Tetsugen Bernard Glassman

Bernie Glassman (1939 - 2018), aka Tetsugen Bernard Glassman, Ph.D., is a Jewish-American (JuBu) Zen Buddhist roshi and co-founder of the Zen Peacemakers (previously the Zen Peacemaker Order), an organization established in 1996 with his late wife Sandra Jishu Holmes. He passed on leadership of the organization to Paul Genki Kahn in May 2008.

Glassman is a Dharma successor of the late Taizan Maezumi-roshi, and has given inka and Dharma transmission to several individuals including lesbian Enkyo Pat O'Hara and Catholic priest Robert Kennedy. Glassman has become known for his "street retreats"—excursions by Glassman and others into the streets for weeks at a time to live amongst the homeless. According to author James Ishmael Ford, as of 2006 he has, "...transferred his leadership of the White Plum Asanga to his Dharma brother Merzel Roshi and has formally "disrobed," renouncing priesthood in favor of serving as a lay teacher and leader of what is now called the Zen Peacemaker Family."

Zen Master Bernie Glassman was a world-renowned pioneer in the American Zen Movement. He was a spiritual leader, published author, accomplished academic and successful businessman with a PhD in Applied Mathematics. He is the founder of the Zen Peacemakers.