Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast

Episode Description: In this talk, Myogetsu Jane Steinberg gives her first public talk as Shuso, or head student, on “way seeking mind.” By way of introduction, she begins by talking about the journey of her life and how it has led to her “sitting in black robes facing a wall.” She describes how her childhood family life was too normal which pushed her to seek that which was different. Although she chose not to participate in many aspects of the 1960’s counter-culture, she was still heavily involved with the political activism of the times. She describes how she later became a member of the Sufi tradition, and how she became interested in learning about meditation. Finally, she describes a retreat led by Thich Nhat Hanh where she met Roshi Joan for the first time and how Buddhism came to offer her the “simplest and most direct path” to benefiting the world.

Episode Description: In this talk, Sensei Shinzan Palma and Sensei Kathie Fischer talk about their reflections on The Platform Sutra and its relation to the simple style of Zen instruction. Shinzan emphasizes the inclusiveness of Zen and the inspiration to practice which he found from reading the life story of Zen Master Hui-Neng.  Shinzan continues with his own personal story about deciding to study Zen in Canada even though he spoke almost no English at that time. He explains that Zen often uses non-verbal instruction which is good for “learning how to trust without satisfying the intellect.”  Kathie complements this with an explanation for why Zen gives instruction for its many detailed “forms,” but gives very little instruction for zazen meditation, it’s core practice. She concludes with a guided meditation.

Episode Description: In this talk, Mark Coleman explores insights from notions including time, transience, and the birth and death life cycle. The annual migration of wild salmon in Alaska illustrates the naturalness of the birth and death cycle and the transience of life. For Series description, please visit Part 1. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Upaya Podcast Series: EXPLORING INNER AND OUTER NATURE

Episode Description: In this talk, Mark Coleman recounts the times in which nature is found in Buddhist accounts. Buddha practiced in the woods, and most of his discourses took place in groves of trees. Mark also continues to discuss the way in which we can best attune to nature.  “The outer and the inner are not different. When we attune to the outer space, we feel space within us; we’re not separate from it.” For Series description, please visit Part 1. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Upaya Podcast Series: EXPLORING INNER AND OUTER NATURE

Series Description: In this series, Mark Coleman discusses the importance of reconnecting with nature. He emphasizes the ways in which meditation can help to attune us to the teachings of nature. He also discusses the centrality of Buddhist practice to enhancing our understanding of ourselves and our relationship with nature. The program includes both sitting and walking meditation, and it takes place both indoors and in the surrounding groves of beautiful elm trees. The program concludes with a message about the urgency of conserving and preserving nature for future generations of life. Episode Description: In this talk, Mark Coleman discusses the relationship of silence to attunement. He explains how silence is a “portal” to everything. This includes the inner experience, it includes understanding one’s place in the “matrix of life,” and it includes developing an understanding of ourselves as being from the earth as opposed to simply living on it. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Upaya Podcast Series: EXPLORING INNER AND OUTER NATURE

Episode Description: In this episode, Zenshin Florence Caplow, Reigetsu Susan Moon, and Natalie Goldberg begin with the relevance of questions to koans and to life more generally. They also discuss where to find the answers to such questions. For Series description, please visit Part 1. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Upaya Podcast Series: THE HIDDEN LAMP: Courage and Intimacy – Exploring Women’s Stories

Episode Description: Sensei Shinzan Palma begins this discussion by explaining the title of the talk, “The Finger Points at the Moon.” This Zen phrase is a commonly used reminder not to be too attached to words and/or teachings and not to confuse either with what they are pointing to. “The teachings are like a finger pointing to the moon, don’t confuse the moon with the finger,” he says. Shinzan continues on, discussing the importance of bridging the gap between the cushion and everyday activities, and the importance of not bringing any kind of agenda or expectation to the cushion. He also discusses an important teaching from Zen Master Hui-Neng, which explains that we don’t contemplate the mind when we sit because this creates a duality between the meditator and the act of meditation.

