What Shall I Sing to You? Krishna Das on Bearing Witness in Auschwitz
Join Zen Peacemakers in Poland this November
Excerpted from “What Shall I Sing to You” A Conversation with Krishna Das and Bernie Glassman on the Peacemaker Podcast
Bernie asked me to sing in the barracks, - the women’s barracks. I was a little uncomfortable, but I had my harmonium so I said “Ok, I’ll do it.”
So I went one day by myself to the women’s barracks and I sat down and I closed my eyes. And I felt surrounded. I can tell you, honestly, I’ve never been in a room with more people in it than at that moment.
It was full of these women.
I could barely move.
They were surrounding the whole place and I just was like, “Whoa…”
I said, “Well,”
“What should I sing for you?”
And I heard in my mind, “Sing to the children.”
Ah. Of course. All these women were separated from their children. They saw their children dragged away and thrown into the ovens.
And they want that love back.
And so, they asked me to sing to the children
and so I sang.
Join us in Bearing Witness this November
This year, Zen Peacemakers from all over the world and all walks of life will gather again in Auschwitz-Birkenau to read the names, hear the stories, and bear witness to the joy and suffering of life together. We invite you to join us.
Scholarships are available, and guidance for Raising a Mala to support travel and retreat costs.
Bearing Witness Retreat in Auschwitz-Birkenau
November 15-21, 2026
Oświęcim, Poland
Learn more and register here
What Shall I Sing to You? - Krishna Das & Bernie Glassman
In this heartfelt and unfiltered conversation, Krishna Das and Roshi Bernie Glassman reflect on the power of bearing witness—from Auschwitz to the Black Hills to the city streets.