Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast

The session begins with small group discussions around one of the questions posed the night before by Mary Catherine, after which the participants share some of the salient points raised in those groups. After a break, Mary Catherine explores in more depth the phenomenon of "Adulthood II," noting that this is a time to deepen [...]

The session begins with small group discussions around one of the questions posed the night before by Mary Catherine, after which the participants share some of the salient points raised in those groups. After a break, Mary Catherine explores in more depth the phenomenon of "Adulthood II," noting that this is a time to deepen [...]

Roshi introduces Mary Catherine and the panel and explains the genesis of the retreat. Mary Catherine starts the discussion by stating the fact that in the last 100 years the average life expectancy has gone from 47 to 77, and that these 30 added years are not added at the end of life but somewhere [...]

Roshi guides a powerful meditation on breathing in the suffering of ourselves and the world and breathing out compassion. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness 7 part series

Roshi speaks of balance, both emotional and physical. Part of opening up fearless compassion is to view our own limits with compassion, just as we view the suffering of others. Our own self talk is so important, grounding ourselves, learning how to slow down effects our self compassion. How do we take in the suffering [...]

Roshi asks how do we nourish our beginners mind, or not knowing. The audience breaks up into groups to discuss what has helped support or sustains them. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness 7 part series

Henry Shukman begins by asking the audience to reflect on why they are here. He says that whatever it is that brought you to this practice, we all want to end suffering. He says that as long as suffering exists (universal loss), and we have this goal of liberation, we are looking in the wrong [...]

Sharon says it's not the thoughts that are the problem ... It's the "glue." Our job is to sit and rest attention on the feeling and learn to let go. She then leads a guided meditation. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness 7 part series

Roshi speaks of spiritual bypass and explains the importance of bringing to surface what we are afraid of. The audience moves into groups to discuss fear and then shares 3 big fears in their lives. The group shares what came up for them about fear. Roshi explains "strong back, soft front" and talks about [...]

Sharon guides a loving kindness meditation and Roshi and Sharon answer questions from the audience. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness 7 part series

Roshi Joan kicks off the Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness retreat by recalling 2 powerful issues that brought her to Buddhism ... the civil rights movement and the war in Vietnam. She speaks about relationships and says that Buddhism is about relationships, with ourselves and with the world. She recommends using an experience of deep suffering [...]

Roshi guides a meditation on equanimity. She then speaks of the shadow of caregiving, by reviewing different archetypes. She then goes into boundary violation, going over transference and counter transference. This episode (#10 of 10) is a continuation of the previous episode (#9 of 10) and is the concluding part from the Aug [...]

Roshi guides a meditation on equanimity. She then speaks of the shadow of caregiving, by reviewing different archetypes. She then goes into boundary violation, going over transference and counter transference. This episode (#9 of 10) is from the Aug 8th session. It continues and concludes in the next episode, i.e., Part 10 of 10. To access [...]

Jane opens by offering a definition of wisdom and noting some of the fields of growth possible with aging. She talks about her experience of writing memoir and some things that were helpful for her in that practice, and closes by mentioning neuroscience has shown that it is actually possible to change our neural pathways. [...]

Roshi begins the evening session by speaking about servant leadership and the importance of developing a deep grounding in the core teachings of the Buddha. She says how important it is for us to face our own suffering. She differentiates between guilt and regret. Fleet answers questions from the participants. To access the entire series, please click [...]

Fleet goes into the classic system dynamics and change work. He speaks about the prison industrial complex as a system and then has participants divide into groups to discuss the systems they are in. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Dharma on the Edge 10 part series

Roshi asks what happens when our ability to serve is compromises? What are the outcomes when one is not able to actualize healthy compassion? Roshi introduces 3 attitudes toward caregiving: helping, fixing, and saving. Roshi then presents the Algorithm of Personal Distress. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Dharma on the Edge [...]

The group discusses the movie from the prior evening, "The Dhamma Brothers." Fleet asks if people noticed signs of trauma in the prisoners. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Dharma on the Edge 10 part series

Important Note: Due to a problem with the audio, this episode (show # 316, or Part 4 of 10) was re published. The "auto download option (in iTunes, iPods etc.)" subscribers, will see a "second download" of this episode. Please use this updated version (duration: [...]

Roshi begins by reading a letter to Fleet from Jimmy Santiago Baca. Fleet continues to explore the first tenet, "not knowing" and leads participants in a powerful guided exercise. This episode (#3 of 10) is a continuation of episode #2, i.e., from Fri Aug 6th morning session and is the part after [...]

In a talk inspired by two days of hiking with Upaya's residents and guests, Sensei Beate speaks about the power and importance of being in nature. She asks us to call to mind a place that we liked as a child, suggesting that often these places were those where we most felt easy, confident and [...]

Recorded at Upaya Zen Center December 5th, 2006 In this podcast Enkyo uses the legend of Ashoka to point out the insanity of today's dualistic culture. She talks with dismay of the separation created by our ideological constructs - about how America, in the middle of an age of polarism and intolerance, had a pluralistic beginning. The founders of the US were iconoclastic but made an effort to be p...

Recorded at Upaya Zen Center December 4th, 2006 Talk 4 In this talk, Roshi Joan talks more about the legend of King Ashoka's war-time conversion. After causing the deaths of as much as 100,000, Ashoka sees the bodies of men women and children and presents to himself and the world a dark koan: What have I done? We gratefully thank our friend of Upaya, Ottmar Liebert for his contribution of music an...

Recorded at Upaya Zen Center December 3rd, 2006 Talk 3 In this talk, Enkyo revisits the tale of Jaya as a giver - one who has a spontaneous sense of generosity after his conversion. Throughout his career of philanthropy, King Ashoka was plagued by the imperfection foretold by his perfect gift of dirt to the Buddha. Ashoka gives food, clothing, shelter and stupas to all kinds of people - not even B...

Recorded at Upaya Zen Center, December 2, 2006 Time: 53:15 In this teisho, Kaz Sensei expounds on the history of Ashoka and his conquests while giving the background of his conversion to Buddhism. Roshi Joan discusses the myth of Buddha's encounter with the previous incarnation of Ashoka exemplified by the following quote from the Ashokavadana: "A hundred years after my death there will be an empe...