Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast

Episode Description: Sensei Kaz Tanahashi begins by talking about living fully in each moment; “Each breath we take is a miracle. We can be so grateful and enjoy each moment, trying to live fully each moment, being here and now. That’s the Zen spirit.” A long-time anti-war activist, Tanahashi then relates this to the imminent threat the US faces of nuclear war with North Korea. Brainstorming possibilities for action, he urges us to consider what the “magic formula” could be for planting the seed of peace and stopping humanity’s history of war and violence. He proposes we “create a mass opinion for peace and no war, especially no nuclear war. I think that is a very positive vision,” Tanahashi says. To help keep these podcasts freely available, we hope you will consider making a suggested donation of $25 to our Dharma Podcast Fund.

Episode Description: In this talk, Sensei Irène Kaigetsu Bakker talks about the poem, the Sandokai, the Identity of Relative and Absolute. “So often we think that the absolute or oneness is better than the dualistic mind or the relative,” says Kaigetsu. “And where are we when we think that? We’re back in the relative–the dualistic mind with preferences. […]

Series Description: “Walking the way that it is not near and not far.” During this sesshin held January 23 – 28, 2018, at Upaya Zen Center, we had the great opportunity to be inspired, practice, and embody the beautiful teachings of Shitou Xiqian which are represented in his poem of the relative and the absolute known as […]

Episode Description: Natalie Goldberg talks about the art of haiku and its relationship to Zen mind and practice. “What Zen and haiku is asking us to do is drop down to zero,” she says. “They penetrate below your discursive mind.” Reading from some of the great Japanese haiku writers—Bashō, Shiki, and Buson—she reflects on the poets’ ability to express things as they […]

Episode Description: During Zazenkai weekend at Upaya, Sensei Irène Kaigetsu Bakker and Sensei Shinzan Palma explore the poem “Song of the Grass Hut” by the 8th century Chinese Chan master, Sekito Kisen. “So often we are stuck in a certain place in our life,” Sensei Kaigetsu reflects, “the whole practice is to be very honest with […]

Episode Description: In this talk, as we enter the first day of Sesshin at Upaya, Sensei Shinzan Palma and Sensei Irène Kaigetsu Bakker reflect on the relative and the absolute, discussing the writing of the 8th century Chinese Chan master, Sekito Kisen. She asks us what would it be like to live our lives with “open hands – not putting anything […]

Episode Description: Frank Ostaseski begins the concluding session of the program by discussing skillful ways to be with dying. He uses his “five invitations” as a tool to help us cope with the experience of death. “We have this idea that everything is changing, except me… We think of ourselves as a solid thing going through […]

Episode Description: In this episode, Roshi Joan Halifax and Frank Ostaseski hold a discussion with participants in responding to the questions: What is your worst and best case scenario of how you will die? What are you doing now to prepare for whatever death you are given? Frank says, “no matter what situation we’re in, the […]

Episode Description: Roshi Joan Halifax begins this session with a guided meditation. She conducts a writing exercise with participants where she invites us to “return again and again to existential inquiry on questions that shape how we respond to life and death.” The questions are posed: What is your worst and best case scenario of how […]

Episode Description: In this session, Roshi Joan Halifax discusses the meaning of empathy and compassion, and the differences between the two. She emphasizes the importance of staying grounded in order to be more compassionate and available for others. “Our ability to sense into our physical experience primes our capacity to sense into the experience of others,” […]

Episode Description: Entering the third week of Ango, our winter practice period at Upaya, Sensei Joshin Byrnes reflects on the poems that we are studying by the 8th century Chinese ancestor Shitou, “Song of the Grass Roof Hermitage” and the “Sandokai.” He explains that the teachings that are pointed to in both texts urge us to deeply engage with our lives […]

Episode Description: In this session, Frank Ostaseski asks, “what do you think you might lose if you become mindful?” Roshi Joan Halifax talks about the truth of our mortality. She says, “in some cultures, when the baby is born the grief begins, because that journey towards death begins in full… This diagnosis can be a sort […]

Episode Description: In this episode, Frank Ostaseski and Roshi Joan Halifax lead a discussion with participants about courage, compassion, death, and dying. “Compassion arises as the skillful response to suffering, the intelligence of our being, the guidance that helps us navigate the territory of suffering,” Frank says, “so often we’re not willing to turn toward suffering. […]

Episode Description: In this talk, Sensei Shinzan Palma reflects on the meaning of finding stillness and wholeheartedly showing up to our lives. Shinzan looks at this in light of the teachings of Zen Master Shitou when he says, “What the eyes meet is the way.” Shinzan says, “As soon as we can start accepting this body and mind, we start walking […]

Episode Description: During this session, Frank Ostaseski and Roshi Joan Halifax lead a Q&A period. They discuss and explore how we can approach death with courage, wisdom, and compassion. Frank leads a group exercise where he poses the questions: What is a way in which you resist vulnerability? What is a way in which you experience […]