Recorded: May 23rd, 2008
Speakers:Roshi Joan Halifax
Show:73

Roshi Joan Halifax gives this Dharma talk about the 5th Precept by focusing on the need to practice presencing each moment just as it is without needing to change anything including altering our mind state. She explores the truth of many substances and experiences which can toxify our capacity for embodying wisdom and compassion.

Recorded on: May 23rd, 2008
Posted on: July 3rd, 2008
Speaker: Roshi Joan Halifax
Show: 82

Roshi Joan Halifax speaks during the Yoga and Buddhism retreat about the fine points of discerning the difference between attention, presence, consciousness and awareness; the mind/body dichotomy; various forms of meditation and focus.

Recorded: May 21st, 2008
Speakers: Joan Halifax
Show: 80

Roshi Joan Halifax uses the koan of the Iron Flute to speak about legacy (the effects of our efforts). She discusses our imperative to live fully every moment but tempered by the commitment and responsibility to nourish the Dharma.

Koan

Recorded: April 9th, 2008
Speakers: Joan Halifax
Show: 79

Roshi relates her recent experience at Eihei-ji Monastery in Japan,
founded by Eihei Dogen, father of the Soto Zen school. Experiences
at the monastery illuminate a realization and experience of
continuities punctuated by the natural cycles of seasonal change.

Eihei Dogen
Soto Zen

Recorded December 5, 2007
Speakers: Kazuaki Tanahashi Sensei, Roshi Enkyo O’Hara & Roshi Joan Halifax

Tanahashi Sensei tells a story of Dogen’s response to his monks when asked about the Buddha’s enlightenment. Next Enkyo Roshi speaks the error of seeking “enlightening” as something outside ourselves or different from what we are and how we cut off and separate ourselves allowing the formation of “other” and “enemy”. Roshi Joan speaks about the Denkai ceremony, the central importance of relationship and mutuality in the practice, of coming to know one another in an uncommon way, of coming to know our own heart, and of the importance of not finding fault with the present moment.

Recorded December 4, 2007
Kazuaki Tanahashi Sensei & Beate Seishin Stolte

Tanahashi Sensei continues on the theme of Buddha’s enlightenment with his gentle teasing and provocative questions. Next, Beate Seishin Stolte, the new Vice Abbot at Upaya asks us to reflect on what it means to have an enlightened mind. She relates a story from childhood to illustrate the concept of the ‘field of mind’ and speaks about finding stillness and ease both in our meditation and our lives.

Recorded December 3, 2007
Kazuaki Tanahashi Sensei and Roshi Enkyo Pat O’Hara

Tanahashi Sensei speaks on Buddha’s enlightenment leaving us with an vocative question for reflection. He is followed by Enkyo Roshi who uses koan stories and writings from Stephen Dunn, W.H. Auden, and Zen Master Dogen to illustrate the theme of Buddha’s enlightenment by asking the questions,” What really is the transformation known as enlightenment? What, exactly are we celebrating? “

Recorded December 2, 2007
Kazuaki Tanahashi Sensei & Roshi Joan

Tanhashi Sensei opens this first dharma talk of Rohatsu sesshin by speaking about ignorance and stupidity in relation to both violence and wisdom. Is meditation an escape for us or a way to see our own violence?

Roshi Joan Halifax speaks next about bringing everything into the practice. She quotes from Helen Keller, Arthur Miller, Viktor Frankl and others and includes recent experiences from a trip to Vietnam and Nanjing as she asks us to presence things just as they are.

Recorded: October 24th, 2007
Speakers: Tias Little
Show: 72

Tias Little, founder of Prajna Yoga gives this talk about the bservation of movement and change both within and without. He quotes from Buddha, Dogen and Thich Nhat Hanh as he explores the ‘most powerful of mindfulness meditations’ –that on birthing and deathing.

He discusses how our bias towards the present moment creates a tickiness which pulls us out of the present moment and discusses ways we might ‘right our boat” and re-orient our attention.

More on Prajna Yoga

Recorded: September 26, 2007
Speaker: Roshi Joan Halifax

Roshi Joan Halifax gives this dharma talk on the subject of karma. She distinguishes among the antiquated idea of karma as a system based on causality versus the reality of a huge net of interacting factors both knowable and never to be discovered. She compares her experiences with the political and civil unrest of the 60’s to the unfolding of current events in Burma.

More on Joan Halifax

More on Burma