This is the closing session of this program with Roshi Joan leading it with comments from the participants. To access the resources page for this program, please sign up by clicking here. Source ..read more

In this impassioned talk, Jimmy Baca shares deeply personal experiences to illustrate the transformative power of writing and the significance of engaging with the present through art. He recounts his journey from being “just a number” as an inmate to becoming a profound voice for the marginalized. He tells of realizing a gift and using it to capture emotions and experiences in words to connect… Source ..read more

Pico Iyer discusses Haiku as a reflection of Japanese culture, highlighting its brevity, impermanence, and communal aspect. He notes Haiku’s integration into modern Japanese life, from education to public displays, underscoring its function as an exercise in mindfulness and a celebration of nature’s rhythms. Through anecdotes, Iyer illustrates how Haiku and Japanese cultural practices emphasize… Source ..read more

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. Source ..read more

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. Source ..read more

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… Source ..read more

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… Source ..read more

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… Source ..read more

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”… Source ..read more

This is part 2 of the Feb 18th session where Osho Zenju and participants engage in Q&A. In the third part of her series “Darkness is Medicine,” Zenju Earthlyn Manuel delves into the ancestral perspectives on darkness, highlighting its importance and application in our lives, especially during challenging times. She discusses the concept of light merging with darkness, as described by Thich Nhat… Source ..read more