By Jeanne Anselmo
Social justice and public interest activists come to The City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law to study “law in the service of human needs.” For fifteen years, this law school has integrated contemplative practice to nourish, support, and sustain their vision and very challenging work. When Blue Cliff Monastery monastics met this diverse law community, they called them “law monks” for their diligent practice and commitment to relieving suffering in society’s most painful places without interest in wealth,
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By Jeanne Anselmo
Social justice and public interest activists come to The City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law to study “law in the service of human needs.” For fifteen years, this law school has integrated contemplative practice to nourish, support, and sustain their vision and very challenging work. When Blue Cliff Monastery monastics met this diverse law community, they called them “law monks” for their diligent practice and commitment to relieving suffering in society’s most painful places without interest in wealth, fame, or power.
Keeping the contemplative program going is a real challenge. With an annual student activity budget of only $300, most students would have been unable to attend the program’s 15th annual retreat at Blue Cliff Monastery last spring without a generous donation from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation. For many attending the retreat, this was their first meditation experience, and others had never visited a monastery or Sangha.
The retreat was truly transformational for these activists, who shared that they now see Blue Cliff as their home and the monastics as their family, and have already invited the monastics to visit their school. More fruits of the retreat include: an alumni advisory board to support continuing mindfulness practice at the law school; keeping connected through a new Contemplative Urban Law Program student group Facebook page and CUNY Insight Timer Group for practicing daily meditation; and a faculty-led mindfulness practice group for law school support staff.
The retreatants’ words capture their gratitude and benefits of the retreat:
“Our time at Blue Cliff Monastery was a wonderful experience, especially for a group of stressed out law students, lawyers, and judges. Public interest law practice (and preparing for it) carries a lot of emotional, mental, and physical strain, and taking a break from carrying that baggage was a gift. I almost couldn’t remember a time when I felt so free.” – Nora
“I found myself peaceful, not reactive, and more calm without effort.” – Jan
“The notes written in the bathroom of my bunk, reminding one to contemplate mindfully the actions in the bathroom, introduced me to including the most mundane aspects of life in mindfulness.” – Jesse
“I remain refreshed and my practice has never been deeper.”
– Edwina
Jeanne Anselmo, True Precious Hand, ordained in 1995 and received lamp transmission in 2011. She has been a holistic nurse for forty years. She is a founding member of the Green Island Sangha on Long Island, New York.
