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

In this Gathering Dharma session, Rev. Joan Halifax sets the stage with a poignant reading from the Dhammapada on the theme of overcoming hatred through non-hatred, discusses the universal suffering caused by global conflicts, and then introduces the main speaker, Paula Arai. Paula Arai’s talk focuses on the themes of healing and liberation where she explores the concept of wielding liberating power amidst a world riddled with oppression and injustice. She addresses the structural challenges and societal injustices that reinforce suffering, particularly emphasizing the interplay of various identities like race, gender, and class. Arai discusses her journey of exploring the significant yet often overlooked contributions of women in Buddhism, advocating for recognition of their historical and contemporary roles. Through personal anecdotes and reflections on her fieldwork in Japanese Buddhism, Arai underscores the importance of storytelling in conveying experiences of transformative healing. She outlines practical steps for individuals to embody compassion and engage in acts that confront and transform suffering. The talk concludes with a call to acknowledge and elevate the roles and voices of women in Buddhism and beyond, advocating for a more inclusive and just approach to spiritual practice and community engagement.

This talk given by Chenxing Han emphasized the interconnectedness of global and personal suffering and the transformative power of community, compassion, and active engagement. She discussed the challenges and polarizations facing society today, urging attendees to consider their own roles in addressing these issues through the lens of Buddhist teachings. Han highlighted three key concepts: generosity (dana), action and consequence (karma), and spiritual friendship (kalyana mitrata), which she explored through her engagement with various community projects and educational initiatives.

Roshi Joan begins by reflecting on the inception of socially engaged Buddhist training during the pandemic, highlighting the growing need for community and service amidst global crises. Roshi then introduces Rhonda V. Magee, praising her contributions to racial justice and mindfulness. Magee is recognized for integrating mindfulness into racial justice efforts and her role as a thought leader in this area. Magee discusses the importance of recognizing and utilizing personal power and agency to effect change, despite societal or institutional limitations. She explores the concept of power from various perspectives, including personal, status-based, and the collective power within communities. Magee encourages clarity, courage, and compassion in leadership and emphasizes the transformative potential of embracing our interconnectedness and shared humanity to address suffering and injustice.

Roshi Joan Halifax emphasizes the profound suffering caused by wars and genocides around the world, advocating for deep dialogue, recognition of humanity, and the importance of addressing the structures that perpetuate suffering. Highlighting John Peacock’s article, she stresses that if Buddhism doesn’t challenge these structures, it becomes detached from the realities of global suffering. Roshi encourages reflection on personal well-being, the rare and precious human life, the inevitability of impermanence, suffering, and the consequences of actions, urging mindfulness and the transformation of suffering for the benefit of all.

Norman Fischer discusses the profound costs of war and the importance of recognizing humanity and sanity for the sake of all and future generations. He reflects on the both difficulty and ease we have in imagining an end to conflicts and environmental crises. We are encouraged to focus on the possibility of peace and stability through living our the true values in our hearts and actions. Fischer elaborates on the concept of Shanti Paramita (patient forbearance) as crucial for Bodhisattvas facing the world’s troubles. This practice involves not just alleviating suffering but fully understanding and embracing it, acknowledging that suffering is integral to the human experience. He introduces the teachings of Vasubandu on Vitnapti Matrata (consciousness only) to illustrate how our perception of the world is conditioned by our concepts, advocating for a deeper intimacy with our experiences through Zen meditation.

In the opening talk for the Varela Symposium, Professor John Dunne explores the relationship between wisdom and intelligence, particularly in the context of artificial intelligence (AI). He differentiates between intelligence as a problem-solving tool and wisdom as encompassing the capacity for compassion. A key concept Dunne introduces is “Bodhisattva AI,” an AI designed to maximize intelligence by broadening its scope of care to include all sentient beings, aligning AI goals with Buddhist values of alleviating suffering. Dunne critiques conventional goals and cultural assumptions embedded within AI systems, questioning definitions of “flourishing” and the influence of AI on human values. He also addresses the limitations of conceptual systems in capturing reality, stressing that AI lacks a fundamental connection to concrete experience.