Nestled in the quiet historic east valley amidst the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Santa Fe, New Mexico, is the Upaya Zen Center. Heading the monastery in this residential Buddhist community is Joan Halifax Roshi, a Buddhist teacher, Zen priest, anthropologist, and author. She is the founder, Abbot, and head teacher at Upaya. This active Buddhist community offers practices and teachings on engaged Buddhism and on how the modern person can live in the world responsibly with kindness, compassion and wisdom. Upaya’s mission is to encourage, develop and support a sincere and dedicated Buddhist practice community of those engaged in social and individual transformation.

The Grounds and Temples

Upaya boasts a unique campus of beautiful traditional adobe buildings, winding flagstone paths, and mountain views. The Wayring Temple, the zendo, is a place of great beauty and gravity where the mind is prepared for contemplation and enlightenment. Residential rooms are furnished in a unique Asian/Southwestern style, and include the monks’ rooms, double rooms, singles, and dorms. The interior is graced with a large country kitchen and dining area, smaller kitchens for personal use, a large library/study area, a business center, fireplaces throughout, and a spacious and attractive meeting room with a fireplace. The facilities are available to rent for retreats, conferences, and even weddings. The kitchen affords tasteful organic vegetarian foods prepared by terrific chefs. The Southwestern backdrop of turquoise skies and radiant sunsets provide the ideal environment for Buddhist study. Santa Fe enjoys a rich history and a thriving contemporary culture. Guests are only two miles from the must-see downtown plaza.

Daily Activities, Workshops, & Retreats

Upaya offers daily meditations from 7 to 8am and from 5:30 to 6:30pm. Every Wednesday at 5:30pm, the center offers a dharma talk on a variety of topics. These are deeply thought-provoking discussions and lectures often given by well-known Buddhist teachers. The dharma talks and meditations are free and open to the public.

Upaya is strongly committed to an array of diversified teachings in the Buddhist tradition. Some of those include: Practice and training programs in the dharma and social action; International travel and service programs in Asia; Dharma teachings by renowned teachers from around the world; Social action programs in the areas of dying, prison work, women’s rights and the environment; A unique program for the training of priests; and a mature and harmonious residential community of service.

Upaya has a wealth of retreat offerings throughout the year and it is best to check their website often. Some upcoming retreats include:

• How to Intervene in a System for Social Change
• Zazenkai, a day-long silent retreat
• A women’s retreat
• Journey to Mongolia
• Liberation Through Yoga and Buddhism (with Richard Freeman)
• Compassion and Wisdom at the End of Life

There are 17 retreats and workshops between May and September of this year.

Our Comments

The Upaya Zen Center is a very proactive and compassionate Buddhist teaching community with something for everyone. The temple is an expansive and decorative place lined with both chairs and mats. Upaya’s biggest allure is that it offers such a wide variety of ways to participate including workshops, daily teachings, residential studies, international voyages, work exchanges, personal retreats, and intensive trainings.

Visiting Hours & Location

Upaya is open year-round, so your visit would depend on whether you want to book a personal retreat, attend a workshop, or consider residential training. Check the website for the latest offerings. Santa Fe, New Mexico, operates under Mountain Standard Time and is best accessed by the Albuquerque Airport, an hour south. If driving, Upaya is off of I-25 in Northern New Mexico, about two hours south of Taos, and six hours south of Denver.

Upaya Zen Center
1404 Cerro Gordo Road
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
505-986-8518
upaya@upaya.org
www.upaya.org

Photos courtesy of the Upaya Zen Center