DOCSLIB.ORG

My Street Living Experience

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
My Street Living Experience My Street Living Experience No Money. No Sleeping Bag. Sleeping Outside. Begging. These are the experiences of my first Street Retreat in 2011. Click here to read the experiences of the second one in 2014. Photo: Andreas Frücht, Neue Westfälische From July 9 to July 13 2011 I’ve lived on the streets of Bielefeld, Germany, without money, without a sleeping bag, sleeping outside. Accompanied by 6 friends and under the guidance of Zen-Buddhist Monk Claude AnShin Thomas, this activity is called Street Retreat, a spiritual Zen practice. Preparation For preparation, we haven’t showered, haven’t brushed our teeth and haven’t changed clothes for 5 days before the start. Another part was the fundraising of 1080 Euros as a preparation for our begging practice on the street. Thanks to wonderful support of family and friends — especially business friends — the fundraising wasn’t as hard as expected, even though I procrastinated quite a bit out of fear of shame and humiliation. The purpose of these funds was the donation to non-profit organizations after the retreat, based on our experiences. A Special Zen-do As our domicile the local organizer Sonja MyoZen chose the Bürgerpark — also known as Oetkerpark or formerly known as Adolf-Hitler-Park. It was a very nice park a little aside downtown with a very nice water fountain, dozens of ducks and crans. As our Zen-do (meditation hall) we chose the platform in the upper part of the park — a platform where supposedly Adolf Hitler should have held propaganda speeches. The Beginning The retreat started on Saturday at 5pm. After Claude AnShin gave us instructions, we first walked to Bürgerpark. Then we had 30 minutes to start looking for a place to sleep and to beg for dinner. The recommendation of AnShin was to find a place with a porch roof — for people living on the street the goal is to never get wet. Luckily my expedition partner and I have quickly found potential sleeping places nearby. After revisiting the place with AnShin’s assistant KenShin we decided to stay there for the first night. In the meantime another group — begging should be never done alone — was in charge of getting dinner. They got a salad, cooked and fried potatoes and a bottle of mineral water. Unexpectedly, this was more than enough for the group — we even had to throw part of the salad away the next day. The Waste of Food This is one of my most important learnings. When you share, there is always enough for everybody. And even people living on the street do throw away food! And now imagine how much food is thrown away by stores/restaurants and regular citizens. See also food waste statistics. A lot of stores who refused giving us some food ended up throwing it away in the evening or the next day. Of course, plenty of food goes to food distribution organizations like Bielefelder Tafel, yet still A LOT of edible food is being thrown away. Part of the situation is of course also caused by strict rules of the Public Health Department and the resulting fear of fines and punishments. The point is: Giving away a little food has NO negative business consequences, as plenty of the food ends up at Bielefelder Tafel or the trash anyways (instead there even might be positive consequences — see below in the part about ‘Begging’). How Fast We Forget Claude AnShin is a Vietnam combat veteran who returned with major physical and mental wounds, being unable to live a regular life and eventually ending up using intoxicants and living on the street. Therefore street retreats for him are not at all some weird form of vacation or self-discovery feel-me- touch-me event. It it serious business. It was his life for quite some time. And he made it clear from the beginning that we should take it very seriously and that not so long ago even in Bielefeld, during the Second World War and after the war, many people weren’t living much differently than we were about to live. How fast we forget! Street Living 101 Claude AnShin was committed to keep us safe. His street living 101 included having a whistle around the neck for self-protection, never to go begging alone, always tell the group when you go using the bathroom, only enter sleeping places in darkness, enter the sleeping places very carefully without attracting attention and immediately lay down and sleep. Also for preparation against attacks, always keep your shoes on and not slip into sleeping bags, instead use them as blankets. The latter two recommendations came from an experienced homeless person whom we met. The person also told us that homeless emergency accommodation places are not recommendable — you are often confronted with violence, theft or just very hostile conditions. Luckily, we had absolutely no problem with violence nor the police. The other thing the person told us is to be very careful with your diet as a homeless person: try not to eat bad or unhealthy food, as sicknesses like diarrhea can be VERY dangerous and unpleasant on the street. Photo: Andreas Frücht, Neue Westfälische Not Pretending What we also did, we didn’t pretend to be homeless, as we’re not. When begging, we simply said something like: “We are currently living on the street, without money, sleeping outside. We are currently collecting vegetarian food for the group. Would you mind giving us something?”