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Artwork for Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast

Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast

Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
Buddhism
Mindfulness
Compassion
Dogen
Zen Buddhism
Zen Practice
Bodhisattva
Zazen
Meditation
Social Justice
Zen
Community
Impermanence
Suffering
Generosity
Climate Change
Thich Nhat Hanh
Haiku
Gratitude
Community Engagement

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes73Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & CultureBuddhismReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast

Latest Episodes

In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk during Upaya’s Being with Dying intensive, Frank Ostaseski speaks to participants from the loss of three close friends within a matter of weeks. Rather than offering technique or teaching, he invites open inquiry i... more

In this session of The Measure of Our Humanity, teacher and author Tara Brach explores imagination as what she calls “an absolute miracle of the human mind” — a capacity that has shaped every evolutionary leap our species has made, from language to c... more

In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Koshin Flint Sparks — psychologist, Zen teacher, and longtime student of the intersection of mind science and contemplative practice — offers a wide-ranging inquiry into what he calls “the double helix of maturity... more

In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Sensei Kodo reflects on the just-completed Spring Practice Period sesshin as a window into a larger idea of a Dharma Lab. What has been called “Contemplative Residency,” he proposes, is better represented as “Resi... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Koshin Flint Sparks
Zen teacher and speaker for this episode
Upaya Zen Center
Episode: Liberating Intimacy – Softening Barriers to Love
Noah Kodo Rowan
Speaker for this episode, Dharma Lab presenter
Upaya Zen Center
Episode: Dharma Lab – Practicing the Truth of Our Lives
Senko Perez
Dharma teacher featured on episode
Upaya Zen Center
Episode: SPP2026: Sesshin Day 5: Returning to the Source
Monshin Nanette-Owerly
Dharma teacher featured on episode
Upaya Zen Center
Episode: SPP2026: Sesshin Day 5: Returning to the Source
Shinzan Palma
Zen teacher guiding the talk on the Ox-Herding Pictures
Episode: SPP2026: Zazenkai: Ordinary Mind
Cynthia Kerr
Speaker introduced as part of the teaching team
Upaya Zen Center
Episode: SPP2026: The Ten Ox-herding Pictures – Our journey of Awakening: Opening Session
John Paul Lederach
Peacebuilder and scholar known for negotiated peace work
University of Notre Dame / Peacebuilding practitioner
Episode: The Measure of Our Humanity: REHUMANIZATION
Cynthia Kair
Episode: This Is It: The Ox-Herding Pictures and Our Spiritual Journey
Clayton Dalton
Emergency physician sharing experiences from Gaza
Episode: Bearing Witness in Gaza

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 408 ratings
  • Anchoring

    A powerful anchor in these challenging times. How to face difficulties? Welcome.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    coriolis86
    United States8 months ago
  • Love Upaya

    Always appreciate their content but Awareness In Action is world class thought leadership worth so much more than the time it takes to listen (or go to the website and watch it - even better).

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ro.views
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • A wonderful Dharma experience

    This podcast is the next best thing to a visit to the Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe. Wonderful wisdom and compassion come from the teachings of Roshi Joan, Wendy Lau, and Kaz Tanahashi (who creates wonderful art that is infused with his being).

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jon Katz Defense
    United States2 years ago
  • Gratitude

    these reviews are from years ago

    important and timely teachings in this age of violence and suffering to engage in activism and how to work with deep emotions isn’t just “ a teaching” but needed for the survival of the planet

    deep bow of thanks and blessings

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mtyogini
    United States2 years ago
  • Thank you for the sangha

    It is a beautiful experience to “find your people.” I am so grateful to hear words from many humans at Upaya that exemplify something worthy of embodiment. Thank you. 🙏🏼🪬!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dhattura S
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audiences value the blend of meditation instruction with social relevance and peacebuilding perspectives.
The show is a reliable source for deep dharma talks that feel applicable to daily life.
Listeners praise clarity and compassionate teaching from the host and guests.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Up a Tree: Precarity, Not-Knowing, and Awakening Times
Q: What does it mean to stay with uncertainty in difficult times, and how can a community support each other through awakening times?
The speakers describe uncertainty as a shared condition that invites open-hearted attention, mutual support, and ongoing vows to serve. The answer centers on practicing together, allowing vulnerability, and maintaining a stance of openness rather than forcing certainty.
Dharma Discussion: Cold Mountain, Companionship, and Heart of the Poet
Q: What is the relationship between translating poetry and practicing zazen in your view?
They mirror each other in the need to drop preconceptions, listen deeply to the text (or one's own mind in zazen), and respond with words or actions that arise from genuine perception rather than forceful intent.
Dharma Discussion: Cold Mountain, Companionship, and Heart of the Poet
Q: How did your long collaboration shape the voice you finally settled on for Hanshan in your translations?
The two translators describe a back-and-forth process, often initially clashing on diction, then converging through repeated editing until a shared 'voice' emerges that honors both the original text and the reader's experience.
Sitting with Original Love: Opening Session
Q: Why Original Love? Why is it a topic? Why is it the title?
The idea arose from a personal journey where love is seen as a fundamental, universal capacity that can be accessed even in the face of trauma and hardship, guiding practice and relationship.
Awareness In Action: Love with Frank Ostaseski & Sharon Salzberg (Part 15 – December)
Q: How to make people feel, to believe in love?
Frank suggests that showing love through actions and being oneself can inspire others to find that love within themselves.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast

What is Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Insightful conversations rooted in mindfulness, Zen practice, and socially engaged Buddhism. Episodes center on awakening, compassion, and how Buddhist teachings translate into daily life, relationships, and community action. Expect deep dives into practice frameworks like residential training, Zen ethics, and interbeing, often featuring teachers and practitioners from Upaya Zen Center who bridge meditation, psychology, and social issues. The show often blends traditional teachings with contemporary applications—exploring imagination, rehumanization, and compassionate response to polarization—making it a good fit for listeners seeking spiritual depth paired with practical impact. A notable strength is the consistent hosting of experienced Z... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast:

1. Tricycle Talks
2. The Zen Studies Podcast
3. Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg
4. Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield
5. The Way Out Is In

How many episodes of Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast are there?

Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast launched 20 years ago and published 73 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 Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast?

Recent guests on Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast include:

1. Koshin Flint Sparks
2. Noah Kodo Rowan
3. Senko Perez
4. Monshin Nanette-Owerly
5. Shinzan Palma
6. Cynthia Kerr
7. John Paul Lederach
8. Cynthia Kair

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