The Upaya Dharma Podcast features Wednesday evening Dharma Talks and recordings from Upaya’s diverse array of programs. Our podcasts exemplify Upaya’s focus on socially engaged Buddhism, including prison work, end-of-life care, serving the homeless, training in socially engaged practices, peace & nonviolence, compassionate care training, and delivering healthcare in the Himalayas.
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A Clearing Opens – Finding Our Way Through Boundlessness
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41:29In this dharma talk, Fushin discusses the Empty Bowl Sutra and its relationship to the Diamond Sutra, presenting them as complementary teachings about emptiness or boundlessness, and the bodhisattva path. Fushin explains that the Empty Bowl Sutra features Manjushri teaching about emptiness/boundlessness while the Diamond Sutra shows how this unders…
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Awareness In Action: Racism with Ruth King (Part 4 – March)
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1:36:00In this talk from the Awareness in Action series, Ruth King examines racism as “a heart disease that is curable,” exploring through a Buddhist lens how racial conditioning shapes our identities and relationships. She illuminates the characteristics of dominance and subordination in racial dynamics, explaining how white privilege and supremacy are m…
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Haiku and Poetry 2025: Courageous Practice (Part 6)
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1:31:42In this concluding session of the Haiku and Poetry program, Roshi Joan Halifax facilitates a rich dialogue among faculty and participants about language, beauty, and creative courage in difficult times. Roshi creates space for deep exploration of how poetry can address both personal and collective suffering. Jane Hirshfield shares her profound poem…
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Haiku and Poetry 2025: Cause and Effect (Part 5)
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1:31:13In this Fourth full session of the Haiku and Poetry series, translator and artist Ian Boyden invites participants on a meditative journey through the landscape of Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei. Beginning with a recognition of our present moment of global crisis, Boyden introduces Wang Wei (699-761 CE) as the “poet Buddha” who seamlessly integrated poe…
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Haiku and Poetry 2025: Writing from Experience (Part 4B)
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1:16:26This is the 2nd part of … The third full session of the Haiku and Poetry program, where Jimmy Santiago Baca brings his characteristic energy and authenticity to the practice of writing haiku. Drawing on his background as a formerly incarcerated writer who discovered the redemptive power of language, Baca guides participants through a process of fin…
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Haiku and Poetry 2025: Writing from Experience (Part 4A)
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42:26In this third full session of the Haiku and Poetry program, Jimmy Santiago Baca brings his characteristic energy and authenticity to the practice of writing haiku. Drawing on his background as a formerly incarcerated writer who discovered the redemptive power of language, Baca guides participants through a process of finding meaningful personal ima…
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Haiku and Poetry 2025: Poetry As Practice (Part 3B)
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24:37This is the 2nd part of … The second full session of the Haiku and Poetry program, where acclaimed poet Jane Hirshfield explores the deep connections between poetry and contemplative practice. Beginning with insights into the rich tradition of Japanese women poets—from ancient court poets like Izumi Shikibu to Mitsu Suzuki—Hirshfield reveals how po…
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Haiku and Poetry 2025: Poetry As Practice (Part 3A)
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55:07In this second full session of the Haiku and Poetry program, acclaimed poet Jane Hirshfield explores the deep connections between poetry and contemplative practice. Beginning with insights into the rich tradition of Japanese women poets—from ancient court poets like Izumi Shikibu to Mitsu Suzuki—Hirshfield reveals how poetry has always served as an…
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Haiku and Poetry 2025: Elements of Haiku (Part 2)
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50:03In this first full session of the Haiku and Poetry series, Sensei Kazuaki Tanahashi explores the nuances of contemporary Japanese haiku through interactive discussion. He focuses on poems by Akiko Takazawa and Mitsu Suzuki, sharing both original Japanese text and his English translations. Tanahashi demonstrates how traditional haiku must follow spe…
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Haiku and Poetry 2025: A Fresh Start (Part 1)
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1:07:09In this opening session of the Haiku and Poetry series, Roshi Joan Halifax introduces a distinguished panel including Kazuaki Tanahashi, Jane Hirshfield, Ian Boyden, and Jimmy Santiago Baca. Each teacher shares their unique approaches to poetry as practice: Tanahashi explores traditional haiku forms, Hirshfield reflects on brevity’s power, Boyden c…
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In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Chris Senko Perez explores the wisdom of the Diamond Sutra with humility and insight. Drawing from various commentaries, he investigates how this ancient text points to the fundamental […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Sensei Wendy Dainin Lau explores the Diamond Sutra’s challenging and often paradoxical teachings and the importance of the Bodhisattva vows in cultivating an upright presence during uncertain […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Sensei Monshin thoughtfully guides us into an embodied practice of wisdom and compassion, inviting us to examine the misunderstandings that shape our perception of self and reality. […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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In this heartfelt Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Hoshi Chris Senko Perez weaves together his personal journey to Zen practice with reflections on the Prajnaparamita Sutra. Sharing the path that led him from a […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Heart to Heart with the Mother of All Buddhas