. And when someone asked why, we explained what we did and why we did it. Begging What struck me the most was the generosity of the shop-keepers. Frankly I expected a success rate of 5-10 percent, meaning asking 10-20 times before getting anything. In the end, we had a success rate of more than 50 percent. And most of the people who gave us something were very happy to help us out. In Zen, generosity is the most important virtue, and the most important source of happiness. So when begging, we were not subordinating ourselves — in the contrary — we would give the people the gift of experiencing deep happiness themselves. After the first successes my shame went away and I really enjoyed begging and experiencing warm interactions with very kind people, giving and receiving pleasure and happiness. What I also learned, that friendliness and a positive body language were important success factors. I also experimented with asking for specific things — making the giving decision as simple as possible for the giving person — with great success. Being tired of tap water from the public bathroom I successfully begged for a bottle of Apfelschorle. I also got a nice piece of watermelon from the market. When receiving a “No”, we accepted it and moved on. The next day we might come again and give them another chance. For getting popcorn we had to visit the same cinema three times. The first time we went, the cinema employee said they would simply reheat the remaining popcorn the next day — yummy! I really hope he was just pretending to get rid of us. If not, this is bad karma. And bad karma means bad business. After the retreat I of course bought my travel sandwich at Subway — it was the only place at the train station that offered us something. This is an example of good karma resulting in good business ;). (Karma is simply a fancy word for the Law of Cause & Effect — yet I like the term ;) Sleeping Outside This is the place where we slept for three nights. It was the front-entry of a school building, covered by trees and a parking space. Even though being pretty well covered, we had some nightly visitors. In the first night AnShin was awake all night, getting a feeling of the city’s nightlife. We supposedly were approached by a group of young people, yet after AnShin stood up and took a few steps towards them, they turned back and disappeared. One night when I couldn’t sleep I saw a bicyclist stopping and looking a little puzzled at us, then turning back and disappearing. So when living on the street, it helps to not sleep alone — although I am aware that most homeless people are completely on their own, being exposed to potentially dangerous situations. Donations The six participants have collectively raised 6000 Euros. After the retreat we went to the Schlosshof — a formerly famous eatery that was used from 1940-1943 as a brutal working camp for over 200 Jewish people. Based on our experiences, we have decided to donate the funds to eight non-profit organizations with the bulk of the money going to small organizations in strong need of financial resources. The money wasn’t distributed evenly. We used a democratic approach to first decide which organizations to include. After deciding on 8 organizations, everyone had 8 votes that could been placed freely, and out of the votes the contributions were calculated: (1) Bahnhofs-Mission Bielefeld help for homeless (250 Euros) (2) Kinderzentrum e.V. help for children (1000 Euros) (3) Sterntaler e.V. Grief-work for children (625 Euros) (4) Frauenmantel e.V. mothers who are psychologically ill (500 Euros) (5) Mädchenhaus Bielefeld e.V. House for abused girls (625 Euro) (6) Tabula e.V. childrens after school care (500 Euros) (7) Zaltho Foundation for ending violence (1.750 Euros) (8) Heilsarmee Bielefeld (750 Euros) True to Their Word — Salvation Army Personally, I only had direct experience with Heilsarmee Bielefeld. We were welcomed very warm- heartedly, weren’t doubted nor questioned and didn’t even had to explain ourselves.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Thich Nhat Hanh the Keys to the Kingdom of God Jewish Roots
    Summer 2006 A Journal of the Art of Mindful Living Issue 42 $7/£5 Thich Nhat Hanh The Keys to the Kingdom of God Jewish Roots The Better Way to Live Alone in the Jungle A Mindfulness Retreat for Scientists in the Field of Consciousness A Convergence of Science and Meditation August 19–26, 2006 Science studies the brain from your family to a seven-day mindfulness In the beautiful setting of Plum outside, but do we know what happens retreat to learn about our minds using Village, we will enjoy the powerful when we look inside to experience Buddhist teachings and recent scientific energy of one hundred lay and mo- our own minds? Ancient Buddhist findings. nastic Dharma teachers, and enjoy the wisdom has been found to correspond brotherhood and sisterhood of living in During the retreat participants very closely with recent scientific dis- community. Lectures will be in English are invited to enjoy talks by and pose coveries on the nature of reality. Dis- and will be simultaneously translated questions to Zen Master Thich Nhat coveries in science can help Buddhist into French and Vietnamese. Hanh. Although priority will be given meditators, and Buddhist teachings on to neuroscientists and those who work consciousness can help science. Zen in the scientific fields of the brain, the Master Thich Nhat Hanh and the monks mind, and consciousness, everyone is and nuns of Plum Village invite you and welcome to attend. For further information and to register for these retreats: Upper Hamlet Office, Plum Village, Le Pey, 24240 Thenac, France Tel: (+33) 553 584858, Fax: (+33) 553 584917 E-mail: [email protected] www.plumvillage.org Dear Readers, Hué, Vietnam, March 2005: I am sitting in the rooftop restaurant of our lovely hotel overlooking the Perfume River, enjoying the decadent breakfast buffet.
