Upaya Zen Center’s Dharma Podcast

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 classical Buddhist text, beginning with the Matriarchs lineage chant before venturing into what he calls “dharma geek” territory – the Prajnaparamita Sutra in 8,000 Lines.

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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 move through stories of Manjushri and Dogen’s instructions on posture, culminating in Roshi Joan’s powerful message about meeting the world’s…

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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. Through stories of practice and careful examination of Buddhist teachings about birth-and-death, Kozan reveals how our attempts to hold onto anything—even our practice itself—keep us from…

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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 Shobogenzo. Weaving together stories of rice cultivation across cultures, personal encounters with rice farmers in Japan, and the deep meaning of oryoki practice, Wendy conveys how every grain of rice contains…

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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 Been Spoken.” Drawing on the dialogue between Priest Nirvana and Nanchuan, he illuminates how our constant commentary and conceptual overlays separate us from direct experience.

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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 Bowl”. Drawing on personal stories of her early training and the teachings of ancestors who practiced during times of great upheaval, she illuminates how true practice means working with “the ingredients…

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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,” which is shaping our current political moment. Drawing on Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of “the single garment of destiny,” contemporary ecological science…

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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 insights from addiction psychiatrist Dr. Anna Lemke, Kozan explores how radical honesty and genuine trust can serve as antidotes to our collective addiction to self. Through personal stories and…

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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 our planet, we are reminded to find beauty in the world as a way to sustain ourselves. Figueres emphasizes the importance to stand firmly against environmental…

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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 with Roshi Joan Halifax, he examines how we can meet this moment of unprecedented planetary challenges—from climate change to democratic instability—with…

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