Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers & Practitioners

Rev. Liên Shutt & Rev. Dana Takagi

Buddhism

Mindfulness

Meditation

Asian American Buddhism

Asian American Identity

Soto Zen

Immigration

Social Justice

Grief

Asian Diaspora

Identity

Cultural Identity

Community Support

Asian American Experiences

Audre Lorde

Asian American Studies

Zazen

Poetry

Engaged Buddhism

Anti-Asian Violence

Welcome to "Opening Dharma Access," a podcast where we hear stories from BIPOC teachers & practitioners about their Dharma experiences and practice, and how those inform the ways they are sharing & practicing the Dharma today. Season 3 & 4 description: Hosted by Rev. Liên Shutt & Rev. Dana TakagiThis season, we will have a new focus: Uplifting and Forwarding Asian American/Asian Diasporic Buddhist... more

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Publishes	Twice monthly	Episodes	116	Founded	4 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Religion & SpiritualityBuddhism

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Latest Episodes

How to be safe with sexuality and not hurt with Rev. Willie Mukei Smith

Rev. Willie discusses the 3rd Precept, not misusing sexuality, and frames it as how to be safe and not hurt with sexuality. After his talk, there is a discussion with Rev. Dana Takagi and Rev. Liên Shutt going deeper into what boundaries in sanghas a... more

2 Jun 2026 • 27 min

Precept of Not Stealing/Promoting Space-Equity with Rev. Dana Takagi

In week 2 of Precepts for Skillful Engagement: Cultivating loving interactions in turbulent times (BIPOC Teachers, Series 1), Dana talks about the importance of deeper and creative understandings of the precept of not stealing. Drawing from her perso... more

19 May 2026 • 12 min

Precepts for Skillful Engagement in Turbulent Times: 3 Ways to Practice Precepts & P1/Non-Harming with Rev Liên Shutt

First of 6 parts series from AccessToZen.org. For the video of this talk (& Deep Listening prompts & participants' comments, see link at end of show notes).

Week 1 of Precepts for Skillful Engagement in Turbulent Times series:

Rev. Liên gives an ov... more

5 May 2026 • 29 min

Season 4 Compilation of Interviews: Asian American & Asian Diaspora Buddhists Helping Define Buddhism Today!

Opening Dharma Access podcast, season 4 compilation of highlights of all our fantastic guests this past season. We hope you enjoy!

Guests in order of appearance:

Rev. syd yang, Siddhesh Mukerji, Reverend/Kumu June Tanoue, Rev. Dana Takagi, Judy Nakat... more

22 Apr 2026 • 19 min

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Recent Guests

Joseph Cheah

Professor of Religious Studies and Theology; Catholic priest; expert on Asian American religions, Buddhist studies, and race and religion in American Buddhism

University of St. Joseph, Connecticut

Episode: Reverend Joseph Cheah: Lived Experience as the Core of Spiritual Practice

Sharon A. Suh

Professor of Buddhism and Associate Dean for Faculty Scholarship and Strategic Initiatives at Seattle University

Seattle University

Episode: Asian American Feminist Buddhists: Undefined! with Prof. Sharon Suh & Rev. Syd Yang

Syd Yang

Mixed-race, Taiwanese American queer, trans, non-binary Buddhist minister, movement chaplain, and writer

Blue Jaguar Healing Arts

Episode: Asian American Feminist Buddhists: Undefined! with Prof. Sharon Suh & Rev. Syd Yang

Yuko Yamada

Abbess of Shogakuji Temple and a key figure in Soto Zen practice

Shogakuji Temple, Tokyo

Episode: Reintroducing Contemplative Zen in Japan w/ Abbot Yuko Yamada

Eunji Son

Korean American diasporic practitioner, editor, and admin for Access to Zen

Access to Zen

Episode: "How Am I Going to Serve My Purpose Today?" with Eunji Son

Siddhesh Mukerji

Zen practitioner and scholar of engaged Buddhism and Buddhist social work

Episode: Buddhism as Engaged & Political with Siddhesh Mukerji

Judy Yushin Nakatomi

Mother, partner, anti-writer, and community cultivator nurturing BIPOC sanghas.

