Paths of Practice: Conversations on Journeys into Buddhism

Som Pourfarzaneh, PhD, is the Associate Professor of Islamic and Digital Media Studies and Director of the Center for Multi-Religious Studies at Starr King School for the Ministry. We talk about the dietary and spiritual impact of adopting a dog, identifying as a Muslim and a Buddhist, developing a connection to the Dharma Drum tradition and the Tallahassee Chan Center, spiritual wrestling, and ho...

Ayya Santacitta Bhikkhuni co-founded Aloka Vihara in 2009, a monastic residence for a small group of nuns that had moved to America from England, and received Bhikkhuni Ordination in 2011. Santacitta Bhikkhuni is committed to Gaia as a living being and resides at Aloka Earth Room, a contemporary temple-space located in San Rafael, California. For more information about the Aloka Earth Room, events...

Rev. Jon Turner is a minister at the Orange County Buddhist Church (OCBC) and is an instructor at Everyday Buddhist, an online Buddhist education organization. For more information about Rev. Turner and Everyday Buddhist, please check out the following link: everydaybuddhist.org We discuss the task of developing a curated curriculum for Everyday Buddhist, transitioning away from Protestant Christi...

Dr. Mari Rhydwen Roshi teaches at The Zen Group of Western Australia, a lay-Buddhist community associated with the Diamond Sangha. Mari Roshi also worked as a linguist with a focus in Aboriginal languages, specializing in language maintenance and revival. We talk about integrating koans into your bones like family stories, dokusan with Yamada Roshi, training within the Diamond Sangha with Robert A...

Myokei Caine-Barrett, Shonin, serves as the resident priest and principal teacher of Myoken-ji Temple in Houston, TX. Myokei Shonin also serves as bishop for the Nichiren Shu Buddhist Order of North America, the first woman of African-Japanese descent and the first American to do so. We discuss finding community with the Center for Spiritual Living, going through Nichiren Shu ordination as a woman...

David Roylance teaches at Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha, an organization based in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We discuss leading retreats with visits to elephant sanctuaries, the experience of practicing Buddhism in a Buddhist country, translating the Pali Canon, practicing Buddhism in tandem with Traditional Thai Healing Arts, developing equanimity, and the importance of finding a tea...

Harrison Saito serves the Koyasan Seizanji Temple in Sydney, Australia, as Rev. Washo Saito's administrative assistant and son. Saito is also a Karate and HSC English coach. Please see the following Linktree for more info: https://linktr.ee/harrison.saito We talk about perceiving life as a matching game, the connections between martial arts and Koyasan Shingon Buddhism, the experience of being...

Rev. Shingaku Jenny Henderson leads the Winding Path Sangha, a Tendai Buddhist community based in Springfield, MA. We discuss locating areas for bodhisattva and buddha venerations on pilgrimage walks, the journey of finding a permanent space for the sangha, the efforts to sustain an inclusive and welcoming space for beginners, navigating how to both honor the Tendai lineage while also being mindfu...

Kogen Austin Keith is a Soto Zen priest and Army chaplain. We talk about camaraderie and pranks at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, developing a Zen practice in New Orleans, bringing along a copy of the Shōbōgenzō Zuimonki while fighting wildfires, fielding the varied concerns of soldiers as an Army chaplain, the challenges of serving as a police officer, and the importance of supporting your local...

Amy Shoemaker is a hospital chaplain. We talk about studying abroad in Bodh Gaya, participating in the Jewish Studio Project and healing through art therapy, practicing Insight Meditation with Will Kabat-Zinn's Sunday Sangha, developing personal rituals and weaving mindfulness “inefficiencies” into hospital chaplaincy, and the impact of listening.

Anthony “T” Maes teaches at the East Bay Meditation Center, Insight Meditation Society, Inward Bound Mindfulness, Freedom Together, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and Dharma Homies. Find out more about Anthony and his work through his website: https://www.anthonymaes.com/ In this episode, we discuss the importance of relationality in mindfulness practice, how facilitating retreats for teenagers in...

Rev. Brandon Chikyō Paris serves the Koyasan Beikoku Betsuin of Los Angeles, CA. We talk about Rev. Paris beginning a Master of Divinity program at Naropa University with a focus in Pastoral Care, exploring different Buddhist traditions growing up before finding Shingon, the process of receiving Gonkyoshi certification, learning the art of ikebana, and the experience of having an international net...

