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PODCAST

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers & Practitioners

Rev. Liên Shutt & Rev. Dana Takagi

Welcome to "Opening Dharma Access," a podcast where we hear stories from BIPOC teachers & practitioners about their Dharma experiences and practice, and how those inform the ways they are sharing & practicing the Dharma today. Season 3 & 4 description: Hosted by Rev. Liên Shutt & Rev. Dana TakagiThis season, we will have a new focus: Uplifting and Forwarding Asian American/Asian Diasporic Buddhist Experiences in the West.With our guests and audience, we will explore the specificities

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All Episodes

51:29

Season 4 Wrap-Up: Can "What is AA & AD Buddhism" Be...

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2026/04/07

Rev. Liên & Rev. Dana tries -- & about what it might be our future, too! Zen Fools! :) The Co-Host reflect on 2 Seasons forwarding Asian American (AA) & Asian Diasporic (AD) Buddhist teachers & practitioners; along with other AAs who have shaped our collective understanding of race and racialization in the U.S. We thank Rev. Dana Takagi for her dedication to these aims for the last 2 seasons! These archives would not be the same without her or her guests' voices! We'll be drop...

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21:07

Well-Being Chant & Reflection Meditation with Rev....

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2026/03/17

As our world continues to tumble, here's a Soto Zen chant for Well-being. Kannon, or Kanzeon, are the Japanese names for the Bodhisattva of Compassion. This chant is calling on her/them to support us to be with "the cries of the world." Traditionally, just a chant. Here, Rev. has embedded it with a meditation, offering guidance to reflect on how to practice being with and be nourished by our kind heart-minds, aching in the midst of difficulties. May our practice be for the benefit of all bein...

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35:10

Reverend Joseph Cheah: Lived Experience as the Core...

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2026/03/03

Reverend Joseph Cheah sits down with Dana to discuss his research and writings which push back against dominant understandings of Asian religions that were propagated by Western frameworks. He brings his combination of familial and cultural Buddhist roots with his Catholic faith and livelihood to also offer the idea that anti-hate activism by Asian organizers is a deep kind of spiritual social practice in action. GUEST REVEREND JOSEPH CHEAH OSM, Ph.D. is Professor of Religious Studies...

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10:24

All Our Ancient Twisted Karma w/ Rev. Dana Takagi

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2026/02/17

This month on Opening Dharma Access, we continue to shift from our regular schedule to focus on the ongoing ICE occupation and state-supported destruction impacting the globe. Rev. Dana Takagi reflects on her personal experience of returning to some foundational practice tools during a time of grieving, and the necessity as practitioners to double down in times of intense hatred and anger. She also talks about chanting and acknowledging one's own ancient twisted karma, always being a work in ...

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28:27

Ideas for Practicing Dharma in the Midst of Fascism...

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2026/02/03

This month on Opening Dharma Access, we continue to shift from our regular schedule to focus on the ongoing ICE agency violence. Rev. Dana Takagi speaks about the many ways to respond to fascism from a Dharma perspective, whether that be peaceful protest or staying educated on which systems can be used as shields for the vulnerable. Dana recommends some reading, watching and podcasts, to understand in detail how the current presidential administration is consistently acting as a fascist regim...

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33:54

5 Ways to Respond to the Cries of the World (aka...

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2026/01/28

The 5 Ways of "a superior person's gift" are (as ordered in this talk): right time, respectfully, with a generous heart, without denigration, & out of faith. Given the heart-breaking events in the US this week, ODA will present a series of offerings from both hosts, Rev. Liên Shutt & Rev. Dana Takagi. This episode is from a talk at Access to Zen, Rev. Liên's sangha. Video of talk & other references can be found on the Dharma Talk page at AccessToZen.org Rev. Dana's commentar...

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5:36

Asian American Feminist Buddhist Rage, Trauma, and...

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2026/01/20

A reading from Sharon's edited and author of Emergent Dharma (& go get the book!) Sharon A. Suh is Professor of Buddhism and Associate Dean for Faculty Scholarship and Strategic Initiatives at Seattle University. She is author of Being Buddhist in a Christian World: Gender and Community in a Korean American Temple (University of Washington Press, 2004), Silver Screen Buddha: Buddhism in Asian and Western Film (Bloomsbury Press, 2015), Occupy This Body: A Buddhist Memoir (Sumeru Press, 201...

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10:56

Being with the Body in the Body: Excerpt Reading with...

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2026/01/13

Reading an excerpt from their chapter in Emergent Dharma. Enjoy (& go get the book!) Rev. Syd Yang, MDiv (they/them), is a mixed race/Taiwanese American queer trans/non- binary Buddhist Minister, movement chaplain, spiritual counselor and writer who engages decolonial possibilities for shared liberation through their practice, Blue Jaguar Healing Arts. Syd’s work and writing finds its resonance in the stories we each hold at the intersection of memory, body, sexuality and mental health. S...

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55:14

Asian American Feminist Buddhists: Undefined! with...

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2026/01/06

Join us for this embodied & inclusive-focused discussion! It'll leave you wanting more so go out and get Emergent Dharma: Asian American Feminist Buddhist on Practice, Identity, and Resistance! Guest: Sharon A. Suh is Professor of Buddhism and Associate Dean for Faculty Scholarship and Strategic Initiatives at Seattle University. She is author of Being Buddhist in a Christian World: Gender and Community in a Korean American Temple (University of Washington Press, 2004), Silver Screen Budd...

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9:26

Rev. Dana Takagi Speaks on Eiheiji's First Teaching...

