text: Dear Friends of Upaya, Just as Avalokiteshvara has many hands and eyes, so does the Upaya sangha. Our work and programs touch people around the world. We so rarely get an opportunity to step back and look at Upaya’s entire mandala of friendship and service, so as Roshi Joan Halifax begins her return after her […]
  When Upaya resident Meredith Kemp was just eight years old, she visited a monastery. Standing outside the temple, she remembers, “I knew this roaring silence I had never experienced before was coming from behind those doors.”
  It seems that, as a culture, we have developed a fear of wildness itself. Perhaps nature reminds us of the untamed, inner wildness of our own minds and hearts. We easily project this uncharted inner human landscape onto the natural world. However, as we learn how to navigate and feel comfortable with the wilder aspects […]
  Working as a breakfast cook changed from being a point of failure into an opportunity to help others. Each omelet was a gift for a dear friend. When I diced tomatoes I dropped into my heart and took my time placing them on the plate. Giving myself to the work allowed me to serve in […]
  Sometimes all we notice is our critical, judging thoughts. However, as much as that can be true, there is also plenty of time when the critic is not predominant and our mind is quiet.