Paths of Practice: Conversations on Journeys into Buddhism

Euna is a multicultural, unaffiliated renunciate dedicating their life to the Dhamma (Laws of Nature) as taught by Buddha. Cave yogi-poet who loves exploring diverse, inclusive, and fun routes to awakening. Enthusiastic about ascetic training in caves and wilderness, nervous system theory, and Brahma-Vihara practices. Primary focus is on Cittanupassana and Hwadu. Formally trained in Vipassana & Samatha meditation (Myanmar Theravada and Korean Seon lineages), and monasticism at Mahapajapati Monastery. Completed BA in Ethnic Studies: Race, Gender, and Power at Mills College. Currently, board secretary at Mahapajapati Foundation, resident steward at Mahapajapati Monastery, and Registered Behavior Technician. Learn more about their adventures at scoby.substack.com.For other resources mentioned in the episode, please visit the following links:https://mahapajapatiinfo.wordpress.com/https://dharmatreasure.org/We talked about:*Recovery Dharma at San Francisco Zen Center and developing a meditation practice*Daehaeng Sunim, Mahapajapati Monastery, and dharma in the wilderness *Cave meditation, renunciation, and learning what feels good and what doesn't*Cooking at a Korean monastery, identity, and poetry*Leading meditation and the excitement and fulfillment of facilitating queer retreats*And the importance studying your role models and safely jumping into your practice.

Assaf Katz is an activist and Buddhist teacher in Israel who opposes the Israeli governments’ devastating military action and long occupation in Palestine, and is dedicated to finding a path to peace. He has been practicing meditation and the path of the Dharma since 2007, mostly from the Vipassana tradition and also from Non-Duality traditions, and has practiced for long periods in Israel and abroad. Since 2016, he has been living in Clil and taking part of the staff of Meshiv Nefesh, a center and home for spiritual practice in the spirit of Buddhism.Assaf's focus mostly deals with bringing the practice to everyday life and strengthening the wide vision of the Dharma as a whole spiritual path which includes the development of wisdom, moral conduct and development of the mind.Assaf sees much importance in developing and creating communities which practice the Dharma, as a way for personal and collective liberation. Assaf is also active in social, environmental and political issues.For more information about the resources Assaf mentioned, please see the following links:https://tovana.org.il/enhttps://engagedharma.wordpress.com/https://www.sanghaseva.org/https://www.tarabrach.com/https://plumvillage.org/We discussed:*Dharma and being introduced to the teachings of HH Dalai Lama through Assaf’s brother*Exploring nonduality through Advaita Vedanta at Meshiv Nefesh*October 7th and listening to Martin Luther King Jr.'s teachings*Vulnerability and the potential that comes from being with suffering*And the importance of truly loving this world, all of it, and applying that love and care towards liberation

Alexander James O'Neill is a specially appointed assistant professor at the Department of Liberal Arts at Musashino University, Tōkyō. He was previously a research fellow at the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. He received his PhD from the University of Toronto's Department for the Study of Religion.He has a broad range of interests, including Sanskrit Buddhist texts and manuscripts from South Asia, especially Nepal. He has a passion for Newar Buddhism and the Newar language and culture. In addition, he is interested broadly in Mahāyāna Buddhism, ranging from Sanskrit and Newar literature to Chinese and Japanese Buddhist texts and practices.For more information about Dr. O'Neill, please see the following links:https://www.alexanderjoneill.com/https://www.shingansportal.com/https://www.zonkakuproject.org/We talked about:*Zonkaku and creating open source dharma resources*The Secrets of the Tathāgata and the Buddha meeting us as we are*Practicing in different traditions and finding Jōdo Shinshū through a connection with Amitabha*Newar Buddhism, Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, and Buddhist book worship*And the importance of focused reading and finding a teacher or trusted dharma friend to help guide you along the path

Jhani Randhawa is an interdisciplinary artist and scholar, whose praxis centres the performative uses of literature, archival marginalia, and bodies to illuminate limits of legality, memory, and racially gendered power within the ongoing ecological crises of settler colonialism. Winner of the 2024 California Book Award for their debut poetry collection, Time Regime (Gaudy Boy, 2022), Jhani’s work has appeared in the New Art Gallery Walsall (Walsall, England) and the Czong Institute for Contemporary Art (Gyeonggi-do, South Korea), as well as publications A Mouth Holds Many Things: A Hybrid Literature Anthology, ASAP/J, 128 Lit, Footnotes, and O BOD, among others. You can learn more about their work at www.jfkrandhawa.com.For more information about Sujatha Baliga and Spiritual Fitness, please see the following link:https://www.sujathabaliga.com/spiritual-fitnessFor more information about Annah, Infinite by Khairani Barokka, please see the following link:https://www.tiltedaxispress.com/annah-infiniteWe discussed:The relationship between Buddhist practice and artDiving deep in community during a retreat at the Upaya Zen CenterSurabhi (aka Kamadhenu) and early experiences with SikhismObsessive-Compulsive Disorder and learning to accept your whole selfAnd the importance of taking your time with the tensions that come up along the Buddhist path and practicing “looking again”Also, think about creating a photo journal!

Daijaku was ordained in 1988, completed her priest training Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, and received Dharma transmission (full authorization as a Soto Zen teacher), in 2004 from Sojun Mel Weitsman Roshi (Abbot of Berkeley Zen Center and Abbot of San Francisco Zen Center from 1988- 1997).After her priest training, Daijaku completed a master’s degree in counseling psychology and a PhD on the teachings and practice of Soto Zen with a focus on effective ways to support a deep engagement with the path of practice. Daijaku has taught and led retreats in a variety of settings including Gampo Abbey with the Venerable Pema Chodron and at Buddhist temples throughout the U.S. She continues to learn from and incorporate teachings and wisdom from Buddhist traditions beyond Soto Zen, while remaining deeply rooted in the Soto Zen way.She is a Professor Emerita at the Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS), a Buddhist seminary and graduate school and member school of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley California, where she founded and directed the Buddhist chaplaincy graduate program, as well as the Certificate in Soto Zen Studies. She continues her involvement at IBS in a less formal way.Jaku was appointed Kokusaifukyoshi (International Teacher) by the Soto Zen School (Sotoshu) in Tokyo Japan in 2009 and is a board member of the Association of Soto Zen Buddhists, a Sotoshu organization of Kokusaifukyoshi in North America. She is also a full member of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association, served as a board member of that organization from 2007 – 2013, and is a member of the American Zen Teacher’s Association. She is the author of Trust Realization and the Self in Soto Zen Practice and numerous articles on Buddhism. For more information, please visit the following link:https://oceangatezen.org/We talked about preparations for an upcoming Jukai at Ocean Gate Zen Center, beginnings in Zen and the invitation to enter practice “completely as you are," Tassajara Zen Mountain Center and pursuing a degree in counseling, developing the Buddhist chaplaincy program and the Certificate in Soto Zen Studies at the Institute of Buddhist Studies, and the importance of remembering that "discipline is following what you love" and that you can find a way to be in this world as it is.