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

Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt’s discussion on Haiku delves into the depth and nuances of this poetic form, exploring its historical context, cultural significance, and the intricacies of its composition. They discuss the story of a young female poet who impressed one of Basho’s main students with her Haiku, demonstrating the longstanding tradition of Haiku as a revered art form.

Peter Levitt’s portion of the talk shifts to the writing aspect of Haiku, describing it as “poetry of the glance” – a moment captured in a brief yet profound way. He highlights the unpredictable yet truthful nature of Haiku, where the juxtaposition of elements brings forth an authenticity that resonates with both the writer and the reader.

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Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt’s discussion on Haiku delves into the depth and nuances of this poetic form, exploring its historical context, cultural significance, and the intricacies of its composition. They discuss the story of a young female poet who impressed one of Basho’s main students with her Haiku, demonstrating the longstanding tradition of Haiku as a revered art form. Tanahashi emphasizes the importance of sound, visual effect, and seasonal elements in Haiku. He explains that the beauty of Haiku often lies in the unexpected pairing of elements that creates a sense of surprise or a clash, leading to a deeper insight or image.

The summary for Peter Levitt’s portion of the talk is provided in the next part (#5).

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Beth Howard’s talk at a Haiku retreat delves into the transformative power of Haiku writing, both as a practice of mindfulness and as a tool for activism. She shares her own journey with Haiku, integrating this with her appreciation for Haiku’s capacity to capture and appreciate fleeting moments of beauty and peace, even in times of personal or global crisis. Howard also discusses her work with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, highlighting how Haiku has helped her maintain balance and focus in her advocacy against gun violence. She stresses the importance of finding common ground in legislative battles, using precise and effective communication, a skill honed through her Haiku practice.

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Natalie Goldberg’s talk on Haiku delves into the life of the famous Haiku poet Matsuo Basho, particularly focusing on Basho’s years of suffering, meditation under the guidance of a Zen priest, and the profound impact this had on his ability to perceive and interact with the world. Goldberg emphasizes Basho’s philosophy of staying awake to the moment, transcending the quest for complete enlightenment to find beauty in the everyday.

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In this opening session Roshi Joan outlines the schedule for the weekend. The faculty then discusses the transformative power of Haiku and shares personal experiences of haiku practice. The themes of each introductory talk highlights the significance of Haiku in its ability to capture moments, describe the natural world, and unlock deep intimacy with ourselves. The conversations also reveal the connections between Zen practice, the art of Haiku, activism, and personal resilience.

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Competitive ultra runner, author, and Zen practitioner Katie Arnold shares how she found Zen through running and, in turn, found running through Zen. Following a traumatic accident that left her running future uncertain, she was introduced to Shunryū Suzuki’s Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, which became a companion on her journey of physical and mental recovery. She speaks of “zeroing out”, moments in life where our identities are shattered and we are forced to begin anew and discover who we really are. Through the practice of beginner’s mind, Katie cultivated a relationship with running free from clinging to outcome. And still, her training approach has paid off at the highest levels of competition. Her life story inspires us to live just for this moment with great determination, not holding onto the past and continuing on in the face of challenge and difficulty.