“… I remember years ago Thich Nhat Hanh said ‘the Coming Buddha is the Sangha’ …” ~ Roshi Joan Halifax
“… bridging divides … I really think of it as … the sacred work of our lifetime …” ~ Tara Brach
Ultimately exploring spiritual topics is all about … bringing “the practice” to everyday reality … embodying it in our daily interactions …
We are living in a time of divisiveness … a sad and unfortunate fact … and yet this adversity offers an opportunity … to transform the division into something larger … perhaps even the opposite : unity or community … to bridging the divide … or as Tara Brach says: “… to shift from {the mindset of} Self-Other to We …” …
The challenge, of course, is how do we make such a shift ? …
So, in today’s post we explore this topic … through Tara and Frank Ostaseski … both of whom have dedicated their lives to service in their own unique ways … and are deeply informed by their lifelong buddhist practice …
Tara’s teachings “… blend Western psychology and Eastern spiritual practices, mindful attention to our inner life, and a full, compassionate engagement with our world …” … and Frank is “… a pioneer in end of life care … “ whose life work has been a “… fusion of spiritual insight and practical social action …”
Both Tara and Frank are regular faculty in various programs at Upaya Zen Center … and earlier this month they were both guests in Upaya’s monthly program – Gathering Dharma – that “… is a series of talks/ programs about compassion, connection and collective action …” It is stewarded by Upaya’s founder, abbott, and head teacher Roshi Joan Halifax and Sensei Matthew Kozan Palevsky … each month’s focus is a relevant engaged buddhism topic explored with one or more Zen teacher.
July’s topic was Bridging The Divide with Tara & Frank … where they explore “… several levels of divides – being at war with ourselves, creating separation in our personal relationships and the societal divides. These two friends and teachers reflect on how we can evolve consciousness from the instinctual habit of Fight, Flight, Freeze to the wholeness and belonging that arises with “Tend and Befriend.” …” ~ excerpted from Upaya’s program page.
Upaya Zen Center is dedicated to serving humanity and is supported by donations. This program is offered freely but donations are encouraged. Here is Upaya’s donation page for this program. Please give whatever your heart leads you to.
May you cultivate … shifting from “self-other” to “we” … in your everyday life … and …
May you remain safe and healthy.
The opening quotes are excerpts from Upaya’s vimeo video. The summary phrase (in the 5th para of the blockquote) about Tara is from her website and Frank’s summary phrase is from his website.
Images: Featured) Tara & Frank’s image excerpted from the vimeo video being shared in this post.
