ROHATSU: Circle of the Way (Online) at Upaya

Join us for ROHATSU: Circle of the Way, a profound Zen event hosted online by Upaya Zen Center on Tuesday, December 1, 2026. This sacred gathering invites practitioners of all levels to explore the depths of Zen practice and contemplative wisdom. Rohatsu—the commemoration of Buddha's enlightenment—creates a unique opportunity to deepen your practice and connect with a wider community of seekers walking the Way.

Michael Pollan, renowned writer and educator, joins us as a featured guest to explore the intersection of mindfulness, nature, and our relationship with the living world. His incisive investigations into food systems, agriculture, and ecology bring a contemplative lens to how we inhabit this earth. This Zen event uniquely bridges traditional Buddhist practice with contemporary inquiry into our place in nature, creating a rich dialogue between ancient wisdom and modern understanding.

The online format makes this Zen gathering accessible from anywhere, allowing you to participate fully in the ceremonial atmosphere while maintaining the comfort and intimacy of your own practice space. Whether you're a longtime Zen practitioner or curious about Buddhist teachings, this event offers a welcoming entry point into the profound practice of Rohatsu.

What to Expect

This Zen event unfolds as a gentle yet focused journey into contemplative practice. As you log in, you'll enter a carefully held virtual space designed to honor the sacred nature of Rohatsu. You'll experience guided meditation, teachings that illuminate the heart of Zen practice, and moments of silence where the true work of the Way happens—in the stillness between breaths, in the space between thoughts.

The session flows from opening invocations through dharma talks, interactive dialogue, and extended periods of zazen (sitting meditation). Michael Pollan's unique perspective will be woven throughout, offering fresh insights into how Zen wisdom applies to our everyday encounters with nature and nourishment. You'll move through the event at a contemplative pace, with breaks for integration and reflection, leaving you with a sense of renewal and deepened understanding.

Expect to arrive ten minutes early to settle your environment and prepare your mind. The experience cultivates presence and community even in an online setting—you're meditating alongside others across the world, part of a circle stretching back to Buddha's own awakening beneath the Bodhi tree.

About the Artists

Michael Pollan is an acclaimed writer, journalist, and educator whose rigorous investigations into food systems, agriculture, and our relationship with the natural world have shaped contemporary discourse. His work brings contemplative awareness to the seemingly mundane act of eating, revealing the profound connections between human consciousness and the living earth. For this Zen event, Pollan brings a seasoned perspective on how Buddhist practice informs a more conscious, awakened relationship with nature and sustenance.

Venue & Location

This online Zen event takes place via Upaya Zen Center's secure virtual platform, making it accessible to practitioners worldwide. Upaya, located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is one of the most respected Zen centers in North America, known for its rigorous practice and inclusive teaching approach. While you'll be joining remotely, you're connecting into the container of a lineage-rooted institution with decades of expertise in holding sacred space.