Bearing Witness Activities
in the Spirit of the Zen Peacemakers
Bearing Witness Activities
in the Spirit of the Zen Peacemakers
The place is our teacher – we listen
This is a website that reports on the Bearing Witness practice in the spirit of Zen Peacemakers. A practice that grew out of the work of Bernie Glassman Roshi (an American Zen Master). More about Bernie and the background, a variety of different Bearing Witness retreat – reports (like Auschwitz, Bosnia, Lampedusa) can be found on the following pages.
Much inspiration to you while exploring the site.
This website was created in the course of organizing an ecoretreat in the Rhenish brown coal area in 2022 in the spirit of Zen Peacemakers, organized by Frank De Waele Roshi (Belgian Zen Peacemaker) (text for this see below) and Svenja Wildflower Hollweg (German Zen Peacemaker) together with partner Rupert Weis. Since it has grown nicely and more activities will follow in the future, we will continue to make it available and update it with news. You can find the report and pictures of the Ecoretreat here
If you are interested or have any questions, please feel free to contact Svenja Hollweg mail: info@svenjahollweg.de mobile: (0049) (0)159-04557226 or Frank De Waele Roshi (www.zensangha.be).
New Activities
Eco-Study Group online
Next Date: Friday, April 28 from 4pm to 6pm (Central European Time)
Roshi Frank De Waele and Svenja Wildflower Hollweg warmly invite you to join us in this international eco-circle study group.
This time we share in a council circle about a Text from Bayo Akomolafe – You can find the Text here
The Eco-Study-Group is scheduled once a month online – joining is possible at any time. No need to register before hand.
We ask for a balancing donation. Please donate via here: https://www.zensangha.be/dana/
Direct zoom access:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87145265318?pwd=ZW1zUDh1SngrK0p0bWJtVXpsRnJidz09
Meeting-ID: 871 4526 5318
Code: 193114
Eco-Reflection Day in Presence near Lützerath
Sunday, April 30 from 10am to 5pm
In August 2022 a small, international group held an Ecoretreat in Lützerath in the Spirit of the Zen Peacemakers. The village in the Rhenish Brown coal area was destinated to make way for the huge lignite mining operations. The residents had already been bought out, but climate activists were still occupying the village and the woods nearby.
Eventually on Sunday January 15, 2023 the village was evacuated by the police.
Roshi Frank De Waele and Svenja Wildflower Hollweg now warmly invite you to join them on a ‘comeback‘ day near Lützerath.
On this Day of Reflection we aim to create a safe space to gather, reconnect and strengthen our interbeing.
We want to bear witness to the ecological suffering at the open mining pit.
We will take the time to reflect on our individual and collective (eco)practice.
We’ll sit together in meditation and share in council.
We celebrate interfaith ceremonies and we’ll savour a potluck meal.
Already a nice group of people has committed to come down to Lützerath.
Please, feel welcome and join us!
Read here a report of our Bearing Witness eco-retreat August 17-21, 2022
https://bearing-witness.eu/2023/02/28/ecoretreat-2022/
Meeting Point
Sunday April 30, 10am
Bring with you
– lunch that we will share
– something to sit on
Suggested donation:
There will be some car-sharing travel from the Netherlands and from Belgium (Antwerp).
Do you have any question?
Feel free to contact Svenja (0049)(0)159-04557226or Frank Roshi (mobile: +32 472 48 66 49).
Eco-Pilgrimage in Presence
September 5-10.
(Rhenish brown coal area) to Büchel (German-American nuclear base) through the Ahrtal (flood disaster 2021)
we walk through ecologically hungry places (if it makes sense we use public transport in between)
we bear witness to the conditions of the place
we listen to the place
More information will follow, pre-registration and inquiries at: info@svenjahollweg.de
Learn more on this page
„May all places be held sacred
May all beings be cherished.
May all injustices of oppression and devaluation be fully righted, remedied and healed.
May all who are captured by hatred be freed to the love that is our birth right.
May all who are bound by fear discover the safety of understanding.
May all who are weighed down by grief be given over to the joy of being.
May all who are lost in delusion find a home on the path of wisdom.
May all wounds to forests, rivers, deserts, oceans,
All wounds of Mother Earth be lovingly restored to bountiful health.
May all beings abide in peace and well-being, awaken and be free.“
Prayer from the One Earth Sangha
Who are we?
Spirit Holder:
Frank De Waele Roshi, Zen Teacher and Zen Peacemaker, Belgium.
www.zensangha.be
www.zenpeacemakers.nl/zen-peacemakers-lage-landen
Organisation and concept:
Svenja Shinsen Hollweg, Zen Peacemaker and Gestalttherapist, Germany.
www.svenjahollweg.de
This Ecoretreat is based on the spirit of the Zen Peacemakers, a socially engaged international Zen Buddhist community, Bernie Glassman Roshi is the founder.
Who are we?
Spirit Holder:
Frank De Waele Roshi, Zen Master and Zen Peacemaker, Belgium.
www.zensangha.be
www.zenpeacemakers.nl/zen-peacemakers-lage-landen
Organisation and idea:
Svenja Shinsen Hollweg, Zen Peacemaker and Gestalttherapist, Germany.
www.svenjahollweg.de
This Ecoretreat is based on the spirit of the Zen Peacemakers, a socially engaged international Zen Buddhist community, Bernie Glassman Roshi is the founder.