    [Show full text]
  • Buddhist Bibio
    Recommended Books Revised March 30, 2013 The books listed below represent a small selection of some of the key texts in each category. The name(s) provided below each title designate either the primary author, editor, or translator. Introductions Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction Damien Keown Taking the Path of Zen !!!!!!!! Robert Aitken Everyday Zen !!!!!!!!! Charlotte Joko Beck Start Where You Are !!!!!!!! Pema Chodron The Eight Gates of Zen !!!!!!!! John Daido Loori Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind !!!!!!! Shunryu Suzuki Buddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening ! Stephen Batchelor The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation!!!!!!!!! Thich Nhat Hanh Buddhism For Beginners !!!!!!! Thubten Chodron The Buddha and His Teachings !!!!!! Sherab Chödzin Kohn and Samuel Bercholz The Spirit of the Buddha !!!!!!! Martine Batchelor 1 Meditation and Zen Practice Mindfulness in Plain English ! ! ! ! Bhante Henepola Gunaratana The Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English !!! Bhante Henepola Gunaratana Change Your Mind: A Practical Guide to Buddhist Meditation ! Paramananda Making Space: Creating a Home Meditation Practice !!!! Thich Nhat Hanh The Heart of Buddhist Meditation !!!!!! Thera Nyanaponika Meditation for Beginners !!!!!!! Jack Kornfield Being Nobody, Going Nowhere: Meditations on the Buddhist Path !! Ayya Khema The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation Thich Nhat Hanh Zen Meditation in Plain English !!!!!!! John Daishin Buksbazen and Peter
    [Show full text]
  • The Way to Well-Being My Responsibility for the War in Iraq
    Summer 2008 A Publication of Plum Village Issue 48 $8/%8/£6 The Way to Well-Being A Dharma Talk by Sister Annabel My Responsibility for the War in Iraq Watering Fearlessness ISSUE NO. 48 - SUMMER 2008 Dharma Talk 4 Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh Talks about Tibet 6 The Way to Well-Being By Sister Annabel, True Virtue War’s Aftermath 12 A War Is Never Over Healing and Transformation By Trish Thompson 29 The First Precept 14 Question By Julie Hungiville LeMay By Paul Davis 30 The Leaves of One Tree 15 Spanning a Bridge By Le Thu Thuy By Sister Dang Nghiem 32 On Love and Being Gay 18 “First Time in Vietnam?” By Laurie Arron By Brian McNaught 34 Blue Sky Practice By Susan Hadler Heart to Heart 35 The Fifth Mindfulness Training By Evelyn van de Veen, Scott Morris, and Paul Baranowski Children’s Wisdom 37 Paint a Portrait of Me By Brooke Mitchell 38 The Helping Hand By Brother Phap Dung 40 Bell of Mindfulness By Terry Cortes-Vega 20 My Responsibility for the War in Iraq Sangha News By Bruce Campbell 41 Thay Rewrites the Five Contemplations; New Dharma Teachers Ordained at Plum Village; 20 The Light at the Q&A about Blue Cliff Tip of the Candle By Claude Anshin Thomas Book Reviews Gift of Non-Fear 44 World As Lover, World As Self By Joanna Macy 23 Getting Better, not Bitter The Dharma in Tanzania 44 Buddha Mind, Buddha Body By Thich Nhat Hanh By Karen Brody 25 Watering Fearlessness By David C.
