The Upaya Dharma Podcast features Wednesday evening Dharma Talks and recordings from Upaya's diverse array of programs. Our podcasts exemplify Upaya’s focus on socially engaged Buddhism, including prison work, end-of-life care, serving the homeless, training in socially engaged practices, peace & no…
Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
Santa Fe, NM
Listeners of Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast that love the show mention: dharma talks, zen, thank, great, roshi joan, upaya.
The Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in Buddhist teachings and mindfulness practices. Hosted by Roshi Joan Halifax, the podcast offers a wide range of topics presented by esteemed teachers in the field. The podcast is freely available to all, and I am grateful for the generosity of Upaya in sharing these teachings.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is the quality of the teachings and the authenticity of the speakers. Roshi Joan Halifax is a genuine and compassionate teacher, and her clarity shines through in each episode. The podcast covers a wide range of topics, allowing listeners to explore different aspects of Buddhism and mindfulness practice. Additionally, the Zen Brain series is a highlight with its engaging discussions on neuroscience and awareness.
Another positive aspect is that the episodes often begin with a meditative bowl sound, creating a calming atmosphere from the start. This attention to detail enhances the listening experience and helps set a pleasant mood for exploring these profound teachings.
While there are many positive aspects to this podcast, one potential downside is that it may not be as accessible for those new to Buddhist teachings or meditation practice. The episodes assume some level of familiarity with these concepts, which might make it difficult for beginners to fully grasp certain teachings.
In conclusion, The Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast is an exceptional resource for individuals interested in deepening their understanding of Buddhism and mindfulness practices. With its diverse range of topics and esteemed teachers, this podcast offers valuable insights and guidance on living a more mindful and compassionate life. Despite potentially being less accessible for beginners, this podcast remains a treasure trove for those seeking authentic dharma teachings.
In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Buddhist philosopher David Loy traces humanity's evolving quest for meaning through historical religious frameworks. Loy examines how humanity's search for purpose has evolved through the ages – […]
In this powerful talk from the Awakened Action series, Roshi Joan Halifax explores how solidarity can transform our shared and interwoven world during these critical times. After a warm introduction, Roshi begins, “From a […]
In this unique and powerful Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Roshi Joan Halifax displays the poise and clarity of practice. Unexpectedly, she turns the talk into a dialogue with the audience as she reflects on […]
In this closing talk from the last day of Spring Practice Period Sesshin, the faculty of the practice period weave together final reflections on the vows and actions of true bodhisattvas. Sensei […]
In this talk during the fifth full day of Spring Practice Period Sesshin, Sensei Cynthia Ryotan explores the fourth of the bodhisattva's methods of guidance: kind speech. She fames the importance of […]
In this third full day of Spring Practice Period Sesshin, Sensei Monshin explores the concepts of beneficial action and identity action from Dogen's Bodhisattva's Four Methods of Guidance. She identifies beneficial action as “skillfully […]
In this second full day of Spring Practice Period Sesshin, Sensei Shinzan explores the Four Bodhisattva Vows as expressions of what Suzuki Roshi described as an “inflexible determination to carry out one's will […]
In this talk during the Spring Practice Period Sesshin, Sensei Ryotan explores the first of Dogen's Four Methods of Guidance: Dana (generosity). Dogen himself lived in a tumultuous era of social upheaval, war, […]
In this opening talk for the Spring Practice Period Sesshin, Senseis Monshin, Ryotan, and Shinzan offer their remarks and suggestions to make the most of the deep quiet and practice of sesshin. Sensei Shinzan explains […]
In this dharma talk during Spring Practice Period Sesshin, Sensei Shinzan thoroughly explores the Ten Paramitas (Perfections) of Mahayana Buddhism. He works backward from the tenth to the first, covering knowledge, powers, vow, […]
