Way Seeking Mind: Head to Heart

In this Way-Seeking Mind Dharma Talk, resident Tuck Butsumon Stibich offers a moving reflection on his path from intellectual inquiry to embodied Zen practice. Raised in Dayton, Ohio, in a family grounded in both mathematics and Catholic faith, Stibich’s curiosity about the world was nurtured by moments of wonder in nature and study abroad. His life’s arc carried him through Peace Corps service in Mongolia, graduate work in public health, and entrepreneurship before profound loss reshaped everything: his wife Julie’s death from glioblastoma and his own cancer diagnosis. Julie’s fearlessness in facing death, he shared, opened a space of deep connection—“she wasn’t afraid and she wasn’t angry... we ended up just connecting in this amazing, deep way.” Finding refuge at Upaya, Stibich discovered practice as presence rather than expertise, opening the gate for himself, and others through compassion and attentive presence. Please enjoy online practice and teachings from Upaya Zen Center. If you wish to offer dana (generosity), please go here to donate: https://www.upaya.org/giving/dana-for... Upaya is a Buddhist residential contemplative community in Santa Fe, New Mexico. We offer daily Zen meditation, weekly Dharma Talks, and programs on Buddhist teachings, Buddhist art, contemplative science, and social engagement. Learn more at www.upaya.org Full Programs Schedule: https://www.upaya.org/live-programs/ Wisdom Library: https://www.upaya.org/wisdom-library/ Ways to Give: https://www.upaya.org/giving/ Become a Member of Upaya: https://www.upaya.org/membership-info/