Talk
Roshi Joan - Standing at the Edge Dharma Talk
A dharma talk on staying present at the edge of what's difficult, drawn from Standing at the Edge.
About the teacher
A quiet, direct path.
Joan Halifax trained as a medical anthropologist before becoming a Zen teacher, and now serves as abbot and head teacher of Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe. Her work is especially known for applying Zen practice to end-of-life care and to what she calls 'compassionate edge states' — the capacity to stay present with suffering without being overwhelmed by it.
Now in her eighties, she continues to teach through Upaya's ongoing programme and dharma podcast, including a public conversation on Engaged Buddhism in January 2026 and co-teaching with Henry Shukman in February 2026.
Upcoming events
Meet Joan in person.
Talks, day programmes and retreats currently listed in the Paths Are Many calendar.
No upcoming events are currently listed.
Talks & videos
Listen before you attend.
Short introductions and longer conversations give a sense of this teacher's language and style.
Talk
Joan Halifax: Compassion and the true meaning of empathy
Roshi Joan Halifax's widely viewed TED talk distinguishing empathy from compassionate action.