Summary: Episode Descripton: In this talk, Upaya's Maia Duerr first explains what she means by the word "shine." In essence, it is our "buddha nature," our awakened selves. When we tap into this innate luminosity, we shine forth with "prosocial qualities" such as love, compassion, and altruism. Maia then discusses "what gets in the way" of our shining. The primary "culprits," for Maia, are fear and doubt. Finally, Maia offers six ideas for "overcoming" fear and doubt: First, to trust in our basic goodness; second, to have a spiritual practice; third, to deeply love what we do and to do it wholeheartedly; fourth, to focus on what we have, not what is missing; fifth, to embrace the wholeness of who we are; and sixth, to serve others, giving others a chance to shine. Maia ends with a pertinent quote from the Persian mystic Hafiz: "I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being." Bio: Maia Duerr directs Upaya's Buddhist Chaplaincy Program. She serves on Upaya's Engaged Buddhism faculty. She is an anthropologist, writer, and editor. In 2012, Maia received lay ordination from Roshi Joan Halifax as a lay Buddhist chaplain. She is also a student in the Soto Zen lineage of Suzuki Roshi, and has lived and practiced at the San Francisco Zen Center, where she received jukai from Victoria Shosan Austin in 2008. From 2004 to 2008, Maia worked at the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, where she served as executive director and editor of Turning Wheel magazine. From 2002 to 2004, Maia was the research director of the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, in Northampton, MA, where she led a study on the use of meditation and other contemplative practices in secular settings. She is the author of a number of articles on this topic, including "The Contemplative Organization," published in the February 2004 issue of the Journal of Organizational Change Management. Maia's writing can be found on her blog, The Liberated Life Project. She is also the author of a blog on socially engaged Buddhism called The Jizo Chronicles.