Rev. Dr. Kenneth Tanaka is a Professor Emeritus at Musashino University in Tokyo and is a former Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of the Institute of Buddhist Studies in Berkeley, CA. We discuss Buddhism and humor, shinjin and the Pure Land, the lesson of service embedded within Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts of America), finding Other Power in other branches of Mahayana Buddhism,...

Venerable Thubten Dekyi is a community member and monastic resident of Sravasti Abbey in Newport, WA. We talk about nature and dharma practice, being moved by a statue of Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī, construction of the new Buddha Hall at Sravasti Abbey, bhikshuni ordination at Fo En Si Temple in Taiwan, what it might be like to go to space, and following your heart.

Rev. Johnny Eijun Vuong serves the Koyasan Beikoku Betsuin of Los Angeles, CA. We discuss Rev. Vuong's initial experiences with Chinese Buddhism, faith begetting faith, joining the Koyasan Shingon sangha, finding Kobo Daishi in everyone and everywhere, and viewing compassion not just as a concept but as an action you take as a participant in the world.

Rev. James W. Farwell, PhD, is a Professor of Theology and Liturgy as well as the Director of Anglican Studies at the Virginia Theological Seminary. Rev. Farwell is also the H. Boone Porter Professor of Liturgics and the Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs at the General Theological Seminary. We talk about the privilege of attending to the Holy, approaching dual practice as a member of the...

Ben Connelly is a Soto Zen teacher and Dharma heir in the Katagiri lineage. He also teaches mindfulness in a wide variety of secular contexts including police training and addiction recovery groups. He works with multifaith groups focused on race and climate justice. Ben serves the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center, travels to teach across the United States, has written for Tricycle and Lion’s Roar...

Fusatsu received Jukai in the Soto Zen lineage in 2018. We discussed Fusatsu’s experience assisting with preparations for a recent abbot transition at the Sanshin Zen Community, the Everyday Zen Foundation, pet sanghas, making virtual dharma connections, the impact of nature practice, and being comfortable outside of your comfort zone.

Angela Lintz Small, PhD, is a Historical & Cultural Studies of Religion PhD Student and Student Trustee at the Graduate Theological Union. We talk about Angela's experience as a student at the Graduate Theological Union, PTSD and ADHD, eco feminism, finding sangha at the National Black Buddhist Meeting, reading Lama Rod Owens' Love and Rage, and practicing Insight Meditation at the Eas...

Yoni Ackerman received lay ordination from the Berkeley Zen Center in 2022. We talk about Yoni’s journey into becoming a physical therapist, growing up in a Reform Jewish household, just being yourself in zazen, the stink of zen, and looking locally to find your sangha. If you're curious and wish to learn more about practice at the Berkeley Zen Center, feel free to reach out to Yoni through hi...

Rev. JP deGuzman, PhD, is a lecturer in the Asian American Studies Department at UCLA and a Minister's Assistant at the San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. We discuss improv comedy and Buddhism, lessons given and learned while teaching high school students during the pandemic, the impact of a vitamin C gummy during tokudo, interweaving oneself within the history and architecture of...

Jade Sasser, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Gender & Sexuality Studies Department at University of California, Riverside. Sasser is the author of Climate Anxiety and the Kid Question: Deciding Whether to Have Children in an Uncertain Future and host of the podcast, Climate Anxiety and the Kid Question. We discuss how mindfulness practices may benefit climate anxiety, how writing Climate...

Rev. Kaitlyn Mascher-Mace is a Jōdo Shinshū priest and host of the BuddhistPriestPlays channel on Twitch. We talk about developing digital Buddhist communities, military and hospital chaplaincy, working as an emergency paramedic, and how everyone is special and welcome under the tent of Jōdo Shinshū.

Ralph H. Craig III, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Religion at Whitman College and the author of Dancing in My Dreams: A Spiritual Biography of Tina Turner. We discuss finding Soka Gakkai in a phone book, understanding practice as the art of looking again, Ashtanga vinyasa yoga, and the dharmic teachings of Tina Turner.

Rev. Melissa Opel serves as the Head/Resident Minister of the Buddhist Church of San Francisco. We talk about Rev. Opel's journey with and eventual break from evangelical Christianity, struggles with faith and identity, the process of becoming a minister, and understanding Jodo Shinshu as a tradition that invites you to come as you are.