The Zen Peacemakers Circle of Western Massachusetts is a region of the Zen Peacemakers Order, founded by Bernie Glassman. The ZPO (Zen Peacemakers Order) has a network of 82 affiliates worldwide.

The ZPO consists of a large collection of peacemakers looking to create peace through social work and services. Glassman founded the Greyston Mandala in 1980, which is a network of community development organizations based on Buddhist values, used to connect members and other peacemakers. In 1994, he came up with the idea of the ZPO that connects Zen practice with social action.

The Zen Peacemakers Order is most well known for their street retreats where members go live with the homeless, and their Auschwitz Bearing Witness Retreat. the ZPO was based in Montague, MA from 2003-2011.

The Zen Peacemakers Circle of Western Massachusetts’ affiliates are Eve Myonen Marko, Sensei Sally Sonen Kealy, and Sensei James Daikan Bastien. Marko is also the head teacher at the Green River Zen Center in Greenfield, MA besides being part of the ZPO. She co-founded Peacemaker Circle International with her husband, Bernie Glassman, and has worked on many other social service projects. She is also an author and has published many books on Zen and also children’s books. She can be reached at eve@zenpeacemakers.org

Sally Sonen Kealy studied at the Zen Community of New York which eventually became the Zen Peacemakers, and was ordained as a Zen Priest in 1991. She received dharma transmission from Bernie Glassman and is now the Zen Peacemaker Sangha Coordinator for affiliates worldwide.

Sensei James Daikan Bastien, LICSW, MHD, developed and directs the Brattleboro Retreat’s Uniformed Services Program (USP), which provides a hospitalization program to veterans and police/law enforcement. A practitioner of Zen since 1980, Bastien served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Zen Peacemakers, as well as involvement with many other services.

To become a member there is a step process (taken from the Zen Peacemakers Website http://zenpeacemakers.org/zpo-signup-form-multi-page/ )

1. A willingness to take on The ZPO Rule.
2. A willingness to do The ZPO Core Practices.
3. Submission of a completed ZPO Member Application Form.
4. Submission of the Member Application Form and payment of the Member Fee of $180.00 annually or $15.00 monthly.
5. Maintaining a healthy relationship with a Steward.Stewards will be assigned to you by your Regional Circle. You can change Stewards if you wish or decide.
6. Take trainings at any ZPO Training Group. See the ZPO Training Group Listing where groups are sorted by location, social action involvement and trainings offered.

Reading and abiding by the ZPO Code of Ethical Conduct