Joan Halifax

Joan Halifax (cropped)

Joan Halifax (born July 30, 1942) is an American Zen Buddhist teacher, anthropologist, ecologist, civil rights activist, hospice caregiver, and author. She is the founder, abbot, and head teacher of Upaya Institute and Zen Center, a Buddhist monastery in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Early Life and Education

Joan Halifax was born in Hanover, New Hampshire. She attended Tulane University where she earned a degree in anthropology. She later pursued a Ph.D. in medical anthropology at Columbia University.

Career

Anthropology and Ethnobotany

In the early stages of her career, Halifax worked with Alan Lomax on the study of folk music and culture. She also collaborated with Stanislav Grof in the field of transpersonal psychology and conducted research on the use of psychedelics in the treatment of terminally ill patients.

Zen Buddhism

Joan Halifax began her formal Zen training in the 1970s under the guidance of Seung Sahn, a Korean Zen master. She later studied with Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen master, and received the Dharma transmission from Bernie Glassman, a prominent American Zen teacher.

In 1990, she founded the Upaya Institute and Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which focuses on the integration of Zen practice with social action, environmental sustainability, and end-of-life care.

Social Activism

Halifax has been actively involved in various social justice movements, including the Civil Rights Movement and the anti-Vietnam War movement. She has also worked extensively in the field of hospice care, providing support and training for caregivers and developing programs for the terminally ill.

Publications

Joan Halifax is the author of several books, including:

• The Human Encounter with Death (co-authored with Stanislav Grof)
• Shamanic Voices: A Survey of Visionary Narratives
• The Fruitful Darkness: A Journey Through Buddhist Practice and Tribal Wisdom
• Being with Dying: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness in the Presence of Death

Awards and Recognition

Halifax has received numerous awards for her contributions to Buddhism, anthropology, and social activism. She is a recipient of the National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship and has been recognized by various organizations for her work in end-of-life care.

Personal Life

Joan Halifax resides at the Upaya Institute and Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she continues to teach and guide students in Zen practice and social engagement.

See Also

• Zen Buddhism
• Upaya Institute and Zen Center
• Thich Nhat Hanh
• Bernie Glassman
• Stanislav Grof
• Transpersonal psychology
• Hospice care