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Public Dharma Talk: “Brief Flashings in the Phenomenal World” Katie Arnold Apr 24, 2024
In this Dharma talk, Katie Arnold shares her experiences and insights on the intersections of Zen, running, and life. Katie describes a severe river accident that led her to Zen as a pathway for healing both mentally and physically. Katie discusses her book "Running...
Public Dharma Talk: “Dharma and Ecology” With Sensei Wendy Johnson – April 10, 2024
Two days after the skies darkened from the solar eclipse, Sensei Wendy Johnson reminds us that “in dark times, the eye begins to see.” With her characteristic spirit and tenderness, Wendy encourages us to let in the difficult truths of our times and practice stillness...
Spring Practice Period: Sesshin Dharma Talk with Sensei Shinzan – Apr 3, 2024
In this Dharma talk, Sensei Shinzan shares his personal journey towards understanding Zen, a quest that led him away from a planned career in engineering to a deep exploration of Buddhism. He reflects on the challenging yet profoundly rewarding nature of sesshin,...
Spring Practice Period: Public Dharma Talk with Ben Connelly – Mar 27, 2024
Ben Connelly takes us on a deep dive into the history and the heart of Buddhist philosopher Vasubandhu and the influential Yogacara teachings. Ben describes how the Yogacara school sought to integrate early Buddhist teachings on afflictive emotions and Mahayana...
Public Dharma Talk: “Coming Alongside” With Frank Ostaseski – March 6, 2024
From his houseboat where he “rides the tides of life”, Frank Ostaseski bears his humanity and demonstrates how to tenderly and honestly meet another’s suffering. Frank offers no prescriptions. “I find that advice rarely helps. Better to do someone’s laundry or help...
The Bodhisattva’s Activism: Roshi Joan, Dekila Chungyalpa, and John Dunne (Final Session + Vow Ceremony)) – Nov 12, 2023
This final session was a thoughtful discussion on the role and experiences of Bodhisattvas in the modern world. Roshi Joan, Dekila Chungyalpa, and John Dunne emphasize the importance of community, compassion, and the interconnectivity of all beings as realities to be...
The Bodhisattva’s Activism: Roshi Joan, Dekila Chungyalpa, and John Dunne – Nov 11, 2023
In this dynamic session Roshi Joan, Dekila Chungyalpa, and John Dunne dig into the ethical dilemmas, mindfulness practices, and nuances of engaged Buddhism. The group explores some difficult questions around the necessity of sometimes engaging in negative actions to...
Reflections from Japan
Fresh off a two-week pilgrimage to Japan, Roshi Joan and Upaya's priests share reflections on their experience. For Roshi Joan, this pilgrimage was about connecting to the historical roots of Zen, cultivating relationships with modern-day practitioners, and touching...
The Way Of Haiku: Waking Up Through Writing (9 of 9)
This is the closing session of this program with Roshi Joan leading it with comments from the participants. To access the resources page for this program, please sign up by clicking here.
The Way Of Haiku: Waking Up Through Writing (8 of 9)
In this impassioned talk, Jimmy Baca shares deeply personal experiences to illustrate the transformative power of writing and the significance of engaging with the present through art. He recounts his journey from being "just a number" as an inmate to becoming a...
The Way Of Haiku: Waking Up Through Writing (7 of 9)
Pico Iyer discusses Haiku as a reflection of Japanese culture, highlighting its brevity, impermanence, and communal aspect. He notes Haiku's integration into modern Japanese life, from education to public displays, underscoring its function as an exercise in...
The Way Of Haiku: Waking Up Through Writing (6 of 9)
Jane Hirshfield reads a Haiku by Basho about a horse eating roadside rose mallow, highlighting its simplicity, descriptive nature, and the human perception it conveys. She elaborates on the poem's themes of impermanence, the cycle of life, and the shared experiences...
The Way Of Haiku: Waking Up Through Writing (5 of 9)
Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt's discussion on Haiku delves into the depth and nuances of this poetic form, exploring its historical context, cultural significance, and the intricacies of its composition. They discuss the story of a young female poet who impressed...
The Way Of Haiku: Waking Up Through Writing (4 of 9)
Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt's discussion on Haiku delves into the depth and nuances of this poetic form, exploring its historical context, cultural significance, and the intricacies of its composition. They discuss the story of a young female poet who impressed...