About this episode
Adam Bucko is an activist, spiritual director to many of New York City’s homeless youth, and co-author of a new award-winning book called “Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation (Sacred Activism)". He grew up in Poland during the totalitarian regime and spent his early years exploring the anarchist youth movement as a force for social and political change. At the age of 17, Adam immigrated to America where his desire to find his path towards a meaningful life led him to monasteries in the US and India. His life-defining experience took place in India, where on his way to a Himalayan hermitage, he met a homeless child who lived on the streets of Delhi. This brief encounter led him to the “Ashram of the Poor” where he began his work with homeless youth. After returning to the US, he worked on the streets of various American cities with young people struggling against homelessness and prostitution. He eventually co-founded The Reciprocity Foundation, an award-winning nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of New York City’s homeless youth. In addition to his work with homeless youth, Adam established HAB, an ecumenical and inter-spiritual “new monastic” fellowship for young people which offers formation in radical spirituality and sacred activism. He collaborates with spiritual leaders across religious traditions and mentors young people, helping them discover a spiritual life in the 21st century and how to live deeply from the heart in service of compassion and justice. Adam is a recipient of several awards and his work has been featured by ABC News, CBS, NBC, New York Daily News, National Catholic Reporter, Ode Magazine, Yoga International Magazine and Sojourner Magazine. Huffington Post Articles by Adam Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 10/23/2015 at the Science and Nonduality Conference. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump interview 00:02:20 - Spiritual Activism and the "Gandhis" of Poland 00:04:08 - Building an Altar at Home 00:05:50 - The Peaceful Revolution in Poland 00:07:54 - Finding Solace in an Ashram 00:09:24 - Spiritual Practice in India 00:10:41 - Combining Contemplative Practice with Social Justice 00:12:29 - Falling in Love with Life for Spiritual Awakening 00:14:04 - The Illusion of the World 00:15:33 - The Framework of the Spiritual Journey 00:17:07 - Responsibility to Help the World 00:18:45 - The value of service and surrender 00:20:45 - The Benefit of Serving Others 00:22:33 - Being an Instrument of the Divine in Helping the Poor 00:24:25 - Being Present in a State of Curious Not-Knowing 00:26:19 - Restructuring Life and Developing a Rule of Life 00:28:12 - Remembering True Nature and Creating a Loving Space 00:29:43 - "Church" and the Transformation of Homelessness 00:31:41 - The Starfish Story 00:32:40 - Letting go of the Need for Results 00:34:30 - The Teachings on Service 00:36:04 - The Center as a Family 00:37:44 - The Plight of Homeless Youth and Funding Challenges 00:39:23 - Praying and the Metamorphosis 00:41:47 - Seeing God in Others 00:43:59 - Serving as an instrument of the Divine 00:45:28 - Working with Homeless Kids and the New Monasticism 00:47:20 - The Primary Spiritual Question for Young People 00:48:53 - Hope and Movement 00:50:13 - Rescheduling due to a power outage caused by a squirrel 00:51:35 - Next Interview and Donation Button