    [Show full text]
  • American Buddhism As a Way of Life
    American Buddhism as a Way of Life Edited by Gary Storhoff and John Whalen-Bridge American Buddhism as a Way of Life SUNY series in Buddhism and American Culture ——————— John Whalen-Bridge and Gary Storhoff, editors American Buddhism as a Way of Life Edited by Gary Storhoff and John Whalen-Bridge Cover art: photo credit © Bernice Williams / iStockphoto.com Published by State University of New York Press, Albany © 2010 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, contact State University of New York Press, Albany, NY www.sunypress.edu Production by Diane Ganeles Marketing by Michael Campochiaro Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data American Buddhism as a way of life / edited by Gary Storhoff and John Whalen-Bridge. p. cm. — (SUNY series in Buddhism and American culture) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-4384-3093-5 (hardcover : alk. paper) ISBN 978-1-4384-3094-2 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Buddhism—United States. 2. Buddhism and culture—United States. I. Storhoff, Gary. II. Whalen-Bridge, John. BQ732.A44 2010 294.30973—dc22 2009033231 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Gary Storhoff dedicates his work on this volume to his brother, Steve Storhoff.
    [Show full text]
  • Wheel of Thesangha Volume 27 Issue 9 September 2008
    Wheel of theSangha Volume 27 Issue 9 September 2008 A monthly publication by Seattle Buddhist Church May peace and tranquility prevail throughout the world Seattle Buddhist Church 1427 South Main Street This is a cover page. Seattle, WA 98144 Please scroll down to view the rest Tel: (206) 329-0800 of the newsletter. Fax: (206) 329-3703 www.SeattleBetsuin.com [email protected] New Office Hours Mon-Sat 9:00am-3:00pm Ministers Rimban Hoshu Matsubayashi Seattle Betsuin Vision Seattle Betsuin Mission Day: (206) 380-9911 Night: (425) 235-7242 Embrace true and Promote, protect,and real life share the Buddha, Reverend Don Castro in Nembutsu Dharma and Sangha 24 hours: (206) 779 -2214 BetsuinWheel Events of Sangha for NEWSLETTER STAFF September 2008 Special Events Editors:October English -2007 Irene Goto [email protected] Office Closed for Labor Day Monday, September 1 OctoberJapanese 7 - Machiko Wada ALL ONPO EMINAR EPTEMBER AM PM 10:[email protected] am Family Service F M S S 13 10:00 – 4:00 Children’s Message: Printing & Circulation: F IRST D AY OF D HARMA S CHOOL/FALL O HIGAN: S EPT 14 Rev Castro Jim Akizuki, Alan Groves English: Rev Castro C HILDREN’ S M EMORIAL H ALL C HAPEL S ERVICE: S EPT 28 MickeyJapanese: Hiroo, ShizuRimban Kaku, HarryDX: Shigaya MAs,, Elmer Bill Tazuma Hirsch and Joe Schwab 11:45 SBWA Board Meeting 1 Temple 3 Rimban‘s Message, 5 Messages from Rev 7 SBWA, Fall 10 Contact Newsletter Schedule, Castro, President Tahara, Monpo Seminar, SBC Donations, Information Deadline: Sept.15 Religious Department, Okesa 8 Camp Fire, Scouts, Save the Date, 2 4 Taiko Workshops, 6 Membership, Dharma School, Shoshinge Class Calendar of Go Paperless Hatsumairi Save Our Planet 11 Dharma Exchange Events 9 SBC Donations 1 Betsuin Events for September 2008 SUNDAYS WEDNESDAYS September 7 Rinban on Vacation - in Japan 9/3-9 September 3 Rinban/Vacation - in Japan 9/3-9 10:00 am FAMILY SERVICE 7:30 pm Dharma School Board Meeting (Rev.