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44:16In 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 […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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The Continuous Mind of Practice: WPP2025 Sesshin Day 6
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51:01In 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 […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Raging Fire: Expounding Dharma: WPP2025 Sesshin Day 4
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36:44In 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. […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Rice in the Bowl: The Medicine of Ordinary Life: WPP2025 Sesshin Day 3
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47:04In 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 […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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The Dharma That Has Never Been Spoken: WPP2025 Sesshin Day 2
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41:26In 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 […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Washing Your Bowl: The Supreme Meal: WPP2025 Sesshin Day 1
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41:28In 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 […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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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,” […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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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 […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Awareness In Action: Climate with Christiana Figueres (Part 3 – February)
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1:35:17In 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 […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Awareness In Action: Poly-Crisis with Jon Kabat-Zinn (Part 2 – January)
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1:37:58In 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 […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Awareness In Action: Meeting The World with Life-Giving Hands – Actualizing Unfaltering Engaged Practice In Our Time
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1:33:21In this session of Awareness in Action, Roshi Joan Halifax, Sensei Kozan, and Dr. Wendy Lau explore how direct engagement with social issues emerges naturally from Buddhist practice. The discussion examines Buddhist practice not as […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Meeting Life Without Knowing: WPP2025 (Part 7)
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36:44In this zazenkai day talk during the Winter Practice Period, Senseis Kozan and Kodo explore and clarify the meaning of “not knowing” through Case 171 of Dogen’s Shobogenzo, also known […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Gathering the Heart/Mind and the Color of Silence
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44:56In their first talk as Senseis, Fushin and Dainin offer a collaborative talk on Silence and Gathering the Heart/Mind. Fushin begins by talking about his lifelong relationship with silence, from […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Honoring Thích Nhất Hạnh and the Practice of Interbeing
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57:55In this moving Dharma talk, Wendy Johnson commemorates the third anniversary of her teacher Thich Nhat Hanh’s death, celebrating his legacy as a peace activist and founder of the Order of […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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What is Buddha? Deep Questions in Deep Practice: WPP2025 (Part 5)
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46:15In this intimate Winter Practice Period talk, Sensei Kozan examines of Case 172 from Dogen’s Shobogenzo, where a monk asks “what is Buddha” and Dongshan responds “three pounds of flax”. Through […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Living the Precepts: Direct Practice in the Face of Disruption: WPP2025 (Part 3)
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44:51In this Winter Practice Period talk, Roshi Joan Halifax explores the rich intersections of everyday life and deep practice, using the evolution of Buddhist monastic traditions as a lens to […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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The Shobogenzo: 300 Family Stories: WPP2025 (Part 2)
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1:20:28In this Winter Practice Period talk, Roshi Joan, and Senseis Wendy, Kodo, and Kozan explore Dogen’s life and the Shobogenzo through a lens of commitment to authentic practice. Roshi Joan […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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One Body Practice: Entering the Winter Practice Period: WPP2025 Exploring Dogen’s 300 Koan Shobogenzo (Part 1)
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37:49In this opening session of the Winter Practice Period, Roshi Joan Halifax and Senseis Wendy, Kodo, and Kozan welcome practitioners to the month-long immersion in Zen practice. The session focuses […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk given during the Winter Practice Period, Sensei Kodo explores Case 214 from Dogen’s 300 Koan Shobogenzo: If you raise a particle of dust, the […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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A Continuous Thread: Weaving the Ancient Brocade
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45:37In this intimate Wednesday night Dharma talk during the Winter Practice Period, Sensei Wendy Johnson weaves together themes of resilience, renewal, and radical engagement through the metaphor of a well-worn Buddhist robe. Beginning with acknowledgment […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Gathering Dharma with Joan Halifax & Matthew Kozan Palevsky: Giving Life to Life: The Power of Social and Environmental Engagement
