323. Adam Bucko - a podcast by Rick Archer

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 AdamTranscript of this interview.

Interview recorded 10/23/2015 at the Science and Nonduality Conference.Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.


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 Home00:05:50 - The Peaceful Revolution in Poland
00:07:54 - Finding Solace in an Ashram00:09:24 - Spiritual Practice in India
00:10:41 - Combining Contemplative Practice with Social Justice00:12:29 - Falling in Love with Life for Spiritual Awakening
00:14:04 - The Illusion of the World00:15:33 - The Framework of the Spiritual Journey
00:17:07 - Responsibility to Help the World00:18:45 - The value of service and surrender
00:20:45 - The Benefit of Serving Others00:22:33 - Being an Instrument of the Divine in Helping the Poor
00:24:25 - Being Present in a State of Curious Not-Knowing00:26:19 - Restructuring Life and Developing a Rule of Life
00:28:12 - Remembering True Nature and Creating a Loving Space00:29:43 -"Church"and the Transformation of Homelessness
00:31:41 - The Starfish Story00:32:40 - Letting go of the Need for Results
00:34:30 - The Teachings on Service00:36:04 - The Center as a Family
00:37:44 - The Plight of Homeless Youth and Funding Challenges00:39:23 - Praying and the Metamorphosis
00:41:47 - Seeing God in Others00:43:59 - Serving as an instrument of the Divine
00:45:28 - Working with Homeless Kids and the New Monasticism00:47:20 - The Primary Spiritual Question for Young People
00:48:53 - Hope and Movement00:50:13 - Rescheduling due to a power outage caused by a squirrel
00:51:35 - Next Interview and Donation Button

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