Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot

On the anniversary of the emancipation of black slaves in the United States, Sensei Kodo and Sensei Kozan inquire into the meaning of freedom. For black people and many others in this country, freedom is not an event, but a continuous project. The work is never finished. Likewise, our personal liberation is never finished, we continuously practice it. And what is this liberation? For Kodo, “I think freedom is seeing reality as it is. Freedom is being in touch with what’s arising in the moment.” If life is a rainbow of unbounded color, we bind ourselves by drawing lines between colors, seeing only “blue”, “green”, or “red”. Our practice is not necessarily to stop making these distinctions, but to hold them lightly, seeing them for what they are so that we may begin to see others more clearly and compassionately. Sensei Kozan discusses the relative and absolute truths of freedom. On the one hand, we are always already free since “everything is everything”. However, when things appear as separate, everything around us can become binding. Kozan closes: “How do we live freedom, knowing that there’s no arriving, that these two truths will always be the stuff of the road we walk?”

In this final gathering of Planting Life 2024, Roshi Joan leads an open circle of sharing with the community who participated virtually in this program. The group shares their commit to personal growth and discuss the importance of truth, generosity, and indigenous traditions. Intentions are set to honor life, deepen generosity, and connect with ancestral food ways. Overall the sharing circle directs us towards hope, peace, and activism, particularly through sustainability.

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In this talk Melissa Nelson shares her deep passion and understanding of economies of wellbeing, regenerative practices, environmental justice movements, and decolonizing philanthropy. Dr. Nelson connects the dots, identifying the importance of ancestral seeds, diverse foodways, and their role in cultural affirmation and healing in our modern systems. Melissa emphasizes the importance of courage, and action, in balancing our food networks and ways of thinking about food and ecology in our modern world.

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In this talk Roxanne Swentzell discusses her work in cultural continuity and the founder of Flowering Tree Permaculture Institute. She speaks to the importance of preserving traditional crops and maintaining traditional foodways. Roxanne also discusses community involvement in land restoration, gardening, and adobe building projects including her own work and visions. Other topics from her talk include empowering women in construction, repatriating stones, and seed exchange among tribes.

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This is the 2nd half of the session where Porter Swentzell explores the history and culture of Pueblo peoples, focusing on the impact of Spanish colonization and American policies. He discusses the persistence of Pueblo culture, the transformation of architecture, and the adoption of corn agriculture. Porter also brings up contemporary challenges faced by Pueblo communities in maintaining educational sovereignty and preserving their language and culture. The need for support in revitalization efforts and ways to ally with Indigenous communities are emphasized.

To access the resources page for this program, please sign up by clicking here.

In this talk Porter Swentzell explores the history and culture of Pueblo peoples, focusing on the impact of Spanish colonization and American policies. He discusses the persistence of Pueblo culture, the transformation of architecture, and the adoption of corn agriculture. Porter also brings up contemporary challenges faced by Pueblo communities in maintaining educational sovereignty and preserving their language and culture. The need for support in revitalization efforts and ways to ally with Indigenous communities are emphasized.

To access the resources page for this program, please sign up by clicking here.