Upaya Zen Center: a place of refuge

For many years, I longed to nourish a refuge of practice, learning, and service that would meet our complicated and fraught world with life-giving hands. I had worked with dying people over the decades, and from this work was aware of how precious this life is, how we can use it to end suffering. I had been practicing meditation since the mid-sixties and knew that, at least for me, it had been life-saving. Also, in my early years as an anthropologist and social activist, I had a profound appreciation for the importance of cultural diversity. These threads are woven throughout the cloth of Upaya, and I hope that they will be strengthened even more in our future.

This vision has long been supported by the generosity of others. In the 1990’s, the Upaya House was given to me by Laurance Rockefeller and Richard Baker Roshi. My father's estate came to Upaya, making possible the growth of the center, the social action work we were doing, as well as acquiring land surrounding Upaya, preserving it from development. Strong teachers from various Buddhist schools have generously taught here, as our way is very inclusive. And science, and the work of Francisco Varela and the Lindisfarne Fellowship, have played an important part in how we have structured and focused the center.

A tree has roots, a trunk, a crown, but that is not all... a tree is the very earth it is planted in. For Upaya, that is the American Southwest. Its trunk upholds vows and commitments that make our center strong. The crown of the tree gives shelter to many. This, I hope, is how Upaya will live into the future... strongly rooted in this very earth, with vows in its heart, giving refuge to all. 

— Roshi Joan Halifax  

To learn more about Roshi Joan Halifax and Upaya Zen Center go to Upaya Zen Center.