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2025/12/16

Rev. Dana Takagi reflects on the significance of Abbot Yuko Yamada being the first woman teacher at the founding temple of Soto Zen, Eiheiji. Dana also highlights Yamada's teaching of the Denkōroku, a text written by the ancestor Keizan who emphasized making Buddhism accessible to the masses and not just monastic residential practitioners. Dana emphasizes Abbot Yamada's ongoing contributions to moving Buddhism forward into a more inclusive and accessible future, both in Japan and globally.&nb...

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45:10

Reintroducing Contemplative Zen in Japan w/ Abbot...

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2025/12/02

GUEST YUKO WAKAYAMA YAMADA is the abbot of Shogakuji in Tokyo. She currently teaches at the International department of Eiheiji. She is the first nun to teach at Eiheiji, the head monastery of Soto Zen founded by Dogen Zenji. She trained at Aichi Senmon Niso-do, a training temple for female Soto Zen priests, where she also currently teaches. She was ordained in 1999 by the highly respected Rev. Shundo Aoyama-roshi. She was sent to Mt. Equity Zendo in United States for 2.5 years and has also p...

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5:00

Water Offering with Eunji Son

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2025/11/18

You are invited to listen in a quiet space with headphones (will be louder) or speakers (will be quieter) at a constant volume. 4 minutes 15 seconds. Eunji Son is based in South Korea, evolving her relationship with ancestral land, and practicing as a photo collage and mixed media artist. She works behind the scenes at A2Z and ODA as a part-time assistant.

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56:13

"How Am I Going to Serve My Purpose Today?" with...

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2025/11/04

Find out a bit more about Eunji Son, Access to Zen's (A2Z) part-time admin and all-the-time SUPPORT for us all who practice or engage with any A2Z events or digital content. Hear how her own practice and spiritual journey has taken her far, wide -- and deep! GUEST: EUNJI SON is based in South Korea, evolving her relationship with ancestral land, and practicing as a photo collage and mixed media artist. She works behind the scenes at A2Z and ODA as a part-time assistant. CONTACT: You kno...

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16:32

Life Aching for Itself: Zazen & Working with...

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2025/10/22

"Practice" part of convo between Siddhesh Mukerji & Rev. Liên. GUEST: SIDDHESH MUKERJI (he/him) is a Zen practitioner and a scholar of engaged Buddhism and Buddhist social work. He was born in India, grew up in the United States, and currently lives in Ireland. HOST: REV. LIÊN SHUTT (she/they) is a recognized leader in the movement that breaks through the wall of American white-centered convert Buddhism to welcome people of all backgrounds into a contemporary, engaged Buddhism. As an orda...

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28:50

Buddhism as Engaged & Political with Siddhesh Mukerji

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2025/10/07

Tune in to this soulful conversation between Siddhesh Mukerji and Rev. Liên on the intersections of Engaged Buddhism & Buddhist Social Work. GUEST: SIDDHESH MUKERJI (he/him) is a Zen practitioner and a scholar of engaged Buddhism and Buddhist social work. He was born in India, grew up in the United States, and currently lives in Ireland. Siddhesh writes and does research on social work and engaged Buddhism. HOST: REV. LIÊN SHUTT (she/they) is a recognized leader in the movement that...

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11:57

Morning Chant, guided meditation, and Offering of...

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2025/09/16

Judy Nakatomi shares meditative offerings: Morning Chant from the Plum Village Tradition, guided meditation, and an Offering of Merit from the Shin Tradition in Japanese (Ékoku). The recording of bird sounds was made by Judy at Plum Village. Listen to her full interview with Rev. Liên to hear about Judy's experience with biculturality and the complexity and beauty of practicing Buddhism across traditions. GUEST: JUDY YUSHIN NAKATOMI (she/we) is a mother, partner, auntie, write...

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41:49

Belonging to Zen, Belonging to Shin: Two Traditions,...

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2025/09/02

Judy Yushin Nakatomi talks about her practice in the Zen and Shin traditions. She also discusses how she is practicing with her Bodhisattva vows through engaging with the current internment of minority people, while practicing awareness of her own family's history with war wounds. Judy and Rev Liên share with each other some of the nuances of having or not having access to ancestral languages and culture, and how they navigate being Asian American Buddhist practitioners in the United States.&...

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9:14

How Thinking Drives Our Beliefs & Actions: with Rev....

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2025/08/19

Buddhist teachings on how we have been conditioned to interpret raw data; which then drives us to behave. -- An excerpt from Rev. Liên's book, Home is Here, to accompany Professor Michael Omi's in-depth interview on racial formation this month. REV. LIÊN SHUTT (she/they) is a recognized leader in the movement that breaks through the wall of American white-centered convert Buddhism to welcome people of all backgrounds into a contemporary, engaged Buddhism. As an ordained Zen priest, licensed s...

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39:10

The Struggle to Construct Racial Meaning with Michael...

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2025/08/05

Professor Michael Omi joins Rev. Dana to help us contextualize the current climate of racial formation, namely the propagation of a far-right ideology of an oppressed white race, in a much longer history of constant changing in definitions of and associations with racial identities. In Buddhist terms, we can see the theory that Michael co-developed contains an essential Buddhist perspective, namely that of Mental Formations. Stay tuned later this month for a practice offering from Rev. Liên! ...

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13:58

I Vow to Save All Beings: Insisting on My Own...

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers &... ·

2025/07/15

This practice offering is from co-host Rev. Dana Takagi, in connection with Professor and Historian Alice Yang's interview, "Our Heritage of Othering and Resistance" which dropped July 1st. Dana speaks to the need to address specific kinds of suffering as Buddhist teachers and practitioners, as not all suffering is the same. She reflects on the vow to save all beings, and how this stems from a grounded embodiment of our own humanity to understand the humanity of others who need our support th...

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