Dorotea Mendoza & Matthew Kozan Palevsky: Inside Out: Sitting, Writing, and Being Fully in this World (1 of 9)

Series Description: Sometimes the weight of suffering—personal, interpersonal, universal—and our desire to alleviate it can either be paralyzing or make us go into overdrive. Sometimes we may be doing more harm than good, to ourselves, to those around us, to this planet. Sometimes we may cling to ideas of how the world should be fixed, which closes us off to possibilities and which could blind us to the point where we can no longer see one another. How do we practice the Three Tenets of not-knowing, bearing witness, and compassionate action right here and now!? What is the relationship between our inner life and the outer world? How can the practice of writing help us stay fluid, unstuck, awake to each moment?  How can it help us navigate all that’s going on within and without? This is a weekend to dive into writing practice, meditation, and the continuous inquiry of being in the world. We do this in community. We sit and walk meditation together. We write together. We read aloud and listen deeply to each other. Open to all levels. Some familiarity with Zen Buddhism will be helpful. That said, whether you’re a beginning writer or have been writing for decades, this retreat is for you. The main requirement is an open mind, the willingness to relax, get messy, and let things unfold, and the commitment to work—to put pen on paper. This Upaya program is co-sponsored by the Buddhist Action Coalition, Black Breath Sits, and Sari-Sari Women of Color Arts Coup. Episode Description: Matthew Kozan Palevsky and Dorotea Mendoza introduce the Inside Out writing and meditation program. Kozan describes the program’s theme of the Three Tenets: I vow to penetrate the unknown I vow to bear witness I vow to heal myself and others Kozan asks us to consider the following questions in light of the Three Tenets: What keeps us separate? What keeps us from thinking that we know the right way? What keeps us from seeing our unity? What are the practices that help us and all beings experience our interdependence? After a guided meditation, Dorotea introduces us to writing practice and provides us with writing topics. To access the resources page for this program, please sign up by clicking here. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Upaya Podcast Series: Inside Out 2022