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

This is a continuation of final session which concludes the four part series Four Flavors of Love. Frank Ostaseski reminds us the brahmaviharas are considered powerful and beautiful aspects of the human mind and heart that can be cultivated and shared. Frank reviews each “flavor of love,” highlighting the features of each: Metta, Karuna, Mudita, Upekkha. The session also discusses the near enemies of each of these heavenly abodes.

This session concludes the four part series Four Flavors of Love. Frank Ostaseski reminds us the brahmaviharas are considered powerful and beautiful aspects of the human mind and heart that can be cultivated and shared. Frank reviews each “flavor of love,” highlighting the features of each: Metta, Karuna, Mudita, Upekkha. The session also discusses the near enemies of each of these heavenly abodes.

In this session of the Four Flavors of Love participants focus on Mudita, the third Brahma vihara, which translates to appreciative joy or sympathetic joy. Mudita involves finding joy in the basic goodness of all beings and recognizing the fundamental well-being of ourselves and others. Frank addresses potential concerns, such as whether focusing on joy might lead to ignoring the plight of those who are struggling. Frank argues that Mudita doesn’t release us from our responsibility for compassionate action and that it is based on rejoicing in good qualities and good choices.

This is a continuation of the second session of this series where Frank Ostaseski emphasizes the interconnectedness of the four brahmaviharas and how they support each other. This talk focus on Karuna (Compassion) and includes guided practice of compassion using phrases to evoke the quality of compassion and extend it to various beings.

In the second session of this series Frank Ostaseski emphasizes the interconnectedness of the four brahmaviharas and how they support each other. This talk focus on Karuna (Compassion) and includes guided practice of compassion using phrases to evoke the quality of compassion and extend it to various beings.

Two days after the skies darkened from the solar eclipse, Sensei Wendy Johnson reminds us that “in dark times, the eye begins to see.” With her characteristic spirit and tenderness, Wendy encourages us to let in the difficult truths of our times and practice stillness and service. We can turn towards the wisdom of nature and ecology to guide us in our practice. As she teaches middle school children, “matter cycles, energy flows, and life exists in a web.” How can we deepen our understanding of our interconnectedness? She says by “knowing that only the whole can begin to stitch together the world.” We become whole by welcoming each component of this one body, each one’s unique role and value. In this work, we must also adapt to our times – shifting, flowing, and pushing against the stream. “Don’t wait for your good ideas to rot on the vine. Ripen them, eat them, and share them now!”