In this episode of the Dewdrop Dialogues, I had the pleasure of speaking with author Andy Chaleff about his latest book, "Dying to Live."

We explored the shadowy and rewarding themes of death and the fear of mortality, discussing how these experiences have shaped our lives. Andy shared personal stories and insights from his journey, and we delved into cultural perspectives on death and the transformative power of facing our deepest fears.

This conversation was a thoughtful exploration of life's ultimate certainty and the liberation that can come from embracing it.

Andy's book, Dying to Live is published by Meaningful Relations.
You can also check it out on The Dewdrop's Bookshop page.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Death and Its Cultural Perception

05:41 The Journey of Writing About Death

11:08 Personal Experiences with Death and Fear

16:04 Cultural Perspectives on Death

21:38 Reflections on Life and Maturation

27:24 Holding Space for Others in Their Final Moments

32:54 Experiences with DMT and Altered States of Consciousness

34:49 Control, Surrender, and the Fear of Death

38:55 Engaging with Death: Personal Reflections

43:24 Preparing for Death: Acceptance and Mindfulness

Gaylon Ferguson and Vanessa Able discuss Gaylon's new book, Welcoming Beginner's Mind: Zen and Tibetan Wisdom on Experiencing Our True Nature. The conversation explores the ten images of the ox herding sequence and their progression from seeking the ox to returning to the world. Gaylon also introduces Welcoming Practice and talks about the influence of Zen on the Shambhala tradition. Gaylon shares his personal journey with the ox herding pictures and how he abandoned the project of writing a commentary on Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. The conversation also touches on the importance of beginner's mind, the challenges of not doing anything, and the power of sitting with difficult emotions.

In this podcast episode, Vanessa chats with Susan Murphy, the author of "A Fire Runs Through All Things, Zen Koans for Facing the Climate Crisis." Susan discusses the inspiration behind her book, stemming from her experiences during the devastating 2019-2020 Australian wildfires. She relates these experiences to Zen teachings and practice with koans, illustrating how these notions can help navigate the current ecological and climate crisis.

The discussion includes the impact of community in crisis situations, with Susan emphasising the importance of communal support during the fires and the regenerative nature of the affected landscapes. The conversation further explores the interconnectedness of all beings and the concept of "not knowing," a state of open-mindedness and curiosity essential in Zen practice , as well as in facing global challenges.

Susan also touches on her earlier book, 'Minding the Earth, Mending the World,' noting the changing public perception of climate change over the decade. The conversation concludes with Susan sharing the impact of indigenous wisdom on her thinking and the importance of reconciling with the Earth to heal various societal rifts.

In this episode of the Dewdrop Dialogues podcast, Vanessa Able engages with Tim Burkett, Zen Buddhist priest and author of "Enlightenment is an Accident." Burkett shares his journey into Zen Buddhism, which began in San Francisco in 1964 under the guidance of Shunryu Suzuki. He discusses the evolution and personalization of Zen practice in America, emphasizing the balance between traditional rituals and contemporary approaches. Burkett delves into the concept of enlightenment, explaining it as a return to a natural, unburdened state of living and highlighting its accidental nature in the context of meditation and life experiences. The conversation also touches on the challenges and transformations encountered in deep meditation practice, the role of teachers, and the importance of embracing doubt and uncertainty as part of spiritual growth.

For more interviews and enlightened reading, go to www.thedewdrop.org

Vanessa Able in conversation with Pastoral Counsellor, Chaplain and Dharma Community Leader, Pamela Ayo Yetunde about spirituality, creative writing, interconnectedness, and the need to foster understanding and compassion in today's world.

Indra's Net is a metaphor from ancient Vedic tradition that symbolizes interconnectedness and interdependence. In her new book, "Casting Indra's Net: Fostering Spiritual Kinship and Community," Ayo emphasizes the importance of recognizing and utilizing the wisdom from various spiritual traditions for personal growth and societal well-being.

She talks about the distortion of humanity as a significant threat and the need to shake out the distortions within the interconnected net of existence. Highlighting the scarcity mentality that fuels competition and the distortion of perceiving others as enemies or competitors, Ayo introduces something called the Platinum Rule, which encourages us to engage with others based on their unique needs and desires rather than projecting our own preferences onto them.

Norman Fischer is a poet and a writer, a zen teacher and director of the Everyday Zen Foundation; he is also the co-founder of a Jewish meditation center in San Francisco, as well as a husband and a father. His latest book, When You Greet Me I Bow, is a collection of essays on Buddhism written over the last 30 years that were brought together and edited by Cynthia Schrager. The Dewdrop was delighted to have the opportunity to speak to Norman over Zoom one afternoon in June, and to journey with him into the murky places where Zen, writing and poetry meet. Interview by Vanessa Able.

Read transcript of this conversation is here. For more reading inspiration, visit The Dewdrop.

In this very first episode of the Dewdrop Dialogues podcast, Vanessa Able talks with Hosan Alan Senauke, Abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center in California and author of the new book ‘Turning Words.’ In Zen tradition, ‘turning words’ are words that can help one turn towards awakening or change a person’s direction. Alan shares various examples of turning words he has encountered in his life, including a powerful encounter with his teacher Sojun Weitsman Roshi, whose lasting teaching has been to "let things fall apart".