    [Show full text]
  • Praise for a FUTURE to BELIEVE IN
    ENDORSEMENTS FOR ALAN CLEMENTS BOOKS AND WORK Praise for A FUTURE TO BELIEVE IN “A Future to Believe In is a message the world needs to hear now!” — Bill McKibben, Author of Earth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet “Distilling the essence of world religions, cultures, politics, and spiritual traditions, Alan Clements’ magnificent book provides a courageous and intelligent compass personifying our aspirations for freedom and wisdom. In so doing, he offers insights on how to actively shape a future that gives life hope. With our planet in peril, it is imperative that we act now to provide a secure future for our children and future generations; make this book your guide, mentor and friend.” — Dr Helen Caldicott, Activist and Author of Nuclear Power is Not the Answer and If you Love this Planet; Founding President Physicians for Social Responsibility; Named one of the 100 most influential women of the 20th century by the Smithsonian Institute. “A Future to Believe In is a treasure, not a mere book. It is a startling distillation of Clements’ life’s practice, a missal of contemplative activism, a catalyst for the torpor of our times, peppered with wisdom, a mala of verbal jewels that encircle the heart and provoke one’s insight past the familiar nostrums that rain upon the world.” — Paul Hawken, Author of Blessed Unrest and An Ecology of Commerce: A Declaration of Sustainability. “This culture is killing the planet. If we are to have any future at all, we must unlearn everything this culture has taught us and begin to listen to the planet, to listen to life — the core intelligence of nature and the human heart.
    [Show full text]
  • ANDREW WEISS: the Sacredness of Relationships Running Time: 40:17
    ANDREW WEISS: The Sacredness of Relationships Running time: 40:17 Andrew Weiss is both a mediation attorney (as in “conflict resolution”) and meditation teacher (as in “mindful practice”), deeply grounded in the Buddhist tradition. He’s also author of the critically acclaimed book Beginning Mindfulness (New World Library, 2004). Weiss has studied with such noted teachers as Korean Zen Master Seung Sanh and Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh. In fact, Weiss was ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh as a Brother in the Order of Interbeing in 1991, and by Zen monk and noted author Claude AnShin Thomas in the White Plum Lineage of Japanese Soto Zen in 1999. We are always in relationship. That is how the cosmos functions. In Andrew Weiss: Sacredness of Relationships, Weiss builds on that premise and explores its implications from various religious and spiritual traditions. Like the late Alan Watts before him, Weiss is equally at ease whether discussing rabbinical doctrine or Hindu dharma, Mother Theresa, the Dalai Lama, Thich Naht Hanh, Ram Dass, Muktananda – even John Calvin! In this recent classroom lecture at the National Institute of Whole Health, Weiss explores the matrix of relationships that affect every aspect of our lives. He covers the Buddhist practices of meta (lovingkindess) and tonglin (compassion); also the qualities of intimacy and trust. You’ll engage with him in several guided meditations, including one Meta Practice Exercise, for which the goal is to see God in everyone you encounter. Sacredness of Relationships is a fascinating journey with an eclectic educator. A native of Hartford, Connecticut, Weiss graduated from Dartmouth College in 1967.