Plum Village tradition

Episode: Belonging to Zen, Belonging to Shin: Two Traditions, One Engaged Heart w/ Judy Yushin Nakatomi

Michael Omi

Professor emeritus of ethnic studies at the University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley

Episode: The Struggle to Construct Racial Meaning with Michael Omi

Alice Yang

Chair and Professor of History at the University of California, Santa Cruz

University of California, Santa Cruz

Episode: Our Heritage of Othering and Resistance with Historian Alice Yang

Hosts

Liên Shutt

Host of Opening Dharma Access; provides contextual and community-focused leadership.

Dana Takagi

Co-host and producer; co-leads conversations with guests and coordinates episodes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#219	United States/Religion & Spirituality/Buddhism
Apple Podcasts	#170	Germany/Religion & Spirituality/Buddhism
Apple Podcasts	#187	Italy/Religion & Spirituality/Buddhism
Apple Podcasts	#201	Australia/Religion & Spirituality/Buddhism
Apple Podcasts	#68	Finland/Religion & Spirituality/Buddhism
Apple Podcasts	#71	Austria/Religion & Spirituality/Buddhism
Apple Podcasts	#72	United Arab Emirates/Religion & Spirituality/Buddhism
Apple Podcasts	#96	Switzerland/Religion & Spirituality/Buddhism
Apple Podcasts	#129	Ireland/Religion & Spirituality/Buddhism

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Life Aching for Itself: Zazen & Working with Difficult Emotions

Q: Would you share with us how you work with anger or sorrow or grief or loneliness or another emotion that's up for you right now?

Siddhesh discusses his experiences with emotional pain, viewing Zazen as a means of immersing in these feelings rather than attempting to remove them.

Buddhism as Engaged & Political with Siddhesh Mukerji

Q: What can we learn from social work?

Many social workers and contemporary Buddhists are looking at similar issues of social justice, so they can learn from each other's perspectives and methodologies.

Buddhism as Engaged & Political with Siddhesh Mukerji

Q: What's your take these days about what is Asian or Asian Diasporic Buddhist practice?

It's complex and blends various traditions with Western influences, making it hard to separate what's purely Asian.

Belonging to Zen, Belonging to Shin: Two Traditions, One Engaged Heart w/ Judy Yushin Nakatomi

Q: How do you think trauma-informed practices and dharma practices intertwine?

Practices like pausing and being mindful play a crucial role in acknowledging and processing trauma within our communities.

Belonging to Zen, Belonging to Shin: Two Traditions, One Engaged Heart w/ Judy Yushin Nakatomi

Q: So maybe you share with us a little bit about that background and how that, you know, moved into your positionality as a teacher in the Palm Village tradition?

I attended Jodo Shinshu Dharma School and then stumbled upon Thich Nhat Hanh's community, which helped me understand my roots alongside my practice.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Opening Dharma Access centers conversations with BIPOC teachers and practitioners to illuminate diverse Asian American and Asian Diasporic Buddhist experiences in the West. Episodes frequently explore precepts, social engagement, intergenerational dynamics, gender and leadership within Buddhist communities, and the impact of race, identity, and trauma on practice. Notable throughlines include a commitment to making Dharma more accessible and relevant to contemporary diasporic lived realities, with an emphasis on community, archiving voices, and cross-cultural collaboration. The show often features scholars, practitioners, and organizers who bring academic insight together with personal narrative, aiming to broaden representation and practic... more

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this podcast launched 4 years ago and published 116 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Joseph Cheah
2. Sharon A. Suh
3. Syd Yang
4. Yuko Yamada
5. Eunji Son
6. Siddhesh Mukerji
7. Judy Yushin Nakatomi
8. Michael Omi

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