This episode is a continuation of the morning session that set the foundation for exploring haiku, both classic and contemporary expressions, including free haiku and 5-7-5 structure. Roshi Joan, Natalie Goldberg, and Sensei Kaz share their insights and joys coming from their relationship with haiku. Participants are encouraged to write and practice their own haiku. The speakers emphasize the importance of not interpreting or analyzing haiku but rather enjoying the surprise and beauty of the form. The speakers expressed their ongoing struggle to understand haiku and shared a personal story about receiving critical feedback on their own haiku – something we have to be open to if we hope to improve in our life and practice.

Joan Halifax: The Way Of Haiku: Winter at Our Back, Facing the Edge of Spring (2 of 8)

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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Sensei Monshin assures us that we are not so different from the Buddhas and ancestors that inspire us. ”The Buddha way has been kept alive in so many cultures, conditions, lifestyles, and expressions all over the world. So how is it that the Buddhas and ancestors of old were as we?”, she asks. “What are the ingredients that we bring to our practice if and when it’s stripped of considerations of culture, behavior, social relationships, and intellect?“ Monshin highlights steadfast dedication as one of these ingredients. We often believe our practice must be somewhere else, but Monshin reminds us that it is always right here. “Put yourself in a situation and just commit to stay with it. In that situation, that is your place of practice.” This requires great effort and commitment as well as lightness and humor to not be overwhelmed by the enormity of our vows. In continuing to let go of our self-centeredness and turn towards serving life we become more resolute in our determination. “You do what you can in the place that you are with your ingredients and you make it your responsibility because a single spark can change everything.”


Buddhas and ancestors of old were as we

Fresh off a two-week pilgrimage to Japan, Roshi Joan and Upaya’s priests share reflections on their experience. For Roshi Joan, this pilgrimage was about connecting to the historical roots of Zen, cultivating relationships with modern-day practitioners, and touching the ethos of care in Japanese culture. Meeting with old and new friends from temples across the country, the trip was an opportunity to create and deepen relationships and learn through the exchange of cultures. From scroll glue that takes five years to make, “one-tooth” shoes worn to minimize harm to the Earth, and floors that have been cleaned so many times they look like mirrors, this embodiment of care and respect was a theme that repeatedly emerged. For others what stood out was the deep surrender of Japanese practitioners or the profound impact of Upaya’s G.R.A.C.E. trainings in Japan. For many priests, the experience of this pilgrimage is still being processed, but a question arose out of it: What is the heart of Zen practice?
Kodo’s Slideshow:
                                       

Reflections from Japan

This is the closing session of this program with Roshi Joan leading it with comments from the participants.
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The Way Of Haiku: Waking Up Through Writing (9 of 9)

In this impassioned talk, Jimmy Baca shares deeply personal experiences to illustrate the transformative power of writing and the significance of engaging with the present through art. He recounts his journey from being “just a number” as an inmate to becoming a profound voice for the marginalized. He tells of realizing a gift and using it to capture emotions and experiences in words to connect deeply with others and transcend barriers. Baca emphasizes the importance of using one’s talents not for self-aggrandizement but to serve and uplift those around them, embodying the spirit of giving back to the community that supported his own transformation. The talk shifts towards the relevance and application of Haiku in today’s world, advocating for its evolution from a venerated tradition to a dynamic, inclusive medium that resonates with contemporary issues and audiences.
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The Way Of Haiku: Waking Up Through Writing (8 of 9)

Pico Iyer discusses Haiku as a reflection of Japanese culture, highlighting its brevity, impermanence, and communal aspect. He notes Haiku’s integration into modern Japanese life, from education to public displays, underscoring its function as an exercise in mindfulness and a celebration of nature’s rhythms. Through anecdotes, Iyer illustrates how Haiku and Japanese cultural practices emphasize interconnectedness, minimalism, and attentiveness to the present moment. He shares the poignant life story of the Haiku poet Issa, whose works embody resilience and gratitude amidst personal tragedies, drawing a parallel between Issa’s outlook and the Dalai Lama’s approach to life’s hardships. Iyer concludes by reflecting on Haiku’s ability to foster a collective spirit and realistic acceptance of life’s impermanence
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Joan Halifax: The Way Of Haiku: Winter at Our Back, Facing the Edge of Spring (2 of 8)

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