Sensei Kathie Fischer continues Upaya’s exploration of Zen Master Hongzhi’s teachings on the practice of silent illumination. She describes how Hongzhi, teaching during China’s Song Dynasty, bridges the gap between the early Chan (Zen) of the Tang Dynasty and that of Dogen, the founder of the Soto school of Zen.
Kathie reads Hongzhi’s poetic teachings on the practice of just sitting with the following question: How do we practice zazen without either grasping at every thought and running away with every emotion, on the one hand, or judging our thoughts and emotions and rejecting them, on the other? She invites us to consider that we could engage our thoughts as we would the song of a bird, neither to be clung to nor rejected, but simply experienced.
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Upaya Podcast Series: SPRING PRACTICE PERIOD 2022: Cultivating the Empty Field

Kathie Fischer: Empty the Bright Mirror – Fall Practice Period 2022 (3 of 11)

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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This is part 2 of the Feb 18th session where Osho Zenju and participants engage in Q&A.;
In the third part of her series “Darkness is Medicine,” Zenju Earthlyn Manuel delves into the ancestral perspectives on darkness, highlighting its importance and application in our lives, especially during challenging times. She discusses the concept of light merging with darkness, as described by Thich Nhat Hanh, to emphasize that darkness does not disappear when illuminated but becomes integrated with our awareness. This perspective encourages a reevaluation of our understanding of light and darkness, urging us to see them as intertwined rather than opposing forces.
Manuel introduces the idea of cosmic ceremonies, everyday occurrences where light shaped by darkness manifests, such as witnessing a sunrise. This natural phenomenon symbolizes how light and darkness merge, offering moments of awakening and connection. She also touches on ancient ancestral wisdom and the illumination it brings, suggesting that this wisdom is embedded within us, shaped by generations of experiences and struggles.
Zenju leaves time in this final talk for participants to ask and share their experiences with darkness, offering her own sincere responses in return.
To access the resources page for this program, please sign up by clicking here.

Darkness as Medicine (6 of 6)

In the third part of her series “Darkness is Medicine,” Zenju Earthlyn Manuel delves into the ancestral perspectives on darkness, highlighting its importance and application in our lives, especially during challenging times. She discusses the concept of light merging with darkness, as described by Thich Nhat Hanh, to emphasize that darkness does not disappear when illuminated but becomes integrated with our awareness. This perspective encourages a reevaluation of our understanding of light and darkness, urging us to see them as intertwined rather than opposing forces.
Manuel introduces the idea of cosmic ceremonies, everyday occurrences where light shaped by darkness manifests, such as witnessing a sunrise. This natural phenomenon symbolizes how light and darkness merge, offering moments of awakening and connection. She also touches on ancient ancestral wisdom and the illumination it brings, suggesting that this wisdom is embedded within us, shaped by generations of experiences and struggles.
Zenju leaves time in this final talk for participants to ask and share their experiences with darkness, offering her own sincere responses in return.
To access the resources page for this program, please sign up by clicking here.

Darkness as Medicine (5 of 6)

This is part 2 of the Feb 11th session where Osho Zenju and participants engage in Q&A.;
In the second talk of the series “Darkness as Medicine,” Zenju Earthlyn Manuel begins with Prajnaparamita, an ancient deity representing the perfection of wisdom, often associated with the removal of suffering through enlightenment.
Manuel also explores the concept of darkness not as a negative force but as an essential aspect of spiritual growth and awakening. She suggests that embracing darkness, much like dwelling in the womb, can lead to transformation and enlightenment. This process involves accepting, allowing, and dwelling in darkness without seeking immediate escape or resolution.
By redefining our relationship with darkness, Manuel argues that we can find a deeper, more meaningful connection to life itself. This involves recognizing darkness as a crucial element of love and acknowledging that our journey through darkness is part of a collective human experience, potentially leading to an ascended humanity. Through this perspective, darkness becomes not something to be feared or avoided but a vital path to wisdom
To access the resources page for this program, please sign up by clicking here.

Darkness as Medicine (4 of 6)

In the second talk of the series “Darkness as Medicine,” Zenju Earthlyn Manuel begins with Prajnaparamita, an ancient deity representing the perfection of wisdom, often associated with the removal of suffering through enlightenment.
Manuel also explores the concept of darkness not as a negative force but as an essential aspect of spiritual growth and awakening. She suggests that embracing darkness, much like dwelling in the womb, can lead to transformation and enlightenment. This process involves accepting, allowing, and dwelling in darkness without seeking immediate escape or resolution.
By redefining our relationship with darkness, Manuel argues that we can find a deeper, more meaningful connection to life itself. This involves recognizing darkness as a crucial element of love and acknowledging that our journey through darkness is part of a collective human experience, potentially leading to an ascended humanity. Through this perspective, darkness becomes not something to be feared or avoided but a vital path to wisdom
To access the resources page for this program, please sign up by clicking here.

Darkness as Medicine (3 of 6)

This is part 2 of the Feb 4th session where Osho Zenju and participants engage in Q&A.;
“Darkness as Medicine” delves into the concept of societal and personal ailments as opportunities for profound spiritual reflection and transformation. Zenju Earthlyn Manuel articulates a cycle where love can turn into possession, protection, and ultimately annihilation, depicting it as a deep-rooted illness that parallels the pervasive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasizes the necessity of a spiritual, rather than merely political or psychological, approach to address these challenges, advocating for the power of pausing, reflecting, and choosing life-affirming paths.
Manuel proposes that embracing darkness as an essential part of life allows for the acknowledgment of our interconnectedness and the potential for transformation. Through practices of accepting, allowing, and holding darkness, individuals can experience the consciousness of life and the healing it offers. Darkness, therefore, is not to be feared or avoided but recognized as medicine that prompts us to engage with life more deeply, valuing all its facets.
To access the resources page for this program, please sign up by clicking here.

Kathie Fischer: Empty the Bright Mirror – Fall Practice Period 2022 (3 of 11)

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