Wendy Johnson & Matthew Kozan Palevsky & Kigaku Noah Rossetter & Joan Halifax: Winter Practice Period 2021 INTRO: Passing through the Gateless Gate

Series Description: Practice Period (Ango or “peaceful dwelling”) is a traditional intensive training period common to most schools of Buddhism. Ango traces its history to the time of Shakyamuni Buddha and the early sangha. Each year, the community would gather together enabling everyone to deepen their practice and polish their understanding through the indispensable teachings of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

Guided by an extraordinary team of teachers and friends, including Roshi Joan Halifax, Roshi Norman Fischer, Roshi Enkyo O’Hara, Sensei Sokaku Kathie Fischer, Sensei Wendy Johnson, Sensei Irène Kaigetsu Bakker, Sensei Jose Shinzan Palma, Natalie Goldberg, Monshin Nannette Overley, Hoshi Matthew Kozan Palevsky and Hoshi Kigaku Noah Rossetter, this unusual, online practice period took a deep dive into koans from the Mumonkan, The Gateless Gate.

Episode Description: In this introduction to the Winter Practice Period: Passing through the Gateless Gate, both Roshi Joan and Sensei Wendy Johnson speak to the specific value of Koan practice in this current political churn. Hoshi Kozan and Hoshi Kigaku speak to the details and the importance of a Practice Period.

To access the entire series, please click on the link below:

Upaya Podcast Series: WINTER PRACTICE PERIOD 2021: Passing Through The Gateless Gate