Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers & Practitioners

A meditation with guidance by words and song! JOE REILLY (he, him) is a singer, songwriter, social worker, and ordained Dharma Teacher in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Joe was raised Catholic and currently studies and practices progressive Catholicism, Native American spirituality, and engaged Buddhism. Joe has been a student of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh since 2004 and is often found singing...

GUEST: JOE REILLY (he, him) is a singer, songwriter, social worker, and ordained Dharma Teacher in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Joe was raised Catholic and currently studies and practices progressive Catholicism, Native American spirituality, and engaged Buddhism. Joe has been a student of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh since 2004 and is often found singing and writing songs on spiritual retreats...

A short, but lovingly offered, meditation from Anushka Fernandopulle. Originally offered on Dharma Seed. Anushka Fernandopulle (she/they) is on the Spirit Rock Teacher's Council and has trained for over 30 years in the Theravada Buddhist tradition in the U.S., India, and Sri Lanka. Anushka lives in San Francisco and teaches retreats and workshops around the world. They also works as a leaders...

GUEST Anushka Fernandopulle (she/they) is on the Spirit Rock Teacher's Council and has trained for over 30 years in the Theravada Buddhist tradition in the U.S., India, and Sri Lanka. Anushka lives in San Francisco and teaches retreats and workshops around the world. They also works as a leadership coach and management consultant, influenced by a BA in anthropology and religion from Harvard a...

A multidimensional practice of hearing Dharma, chanting, and silent meditation in the Shin Buddhist tradition, offered by Rev. Mark Unno. Rev. Mark Unno is Professor of Buddhist Studies & Department Head of Religious Studies at the University of Oregon, specializing in Pure Land, Zen, and Shingon Buddhism. He is the 14th generation minister of Shin Buddhism in his family. He is also the Presid...

REV. MARK UNNO is Professor of Buddhist Studies & Department Head of Religious Studies at the University of Oregon, specializing in Pure Land, Zen, and Shingon Buddhism. He is the 14th generation minister of Shin Buddhism in his family. He is also the President of the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies. Read articles by Rev. Mark Unno at Lion's Roar Magazine online Visit his website f...

A reading of a piece from the CMOON  Substack Newsletter,  by the author, Cristina Moon. As a strategist, author, and Chozen-ji priest, Cristina Moon works with individuals and organizations to develop the sensitivity and spiritual strength needed to lead in today’s challenging world.  Cristina ordained as a Zen priest in December 2020 at Daihonzan ChInozen-ji, a Rinzai Zen temple in Hawaii in the...

About Our Guest for this Episode As a strategist, author, and Chozen-ji priest, Cristina Moon works with individuals and organizations to develop the sensitivity and spiritual strength needed to lead in today’s challenging world.  Cristina ordained as a Zen priest in December 2020 at Daihonzan ChInozen-ji, a Rinzai Zen temple in Hawaii in the Tenryu-ji line. Cristina publishes a Substack newslette...

A 20 minute guided meditation and visualization on the sacred body with Dr. Ava Avalos, a Dharma teacher in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, living in Botswana.  No experience necessary.  The meditation is held while lying down.  Get ready to let-go, breath and consider our embodied possibilities. 2 Links to connect with Dr. Avalos: 1. Facebook : Studies in Zen Buddhism Botswana. 2.  The next Afr...

Sister Peace interview of Dr. Ava Avalos from the Order of Interbeing (OI) branch of the Thich Nhat Hanh tradition.  BIO:  Dr. Ava Avalos was ordained as a Dharma teacher in 2018, after over 20 years of study and Zen practice. She facilitates the Tshedisa Sangha in Botswana - the first African Sangha established in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh on the continent.  Originally from San Diego, Cali...

Dalila Bothwell (she/her) is a Dharma practitioner in the Insight Meditation/Theravada Buddhist tradition and a graduate of Spirit Rock's Community Dharma Leader Program.  She served as Deputy Director of New York Insight Meditation Center for nearly a decade where she learned the priceless value of sangha and the role relationships play in embodying the teachings and in creating kinder human...

Get to know ODA's Season 2 other new co-host, Dalila Bothwell, as she shares with Rev. Liên frank talk about what it takes to teach and stay true to their experience as queer, Black, and other social locations in predominantly white convert-Buddhist settings. Dalila Bothwell (she/her) is a Dharma practitioner in the Insight Meditation/Theravada Buddhist tradition and a graduate of Spirit Rock...