    [Show full text]
  • Program Sessions
    PROGRAM SESSIONS ůƚŚŽƵŐŚƚŚĞŵĞƌŝĐĂŶĐĂĚĞŵLJŽĨZĞůŝŐŝŽŶĐŽŽƉĞƌĂƚĞƐǁŝƚŚZĞůĂƚĞĚ^ĐŚŽůĂƌůLJKƌŐĂŶŝnjĂƟŽŶƐ;Z^KƐͿƚŚĂƚŚĂǀĞƐŝŵŝůĂƌŵŝƐƐŝŽŶƐ ĂƐƚŚĞZ͕ĂŶĚƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐƚŚĞŵƐƉĂĐĞĨŽƌƚŚĞŝƌŵĞĞƟŶŐƐ;ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐŵĂƌŬĞĚǁŝƚŚĂWηͿ͕ƚŚĞĐŽŶƚĞŶƚŽĨƚŚĞƐĞƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐŝƐŶŽƚƌĞǀŝĞǁĞĚ ďLJĞŝƚŚĞƌƚŚĞZ͛ƐWƌŽŐƌĂŵhŶŝƚƐŽƌŝƚƐWƌŽŐƌĂŵŽŵŵŝƩĞĞ͘ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 NOVEMBER FRIDAY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16 A17-102 B K Anti-Islamophobia Workshop P16-400 C Theme: Confronting Islamophobia: Equipping Scholars of Religion to Understand and Challenge Anti-Muslim Bigotry Adventist Society for Religious Studies Friday, 8:00 AM–5:30 PM Theme: Paper Session I: Adventist Studies Hilton Boston Back Bay-Jefferson (Third Level) Thursday, 6:30 PM–8:30 PM Todd Green, Luther College, and Homayra Ziad, Institute for Hynes Convention Center-202 (Second Level) Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies, Presiding John Brunt, Edmonds Adventist Church Panelists: Rescuing Paul from the Reformation? Zareena Grewal, Yale University Mathilde Frey, Walla Walla University Sylvester Johnson, Virginia Tech University Righteousness by Faith: When Abraham Was Cynical and Righteous at the Same Time Khalil Abdur Rashid, Harvard University Eike Mueller, Adventist International Institute of Advanced Josh Seftel, Director and Producer of The Secret Lives of Muslims Studies Simran Jeet Singh, Trinity University Luther and Antisemitism Najeeba Syeed, Claremont School of Theology Business Meeting: See page 68 for details. Tarsee Li, Oakwood University, Presiding P17-6 C FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 Adventist Society for Religious Studies Theme: Paper Session II:
    [Show full text]
  • WW Novdec 2011.Pub
    Water Wheel Being one with all Buddhas, I turn the water wheel of compassion. —Gate of Sweet Nectar Zen Center of Los Angeles NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2011 Great Dragon Mountain / Buddha Essence Temple 2553 Buddhist Era Vol. 12 No. 6 Who Is That One? By Sensei Merle Kodo Boyd Mumonkan Case 45: Who Is That One? Case: Ancestor En of Tozan said, “Even Shakyamuni and Maitreya are servants of that one. Just tell me, who is that one?” Verse: Don’t draw another’s bow; “The Way is beyond language …” Don’t ride another’s horse; Don’t speak of another’s faults; Don’t try to know about another’s affairs. Maitreya that frees all suffering and discomfort. We are If we let this simple question “Who is that one?” seeking a so-called better self, one we like more. sink within us like a pebble dropped into a bottomless pool, we will experience its depth and subtlety. We can When the notion of ending our own suffering first ask this question for all of our lifetime and be taught arises, are we expecting something to happen to us or are forever. Who is that one? we expecting to do something? Are we really expecting to face the aspects of ourselves that we dislike and reject? But before we reach that question of the koan, we Or are we expecting the teacher, teachings, and zazen to are faced with a thicket of others. Why does the koan say magically dissolve them? What work are we expecting to “even Shakyamuni and Maitreya”? If Great Ancestors (Continued on page 2) and Bodhisattvas, with all of their wisdom and insight, are subjects, what can we expect for ourselves? What concepts, hopes, and expectations does it reveal in us? INSIDE 3 Sitting With Gaining Mind by Sensei Gary Koan Initially, in stepping onto this path that becomes zen Janka practice, we do not know that it is a beginningless and 5 When I Grow Up, I Want To Be … A Priest? by endless path.
    [Show full text]
  • THE OAKWOOD CENTER a Non-Medical, Non-Pharmacological, Meditation- Based, Residential Center for the Treatment of Combat Related Post Traumatic Stress
    Fall 08 THE OAKWOOD CENTER a non-medical, non-pharmacological, meditation- based, residential center for the treatment of combat related post traumatic stress. A BUSINESS PROPOSAL 548 Mary Esther Cutoff NW, PMB 319, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, 32548 Phone: 978- 376- 4593 or 850- 582- 2740 E - Mail: [email protected] or [email protected], http://www.zaltho.org Business Proposal Oakwood Center A non-medical, non-pharmacological, meditation-based, residential center for the treatment of combat related post traumatic stress. Content: 1. Current Situation 2. Goals 3. Proposed Methodology 4. Time and Cost 5. Qualifications 6. Benefits 1. Current Situation THE OAKWOOD CENTER addresses the current issue of veterans suffering with post traumatic stress. • Millions suffering: More than 6 million US soldiers have served in military campaigns involving combat since 1964 (1) leaving a huge number of them to face the consequences of their service in war. It is estimated that 30-50 % of those veterans serving in military campaigns are affected by post traumatic stress (2). Within the veteran community the actual number is believed to be significantly higher. • Insufficient number of treatment facilities: While there are a limited number of facilities available - most of them medically based - only a small number of veterans who are affected are currently being treated, but even those receiving treatment in these facilities continue to suffer. 2 It is important to note here that the most effective programs for at-risk- veterans are community-based, nonprofit, “veterans helping veterans” peer programs. (1) http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/05/us/war-veterans-by-the-numbers/, Vietnam War estimated 3,403,000 deployed, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, 694,550 deployed, http://fcnl.org/issues/afghanistan/afghanistan_invasion_ten_year_anniversary/ Afghanistan and Iraq War roughly 2,000,000 deployed (2) http://fcnl.org/issues/afghanistan/afghanistan_invasion_ten_year_anniversary/ VA.