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1:32:35In this final session of the 2024 Gathering Dharma series, Roshi Joan Halifax and Sensei Kozan explore how Buddhist practice and social activism are deeply intertwined. Drawing on examples from influential figures like Dr. Ambedkar’s work […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Gathering Dharma with Sharon Salzberg & Frank Ostaseski: The Spirit of Service
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1:35:02In this Gathering Dharma session, Buddhist teachers Sharon Salzberg and Frank Ostaseski explore the profound nature of service and compassion. Drawing from their extensive spiritual and humanitarian work, they reveal service as spiritual practice and state […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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In this final Wednesday Night Dharma Talk of 2024, Sensei Monshin explores the deeper meaning of giving during the holiday season. Drawing from both Buddhist teachings about dana paramita (the […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Senseis Kodo and Kozan share reflections from Zen Mind Beginner’s Mind, the nature of effort, and self-judgement in practice.Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Dharma Plants and Seeds of Service: Rohatsu 2024 (6 of 6)
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41:43On the final full day of Rohatsu, Senseis Kaz and Genzan discuss the origin, manifestation, and potential of spiritual practice. Sensei Kaz highlights the life and teachings of Roshi Joan and her deep and meaningful contributions to […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Flower Womb World: Gratitude and Timeless Practice: Rohatsu 2024 (5 of 6)
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40:43On the fifth full day of Rohatsu, Sensei Kaz and Wendy Lau explore the roots of Buddhist teachings. Kaz reflects on an excerpt from the Avatamsaka Sutra, and discusses themes of spiritual beliefs and practices in the […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Ordinary Wisdom: Rohatsu 2024 (4 of 6)
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33:44On the fourth full day of Rohatsu, Senseis Kaz and Shinzan explore the interplay of spiritual insight and practical or “common sense” wisdom. Sensei Kaz emphasizes maintaining ethical boundaries in spiritual practice, warning against neglecting common sense […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Fresh and Alive: The Full and Present Moment: Rohatsu 2024 (3 of 6)
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42:32During this third full day of Rohatsu Sesshin, Senseis Kaz and Monshin delve into zazen as a “distillation of the highest wisdom.” They discuss how we often selectively choose what receives our attention, […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Wisdom Beyond Wisdom: One Finger Zen: Rohatsu 2024 (2 of 6)
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39:41On the second full day of Rohatsu, Senseis Kaz and Kozan delve into the concept of ‘wisdom beyond wisdom’ (Prajna Paramita) and reflect on the importance of faith in the teachings and sitting practice. Kaz reframes ‘attaining’ […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Waking up to the Life That Is Forever: Samvega and Pasada: Rohatsu 2024 (1 of 6)
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37:45On this first full day of Rohatsu Sesshin, Roshi Joan, alongside Senseis Kaz and Kodo, offers practical guidance for this time of deep practice. Kaz and Roshi address the heightened states of suffering that can arise during […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Gratefulness & Generosity 2024: Beyond Thank You: Cultivating Deep Gratitude in Challenging Times
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1:28:31This session of Gratefulness and Generosity, led by Roshi Joan Halifax and Frank Ostaseski, explores the transformative power of gratitude. Through personal stories and deep reflection, Frank and Roshi frame gratitude as a fundamental practice that […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Sensei Kozan Palevsky gives a Thanksgiving dharma talk about gratitude and the first paramita of generosity. He tells the harrowing story of Buddha offering his life to a starving tiger, […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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In this Wednesday night Dharma talk, Sensei Genzan brings his whole self to a mesmerizing and deeply heartfelt exploration of the Dharma. Reflecting on the nature of winter, Genzan invites us to ponder […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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The Heart of Change: Final Insights on Awakened Action Part B: Awakened Action (Part 9 of 9)
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1:00:05This is a continuation of the final session of the Awakened Action series, where … the faculty share their final thoughts on the themes explored throughout the program. They discuss […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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The Heart of Change: Final Insights on Awakened Action Part A: Awakened Action (Part 8 of 9)
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43:10In the final session of the Awakened Action series, the faculty share their final thoughts on the themes explored throughout the program. They discuss the importance of using intergenerational connections, civil disobedience, and […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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Grandmother’s Heart: Compassion, Wisdom, and the Moral Imperative: Awakened Action (Part 7 of 9)
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1:06:54In Part 7 of the Awakened Action series, Christiana Figueres opens with a poignant reflection on the world her grandchild is entering. Grappling with this question, she recalls the teaching of “grandmother’s heart”—a heart rooted in […]Por Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
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