August 27, 2016 – August 28, 2016
Undoing Patriarchy and Unveiling the Sacred Masculine
Date: Saturday and Sunday, August 27 and 28
Saturday, 10am-6pm
Sunday, 10am-5pm
Sustaining: $250 Base: $200 Member: $150
Meals are not included in this workshop, but there are many nearby places to eat.
Registration has closed. Full attendance only; partial attendance is not permitted. Registration closes at midnight (end of day) on August 24th. Please see note below on scholarship applications.
Capacity: 40. This retreat is open only to those who identify as male and/or male bodied. Please contact info@brooklynzen.org with more specific inquiries and we will connect you with the teachers.
As Buddhadharma continues to develop in this country, our sanghas are faced with real concerns around how many of our traditions have emerged from Asian root cultures tinged with unaddressed hierarchy and power structures that are detrimental to our spiritual communities. These essentially patriarchal structures usually go unaddressed as they mix with our own cultures of patriarchy, often deeply harming our communities. We wonder what the toll of patriarchy has been on the lives not only of women, but of men as well. How does patriarchy obstruct the expression of a sacred masculine identity? Could the expression of a sacred masculine identity lie at the heart of undoing the violence of patriarchy in our sanghas?
Through meditation, dialogue, personal storytelling, journaling and ritual, we will unpack how patriarchy has shaped our expressions of masculinity and the self. We will take up a dharmic lens to examine our relationship to violence and domination, power, femininity, love and sexuality along a path to unveiling and honoring non-patriarchal expressions of who we are as human beings. Our intention is to illuminate how patriarchal expressions of self create suffering for all of us as we begin to develop a relationship to a more sacred masculinity. Our hope is that these efforts will not only further our own liberation, but begin to cultivate spiritual communities and a human world where both the sacred feminine and masculine are held in loving balance.
Registration closed at midnight (end of day) on August 24th.
As an exception to our usual policy, partial scholarships are available for this workshop. To apply for a scholarship, please use this link and wait for approval before registration. Scholarship applications are due by August 20th at midnight.
Greg Snyder is a dharma teacher at Brooklyn Zen Center, as well as its co-founder and current President. He is also the Senior Director of Buddhist Studies at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Greg was ordained as a Zen Buddhist priest by Soshin Teah Strozer in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki. He has been practicing Zen since 1998 and received his early training at Austin Zen Center under the guidance of Seirin Barbara Kohn. Greg is active with multiple interfaith and community networks organizing around peace-building, anti-violence and social justice initiatives, and currently sits on the Brooklyn Borough President’s Advisory Council on Faith-based and Community Partnerships. His interests include ensuring the dharma is truly available to everyone, supporting young people in practice, developing a community-responsive Zen center, and advocating for bringing the illumination of conditioning around patriarchy, racism and economic exploitation to the center of our Buddhist exploration of self. He is devoted to co-creating an American dharma movement that fully embraces a deep social engagement focused on transforming inequity, bias and violence in ourselves, our communities and the world.
Officially recognized by the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, Lama Rod received his teaching authorization after spending over 3 years in silent group retreat at Kagyu Thubten Chöling Monastery (KTC) outside of New York City. It was during this time that he dealt with years of past pain and trauma and found forgiveness and compassion for himself, which he views as a critical step before truly being able to help others. Since completing retreat he has been pursuing his Master of Divinity degree at Harvard Divinity School and is a core teacher with the Natural Dharma Fellowship. He has been published and featured in several publications including Buddhadharma, Lion’s Roar, Tricycle, The Harvard Divinity Bulletin, and Spirit Magazine. He is also heavily engaged in social change work and has just released a book with Rev. angel Kydo williams and Dr. Jasmine Syedullah entitled, Radical Dharma, Talking Race, Love, and Liberation.
Cancellation policy: To request a refund for this event, you must notify BZC in writing at least one week before the beginning of the course or event. Refunds are issued for any and all cancellations up to seven days before an event less a $10 processing fee. Less than seven days before an event, we do not offer refunds. There are no refunds for events with registration fees under $50.
Access Notes: There is one short flight of stairs leading to the entrance to the building. Please press 3-0 to be buzzed in. The center is located at the top of a steeper second staircase of around 20 steps. A ramp and elevator are available via an alternate entrance; please email in advance if you need access. Chairs, benches, and extra support cushions are available. We are not yet a fragrance-free space; our hand soap is scented with essential oils. If you have any additional questions about accessibility, please contact us at info@brooklynzen.org.