    [Show full text]
  • 2009 Veterans Retreat at Omega
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Chrissa Pullicino October 21, 2009 Office: 845.266.4444, ext. 233 OMEGA WELCOMES VETERANS FOR UNIQUE RETREAT TO HELP WITH POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER Free Public Program to Be Held Saturday Night RHINEBECK, New York – According to the New York Times , the Veterans Affairs Department has reported an estimated 134,000 veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, have sought help at a VA facility for possible Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In response to the growing number of returning veterans in need of support, Omega Institute is hosting a helpful retreat for the third consecutive year. Omega today welcomed 80 veterans, who were sponsored to take a 5-day meditation retreat aimed at providing tools for dealing with symptoms of PTSD. The retreat, taught by Zen Buddhist monk, Vietnam veteran, and author Claude Anshin Thomas, is taking place on Omega’s Rhinebeck, New York campus, October 21–25, 2009, and will also include a free public th program led by Thomas on Saturday evening, October 24 from 8:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m. The veterans retreat at Omega has grown in enrollment from 12 participants in 2007, to 80 this year. Thanks to generous donations Omega received to its scholarship fund, the program has been underwritten since 2008, allowing increased access to veterans of any war, and their family members and friends. Scholarships substantially cover the cost of tuition, accommodations and meals on campus, and up to $100 in travel expenses. Thomas does not accept payment for his teachings. As a result, Omega Institute is donating a portion of the retreat’s proceeds to the Zaltho Foundation, zaltho.org.
    [Show full text]
  • Monk, Vietnam Veteran Helps Others Find Healing
    Unlimited access to all digital products - Only $1.85 per week for the first 6 months CURRENT WEATHER 61° / FOGGY » More weather » CITY HALL CAM Today is May 16, 2012 Search past 30 days (free) Site search Home News Obituaries Opinion Sports Business Living Our Sites Classifieds Advertise Reader Services | Login / Register Like Tweet 0 Sunday, May 13, 2012 Monk, Vietnam veteran helps others find healing STERILE PROCESSING Technician Worcester Surgical Center has an BOOKS immediate ... CARPENTERS NEEDED for upcoming commercial projects. Experience, tools & ... PAINTERS EXPERIENCED Painters needed for established contractor. ... ASSISTANT ASSESSOR The Town of Sutton is seeking qualified applicants ... LINE COOK Worcester Restaurant Group www.worcesterrestaurantgroup.com ... More great jobs at telegram.com/monster Employers Advertise Here By Nancy Sheehan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF [email protected] 2 comments | Add a comment WORCESTER — There will always be war, unless we first find peace within ourselves. That is the message Claude Anshin Thomas, a Zen Buddhist monk and Vietnam War veteran, delivers in his travels throughout the world by being a living example of peace rather than arguing, demonstrating or marching for it. His itinerary led him to Assumption College in Worcester May 6. He had been invited to speak by Project New Hope, a local program that provides free services to combat veterans and their families. Mr. Thomas, author of “At Hell’s Gate, a Soldier’s Journey from War to Peace,” is very familiar with the concerns those veterans face. He, too, struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder after his Vietnam service from 1966 to 1967. He was only 17 when he volunteered for active duty, but soon became an assault-helicopter crew chief.
    [Show full text]