post an event to this calendar
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WHAT: GLOBAL COUNCIL PLUNGE
with Sensei Robert Joshin Althouse
WHEN: A mass demonstration against the World Bank's meeting is planned on September 29-30, 2001
WHERE: in Washington D.C
WHAT: This is the birthplace for the formation of the Zen Peacemaker Order. In this city, in 1994, Roshi Bernie Glassman did a street retreat, during which he conceived of an order of Zen practioners dedicated to the cause of peace. As a result, he and his wife, Roshi Sandra Jishu Holmes founded the Zen Peacemaker Order and the Peacemaker Community
I plan to be present at this demonstration to lead a global council where people from any side may participate and share their personal stories about how Globalization is effecting their life, their family, their community, their environment and their livelihood
This council will be using the operating principles of the Peacemaker Community and the Zen Peacemaker Order
They practice three tenets of not knowing, bearing witness and loving action. From this perspective of broad inclusivity, all will be invited to join this council to bear witness to the personal effects of globalization in our immediate lives
ZPO and PC members also commit to four values of 1) respect for life and nonviolence, 2) solidarity and a just economic order, 3) tolerance and a life based on truthfulness and 4) equality and partnership between men and women
This Global Council will be lead and facilitated by trained PC and ZPO members and other people who may share their perspective. It will take the form of what is known as a fish bowl council. In this form, no more than 15 people sits in an inner circle surrounded by a larger group, unlimited in number, of people who silently witness the process of the inner circle
People in the inner circle, practicing the guidelines of council of speaking from the heart, listening from the heart, spontaneous statement and brevity of speech, pass a talking piece which is used to remind themselves of the process and the elimination of cross talk or interruptions of the person holding the piece and speaking
A kinesthetic ring would form the final group of people in the Global Council. Here, people unwilling or unable to sit or stand still in the outer circle, could surround them in movement, dance, pacing or walking meditation. Some might wish to circumambulate the outer circle chanting or saying prayers. These people could at any time, join the outer still circle of people, if they chose to abide by the council guidelines
This form of council would function like an amoebae with a permeable membrane. For instance, if someone broke into the circle, who was unwilling to abide by council guidelines, they would be ushered into the center of the council, where they would be engaged with a trained nonviolent communication teacher
Everyone else in the council would then become silent and witness this dialogue. When the dialogue was complete, the person could choose to join the council or leave
Since this is a plunge practice, all of these plans may change, we may end up just sitting in the middle of the demonstration. We will remain open to bear witness in the form that seems appropriate for this situation
I am now networking and organizing to find others who would be willing to join or support me in this ministry-practice. If you are interested, or you would like to be placed on an email list to be informed about the developments around this activity, please contact me at joshin@peacecom.org or call me at (wk) (805)565-7670, (hm) (805)882-1126, (cell) (805)452-3987
I welcome feedback, suggestions or any other form of guidance and support
Shalom, Sensei Robert Joshin Althouse or contact Brother Geronimo (Matthew Ross, Wes '95) at brothergeronimo@yahoo.com