In this second Zazenkai day talk of Spring Practice Period, Sensei Shinzan explores the essence of compassion in Buddhism. He begins with a Matrix-inspired question to illustrate the Bodhisattva vow: “Somebody tells you, […]
In this first Zazenkai day of Spring Practice Period, Sensei Monshin delivers a poignant talk in her naturally calm and lighthearted way. Monshin reflects on this opportunity to practice and asks us to […]
In this session of the Spring Practice Period, Senseis Monshin and Ryotan, introduce participants to Taigen Dan Leighton's Faces of Compassion – the text of focus for the practice period. Sensei Ryotan emphasizes that bodhisattvas are […]
In this opening session of Spring Practice Period, Senseis Monshin, Shinzan, and Ryotan warmly welcome participants to explore “Living in the Embrace of the Bodhisattva Path.” Sensei Monshin begins by speaking to the ancient tradition […]
In this session of the Awareness in Action series, Valerie Brown passionately meets us at the crossroads of spiritual practice and social action. As democracy trembles and DEI programs face systematic dismantling, […]
In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk during Spring Practice Period, Sensei Monshin explores the archetypal energies of two bodhisattvas – Samantabhadra and Jizo. She begins by asking what sustains our practice and effort, answering simply: […]
In this week's Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, during the Spring Practice Period, Sensei Ryotan Cynthia Kear draws our attention to the foundational importance of vows, urging us to “Trust yourself and your dedication to […]
In this Wednesday Night concluding talk of the Prajnaparamita series, Kodo explores how these ancient teachings can be brought into everyday life through the practice of deep attention and appreciation. […]
In this dharma talk, Fushin discusses the Empty Bowl Sutra and its relationship to the Diamond Sutra, presenting them as complementary teachings about emptiness or boundlessness, and the bodhisattva path. […]
In this talk from the Awareness in Action series, Ruth King examines racism as “a heart disease that is curable,” exploring through a Buddhist lens how racial conditioning shapes our identities and […]
In this concluding session of the Haiku and Poetry program, Roshi Joan Halifax facilitates a rich dialogue among faculty and participants about language, beauty, and creative courage in difficult times. Roshi creates space for […]
In this Fourth full session of the Haiku and Poetry series, translator and artist Ian Boyden invites participants on a meditative journey through the landscape of Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei. Beginning with a […]
This is the 2nd part of … The third full session of the Haiku and Poetry program, where Jimmy Santiago Baca brings his characteristic energy and authenticity to the practice of […]
In this third full session of the Haiku and Poetry program, Jimmy Santiago Baca brings his characteristic energy and authenticity to the practice of writing haiku. Drawing on his background as a formerly incarcerated […]
This is the 2nd part of … The second full session of the Haiku and Poetry program, where acclaimed poet Jane Hirshfield explores the deep connections between poetry and contemplative practice. […]
In this second full session of the Haiku and Poetry program, acclaimed poet Jane Hirshfield explores the deep connections between poetry and contemplative practice. Beginning with insights into the rich tradition of Japanese women […]
In this first full session of the Haiku and Poetry series, Sensei Kazuaki Tanahashi explores the nuances of contemporary Japanese haiku through interactive discussion. He focuses on poems by Akiko Takazawa and Mitsu Suzuki, […]
In this opening session of the Haiku and Poetry series, Roshi Joan Halifax introduces a distinguished panel including Kazuaki Tanahashi, Jane Hirshfield, Ian Boyden, and Jimmy Santiago Baca. Each teacher shares their unique approaches to poetry as practice: […]
In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Chris Senko Perez explores the wisdom of the Diamond Sutra with humility and insight. Drawing from various commentaries, he investigates how this ancient text points to the fundamental […]
In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Sensei Wendy Dainin Lau explores the Diamond Sutra's challenging and often paradoxical teachings and the importance of the Bodhisattva vows in cultivating an upright presence during uncertain […]