Episode Description: In this episode, Zenshin Florence Caplow, Reigetsu Susan Moon, and Natalie Goldberg read a Chinese folktale. They then ask the audience to form small groups and take the perspective of different characters within the story, forming their own narrative based on their own interpretation. For Series description, please visit Part 1. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Upaya Podcast Series: THE HIDDEN LAMP: Courage and Intimacy – Exploring Women’s Stories

Episode Description: In this episode, Zenshin Florence Caplow, Reigetsu Susan Moon, and Natalie Goldberg begin by speaking about courage and its relevance to daily practice. Zenshin Florence Caplow speaks of having a strong heart. What is a strong heart, she asks? What is speaking from the heart? What is being wholehearted? And how do you give the gift of fearlessness? The episode concludes with shared stories of fearlessness from guests. For Series description, please visit Part 1. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Upaya Podcast Series: THE HIDDEN LAMP: Courage and Intimacy – Exploring Women’s Stories

Episode Description: In this talk, Sensei Sokaku Kathie Fischer discusses The Platform Sutra, a foundational teaching in Zen by Hui-Neng. The Sutra provides an account of the early life of Hui-Neng, as well as his teachings after becoming the 6th Patriarch. Kathie also explores some of the sociopolitical influences which would have influenced the life of Hui-Neng. These include the probable political exile of his father and his illiterate upbringing. The Sutra is thought to represent the first teaching on “sudden awakening,” or the southern school. Sensei Kathie suggests that “sudden” indicates that awakening has immediacy, we simply need to fully inhabit ourselves and be present for each moment.

Episode Description: In this episode, Zenshin Florence Caplow, Reigetsu Susan Moon, and Natalie Goldberg introduce and define the notion of a “koan.” They begin by discussing the history of koans, short narratives which originated in ancient monastic China. They continue by reading different koans and they then ask guests to write down three personal koans from everyday life. For Series description, please visit Part 1. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Upaya Podcast Series: THE HIDDEN LAMP: Courage and Intimacy – Exploring Women’s Stories

Series Description: In this series, Zenshin Florence Caplow, Reigetsu Susan Moon, and Natalie Goldberg delve into a collection of women’s teaching stories and koans from across the history of Buddhism. These stories were compiled and edited by Zenshin Florence Caplow and Reigetsu Susan Moon in their book, The Hidden Lamp. The stories are from women who studied with the Buddha, from Chinese Zen masters and tea ladies, enlightened Japanese village women, and pioneers of Buddhism in the West. The series includes, silent sitting and walking, dharma talks, writing exercises in response to the stories, and dialogue in small group settings. The emphasis of the recorded talks explores what the women of the past can teach us today, in addition to stories from our present lives. Episode Description: In this episode, Zenshin Florence Caplow, Reigetsu Susan Moon, and Natalie Goldberg begin by introducing themselves, their shared backgrounds, and their different experiences with Buddhism. An overview of the program is also provided. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Upaya Podcast Series: THE HIDDEN LAMP: Courage and Intimacy – Exploring Women’s Stories

Episode Description: In this talk, Sensei Shinzan Palma discusses the importance of lineage and ancestral tradition to contemporary practice, the simplicity of Buddhist practice, and the vital role of community. Shinzan points to the humility that arises when considering our lineage of Buddhist teachers, and the thousands of years of practice that have preceded us. He also reminds us that we often overcomplicate our practice. Practice is simple, he says, “it is about returning to yourself; it is a practice of healing.” Shinzan ends his discussion by emphasizing the importance of community, or “sangha.”

Episode Description: In this talk, Matthew Kozan Palevsky uses the Jewish Holiday Yom Kippur, “Day of Atonement,” as an invitation to explore the notion of atonement within Buddhism. He first discusses how atonement is symbolized in Zen practice through forms such as the physical act of bowing, and through Upaya’s weekly chant of the “Verse of Atonement.” He continues with two stories recorded by Zen Master Eihei Dogen, both of which metaphorically explore the things that we atone for and how it is perhaps paradoxically, the very “detritus” of our lives, which we must come to acknowledge and accept, which consequently become the very means of our liberation. “What does the golden-scaled fish that goes through the net eat?”

Episode Description: In this talk, Zenshin Florence Caplow and Reigetsu Susan Moon explore the stories surrounding the 18th-century Zen lay woman Satsujo, and discuss her importance in countering the gendered notions of what an enlightened being looks like. Depicting the different phases of Satsujo’s life, Zenshin says, “Each story is a sparkling gem… A real woman who could play ball with the best Zen Masters of her age.” Zenshin and Reigetsu also discuss the path that led them to compiling the stories of Buddhist women ancestors in their book, The Hidden Lamp, before taking questions from the audience. To help keep these podcasts freely available, we hope you will consider making a suggested donation of $25 to our Dharma Podcast Fund.