Enjoy this lovely practice, as Sister Peace walks us gently through a guided meditation to learn to pay attention to the quality of our breath so that we become anchored in the feelings of calm and ease. This guided practice is also available on the Plum Village App and on YouTube . SISTER PEACE spent five years in government work before realizing that something was missing. Feeling spiritually be...

SISTER PEACE spent five years in government work before realizing that something was missing. Feeling spiritually bereft, she began practicing at the Washington Mindfulness Community where she encountered the teachings of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.  Compelled by his teachings, she relocated in 2006 to the Plum Village Monastery in France to deepen her mindfulness practice and where she was ordain...

Noliwe Alexander has been a student of Vipassana meditation for over 20 years. This is a meditation from a POC Retreat at Spirit Rock 2020 You can reach her at Deep Time Liberation and Peace at Any Pace  

Noliwe Alexander has been a student of Vipassana meditation for over 20 years. Throughout this time of deep devotion to the Dharma, Noliwe has become a dedicated practitioner, meditation teacher of various retreats and sitting groups, day-longs and class series programs. She dedicates much her BuddhaDharma practice and teachings to the BiPOC, LGBTQIA+, At Risk and Elder communities. She is a gradu...

In the meditation, Kaira Jewel Lingo refers to the Garrison BIPOC meditation sangha which meets every Thursday at noon, run by her and Marisela Gomez. Order my book, We Were Made for These Times: Ten Lessons on Moving through Change, Loss and Disruption   Order from Indie Bound or Bookshop To stay in touch and learn about my upcoming mindfulness teaching and events, please sign up for my e-newslet...

Happy 2023! Enjoy this meditation to support you bring the quality of attending (my latest word for our natural access to the quality of mindfulness. The "Meditation Training" course referred to in the meditation is "Meditation Training: Establishing a Meditation Practice in 4 Short Week." It's a popular and effect course taken by thousands at this point. Back in-person in...

A guided meditation invoking creative imagination to cultivate familiarity with our innate quality of being love within a space of active repose. Led by Lama Yeshe. LAMA KARMA YESHE CHÖDRÖN is a scholar, teacher, and translator of Tibetan Buddhism at Rigpe Dorje Institute at Pullahari Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal and co-founder of Prajna Fire . HOST LAMA KARMA YESHE CHÖDRÖN is a scholar, teacher,...

Tune in as Rev. Liên and Lama Yeshe share a lively discussion of their experiences with Opening Dharma Access during 2022. They also bid farewell to Kaira Jewel Lingo as she transtions from Opening Dharma Access to other Dharma activities. Rev. Liên Shutt can be reached at: AccessToZen.org Learn more about Kaira Jewel Lingo and her Dharma Offerings at kairajewel.com to learn more about her Dharma...

Bishop Myokei Caine-Barrett chanting is part of this larger program: https://www.dropbox.com/s/0o2e4wsxdicmr1t/Shodaigyo.pdf?dl=0 For the YouTube version of this chant (with about 20 minutes of silent meditation first): https://www.facebook.com/NBSTX/videos/201551801729358/ ___ Myokei Caine-Barrett currently holds the position of Bishop of the Nichiren Shu Order of North America. She is the first...

Listen in on this candid and wise interview with Myokei Caine-Barret, Shonin, as she shares about her own path of transformation and how we can all create a deeper experience of refuge for each other in the Dharma. She names the importance of sharing about race and increasing awareness in dharma spaces in the face of resistance. And how empowering it can be to leave space for listening, honoring p...

Listen to this dharma story Thomas created and shared at East Bay Meditation Center in August 2022.  This tale deals with our developmental struggles and aversion to what the Path is asking of us, and ends with an invitation to a new perspective about how we can engage with less entanglement. Thomas can be reached at: www.avant-dharam.com

A fascinating conversation with Thomas Davis IV and Rev. Liên about the possibilities of expanding the range for assessing BIPOC teachers' readiness to teach and the connections between the Dharma and the creative process. Thomas Davis IV is a Contemplative Artist based in Los Angeles who explores the connections between the principles of the Dharma, Christian Mysticism, Jazz Ethics, Art and...

In this month's practice offering, Bhante Sanathavihari shares a chanting practice central to the novice monastic training in the Sri Lanka tradition. The Pali and English text is available here for those who want to follow along with the chant . The Caturārakkhā, or Four-Fold Protective Contemplations, consists of: (1) Buddhānussati Recollection on the Buddha (2) Mettā Loving-Kindness Medita...