Newman Robert Glass

Born in Canada, Robert Glass spent seven years as a Buddhist monk at Shasta Abbey near Mt. Shasta, California, studying with Jiyu Kennett, the first woman to establish a Zen lineage in the United States.

After earning a Ph.D. in Comparative Religion, Robert became Director of the Comparative Religion and Culture Program (CRC) at Global College, Long Island University. In that role, he traveled with students as they explored the world’s great religions during ten-week terms in Japan, India, and Israel, with breaks in Thailand and Nepal. Notable experiences included overnight stays at Zen Buddhism's two main training temples in Japan, a pilgrimage to Bodhgaya to see the site of the Buddha's enlightenment, a visit to Rumi's tomb in Konya, and, later, an audience with the Dalai Lama. After his years with the CRC, Robert became Dean of Global College and spent another decade visiting students and centers around the world.

Robert’s research and travels yielded new insights into his experiences at Shasta Abbey, Buddhism, and spiritual practice more broadly. His scholarly book, Working Emptiness, examines conflicting interpretations of awakening and desire in Buddhism. Follow-up articles in academic journals continued this exploration. In one of life’s great ironies, the central thread of Robert’s scholarly work is clearest in the more intimate setting of his memoir, The Book of Two Loves. Robert lives in Portland, Oregon