Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers & Practitioners - O'kagesama-de (All thanks are due to you...) with Reverend Jean Paul Contreras deGuzman

O'kagesama-de (All thanks are due to you...) with Reverend Jean Paul Contreras deGuzman

06/04/24 • 48 min

Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers & Practitioners

Rev. Dr. Jean-Paul Contreras deGuzman talks about how he came to Jodo Shinshu Pureland Buddhist practice coming from a Catholic family and after moving forward from a traditional path as an academic. He and Dana Takagi have an enlivened discussion about the importance and power of cultural gatherings like Mochi-tsuki for sangha and the wider community, and the role of pop culture references in Rev JP's talks in the San Fernando Valley.
REV. DR. JP DEGUZMAN (he/him) is minister’s assistant at the 103-year-old San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple and received tokudo ordination at Nishi Hongwanji in Kyoto, Japan in 2023. He teaches history and Ethnic Studies at Windward School and UCLA where he earned the University Distinguished Teaching Award.
His publications include:
Lions Roar: "The Pure Land is in the West"
Everyday Buddhist: "The Dharma of a Turkey Sandwich"
Wheel of Dharma: "Mindful Action in Mindless TImes: A Buddhist Response to Injustice"
Young Buddhist Editorial: "Gratitude For My Mom"
Explore his website to learn more about his academic publications as well.
Your Host
REVEREND DANA TAKAGI (she/her) is a retired professor of Sociology and zen priest, practicing zen since 1998. She spent 33 years teaching sociology and Asian American history at UC Santa Cruz, and she is a past president of the Association for Asian American Studies.

Previous Episode

Meditating on the Dharma Joy and Disquiet of Asian American and Identity

Dana provides us with some reflections and meditations on this season of ODA so far, inspired by some of the discussion around Asian joy in the last episode with Mihiri Tillakaratne and Noel Alumit. She talks about Asian American versus Asian Diaspora being claimed by some of our conversation partners on the podcast. Dana also talks about a colleague Gary Okihiro, who passed away on May 20th, and his deep impact on expanding the field of Asian American studies to go beyond solely the history of oppressed minorities.
Co-Host: Reverend Dana TakagiDana (she/her) is a retired professor of Sociology and also a zen priest. She spent 33 years teaching sociology and Asian Am history at UC Santa Cruz, she is a past president of the Association for Asian American Studies. Zen practice since 1998.
Check out more of Dana's work:
2022: Sutra and Bible: an Interview with Duncan Ryūken Williams
2020: Most Intimate, Ordinary Way, Recollections of Katherine Thanas (co-eds. with Eugene Bush; 2nd printing 2022)

Next Episode

What Happens When We Don't Get What We Want? with JP deGuzman

Enjoy this short dharma talk from Reverend Jean Paul Contreras deGuzman.
GUEST

REV. DR. JP DEGUZMAN (he/him) is minister’s assistant at the 103-year-old San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple and received tokudo ordination at Nishi Hongwanji in Kyoto, Japan in 2023. He teaches history and Ethnic Studies at Windward School and UCLA where he earned the University Distinguished Teaching Award.
His publications include:
Lions Roar: "The Pure Land is in the West"
Everyday Buddhist: "The Dharma of a Turkey Sandwich"
Wheel of Dharma: "Mindful Action in Mindless TImes: A Buddhist Response to Injustice"
Young Buddhist Editorial: "Gratitude For My Mom"
Explore his website to learn more about his academic publications as well.