In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Sensei Monshin thoughtfully guides us into an embodied practice of wisdom and compassion, inviting us to examine the misunderstandings that shape our perception of self and reality. […]
In this heartfelt Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Hoshi Chris Senko Perez weaves together his personal journey to Zen practice with reflections on the Prajnaparamita Sutra. Sharing the path that led him from a […]
In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Sensei Kodo brings his characteristic warmth and curiosity to an exploration of classic Mahayana literature. With equal parts scholarly enthusiasm and playful inquiry, he delves into this […]
In this final talk of the Winter Practice Period Sesshin, Senseis Wendy Johnson, Kozan, Kodo, and Roshi Joan Halifax weave together teachings on practicing with sincerity and innocence. Beginning with reflections on practicing “without aiming,” they […]
In this talk from the Winter Practice Period Sesshin, Sensei Kozan explores Case 24 of Dogen's collection, “The Great Kalpa Fire,” where Zen Master Dasui teaches about the nature of impermanence and attachment. […]
In this talk from the third full day of the Winter Practice Period Sesshin, Sensei Wendy Johnson explores Yunmen's teaching “rice in the bowl, water in the bucket” through Case 158 of the […]
In this talk from the second full day of the Winter Practice Period Sesshin, Sensei Kodo explores the nature of non-conceptual presence through Case 249 of the Shobogenzo, “The Dharma That Has Never […]
In this teaching from the first full day of the Winter Practice Period Sesshin, Roshi Joan Halifax explores the profound wisdom found in everyday practice through the lens of the koan “Wash Your […]
In this compelling Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, writer and activist Rebecca Solnit explores how the Buddhist understanding of interconnection and interdependence offers a vital antidote to what she calls “the ideology of isolation,” […]
In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Sensei Kozan takes a Buddhist stance on the current barrage of political actions and cultural chaos we are sitting in. Pulling form Buddhist wisdom and contemporary […]
In this powerful talk from the Awareness in Action series, diplomat and climate activist Christiana Figueres speaks directly to the interconnected nature of the climate crisis. Amid the overwhelming climate and ecological challenges facing […]
In this profound dharma talk from the Awareness in Action series, meditation teacher and scientist Jon Kabat-Zinn explores how mindfulness practice can help us navigate our current global poly-crisis. Through guided meditation and dialogue […]
In this session of Awareness in Action, Roshi Joan Halifax, Sensei Kozan, and Dr. Wendy Lau explore how direct engagement with social issues emerges naturally from Buddhist practice. The discussion examines Buddhist practice not as […]
In this zazenkai day talk during the Winter Practice Period, Senseis Kozan and Kodo explore and clarify the meaning of “not knowing” through Case 171 of Dogen's Shobogenzo, also known […]
In their first talk as Senseis, Fushin and Dainin offer a collaborative talk on Silence and Gathering the Heart/Mind. Fushin begins by talking about his lifelong relationship with silence, from […]
In this moving Dharma talk, Wendy Johnson commemorates the third anniversary of her teacher Thich Nhat Hanh's death, celebrating his legacy as a peace activist and founder of the Order of […]
In this intimate Winter Practice Period talk, Sensei Kozan examines of Case 172 from Dogen's Shobogenzo, where a monk asks “what is Buddha” and Dongshan responds “three pounds of flax”. Through […]
In this Winter Practice Period talk, Roshi Joan Halifax explores the rich intersections of everyday life and deep practice, using the evolution of Buddhist monastic traditions as a lens to […]
In this Winter Practice Period talk, Roshi Joan, and Senseis Wendy, Kodo, and Kozan explore Dogen's life and the Shobogenzo through a lens of commitment to authentic practice. Roshi Joan […]
In this opening session of the Winter Practice Period, Roshi Joan Halifax and Senseis Wendy, Kodo, and Kozan welcome practitioners to the month-long immersion in Zen practice. The session focuses […]
In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk given during the Winter Practice Period, Sensei Kodo explores Case 214 from Dogen's 300 Koan Shobogenzo: If you raise a particle of dust, the […]
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