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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
Compassion
Mindfulness
Dogen
Zen Buddhism
Bodhisattva
Zen Practice
Zazen
Zen
Social Justice
Impermanence
Meditation
Community
Suffering
Climate Change
Haiku
Death
Poetry
Upaya Zen Center
Paradox

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
BuddhismPhilosophyReligion & SpiritualitySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast

Latest Episodes

In Part 11, the closing of the Varela Contemplative Science Retreat, Roshi Joan Halifax, John Dunne, Molly Crockett, and Adam Frank address questions from the participants. To access the resources page for this program, please sign up by clicking her... more

In Part 10 of the Varela Contemplative Science Retreat, Roshi Joan Halifax, John Dunne, Molly Crockett, and Adam Frank gather as a panel to open questions on AI before circling back through the retreat’s full arc. The AI discussion ranges widely: LLM... more

In Part 9 of the Varela Contemplative Science Retreat, Roshi Joan Halifax introduces a pre-recorded conversation with author Michael Pollan on the value and limits of mystical experience. Drawing on William James’s pragmatic test — treat mystical ins... more

In Part 8 of the Varela Contemplative Science Retreat, Adam, Molly, John, and Roshi Joan open the floor to important questions of our time. Following Molly’s session on AI and Buddhist ethics, she is asked whether AI models that claim consciousness d... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Bhikkhu Bodhi
Buddhist monk and translator/teacher
Theravada Buddhist tradition
Episode: The Measure of Our Humanity: WISDOM
Noa Kodo Rowan
Dharma teacher and community member
Upaya Zen Center
Episode: Open Dharma: Taking Refuge in Community
Koshin Flint Sparks
Speaker for this episode
Not specified
Episode: Caught in the Self-Centered Dream
Clayton Dalton
Speaker for the episode, medical professional
Episode: The Transformative Power of Suffering: Finding an Appropriate Response
Tuck Stibich
Speaker for this episode
Upaya Zen Center
Episode: Breathe with Your Ears
Lorene Flaming
Speaker for this episode
Episode: Appreciate Your Life: Reflections on Interbeing
Alonso Mendez
Indigenous teacher featured in the program
Episode: Planting Life 2026: Corn, Culture, and the Living Stars (Part 6b)
Roxanne Swentzell
Pueblo artist; founder of Flowering Tree Permaculture Institute
Flowering Tree Permaculture Institute
Episode: Planting Life 2026: Ancestral Knowledge
Beata Tsosie Pena
Birth worker, farmer, seed keeper; indigenous designer and environmental justice advocate
Tewa and Indigenous communities in New Mexico
Episode: Planting Life 2026: A Little Drop of Love

Host

Joan Halifax
Host of Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast (and related programs); founder and senior teacher at Upaya Zen Center; renowned for socially engaged Buddhism and interfaith, end-of-life care, and prison-work initiatives.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 416 ratings
  • Anchoring

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    coriolis86
    United Statesa year 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.

The show is a trusted source for mindful activism and ethical leadership
Episodes are described as both uplifting and practically actionable
Listeners praise clarity, compassion, and practical wisdom from teachers
Guests are diverse, bringing deep expertise and lived experience to important issues

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Zen and Indigenous Perspective on Spirituality and Governance
Q: Could you distinguish between the patterns and structure of the practice of Buddhism and habits?
The practice is about conscious entering and observing, where repetition is mindful and adaptable, and habits should be interrupted to maintain presence and openness to learning.
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.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
Household Income
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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?

Conversations center on compassionate action, ethical leadership, and social engagement through Buddhist practice. Episodes frequently blend Dharma with real-world crises—democracy, climate, health care, incarceration, Indigenous lifeways, and community resilience—while offering practical guidance for personal practice and civic responsibility. The show's strength lies in integrating traditional teachings with contemporary challenges, featuring a mix of senior teachers, clinicians, Indigenous scholars, and community organizers who illuminate how wisdom can inform everyday action and systemic change. Potential guests and topics tend to emphasize humility, interdependence, and planetary stewardship, making it valuable for listeners seeking mi... 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. Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein
3. Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield
4. Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg
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. Bhikkhu Bodhi
2. Noa Kodo Rowan
3. Koshin Flint Sparks
4. Clayton Dalton
5. Tuck Stibich
6. Lorene Flaming
7. Alonso Mendez
8. Roxanne Swentzell

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