By now, Bernie Glassman is a world-renowned pioneer of the American Zen movement. He is a spiritual leader and published author, one of his first books being Instructions to the Cook: Lessons from a Zen Master for Living a Life that Matters. He is also a veteran academic and successful businessman, holding a doctorate in applied mathematics from the University of California. He is best known for being the founder of Zen Peacemakers, a virtual organization that Bernie Glassman uses to support the vision and inspiration of socially engaged Buddhism throughout the world. Bernard Glassman was born Jewish in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York, in 1939. He was the son of first-generation Jewish immigrants, his mother was Pauline Finkelstein from Poland and his father was Otto Isaac Glassman from Russia. He grew up in a materialistic environment and attended New York Polytechnic Institute. From there, he was able to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in 1960. From there, he went to work as an engineer at McDonnell-Douglas in Los Angeles, California two years later. While there, he attended the University of California, receiving his master's degree in 1968 and his doctorate in 1970. His interest in Zen Buddhism began while he was in college, it was an introduction to Buddhism. Philip Kapleau's 1966 Three Pillars of Zen had a huge impact on Bernie Glassman. In 1968, Glassman discovered the Zen Center in Los Angeles and began learning from Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi Roshi. From there, he was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1970. Bernie Glassman chose in 1967 to devote all of his time to the development of the Zen Center of Los Angeles instead of his work in the space industry. He had founded... middle of paper ...... Ernie Glassman was able to acquire his Buddha status. Glassman began using the title roshi himself. It was thought that he would become the leader of the White Plum Asanga and the abbot of the Zen Center of Los Angeles. Currently, he is listed as a non-resident abbot of the Zen Center of Los Angeles. Most of his time he devotes to the New York Zen community. Glassman had given the inka to another heir of Maezumi's Dharma, Dennis Genpo Merzel, he is now president of White Plum Asanga. Works Cited “Bernard Tetsugen Glassman”. Religious Leaders of America. Gale, 1999. Biography in Context. Internet. November 21, 2013. Melton, J. Gordon. “Asanga White Plum.” World religions: belief, culture and controversy. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. November 21, 2013.http://zenpeacemakers.org/about-zen-peacemakers/http://zenpeacemakers.org/zen-peacemakers/who-we-are/greyston-mandala/