Sangha Night with Upayadhi: The Dharma of Star Wars
Led By: Upayadhi
Monday, May 4th, 2026
6:30 - 8:00 pm EST
Online via Zoom
Event Description:
Please join us for our monthly Sangha night community gathering — this time, a creative exploration of the Dharma with an intergalactic perspective!
"Is the Dark Side stronger?" "No, no, no. Quicker, easier, more seductive." — Yoda, Return of the Jedi (1983)
"That's how we're gonna win. Not fighting what we hate, saving what we love." — Rose Tico, The Last Jedi (2017)
For Sangha night, Upayadhi will offer an exploration of Buddhist themes in the Star Wars saga, alongside Daoist and Christian motifs. George Lucas has openly acknowledged two major inspirations in developing the series: Joseph Campbell's work on the Hero's Journey, and Eastern religions and philosophies. The Force bears a recognizable resemblance to the Tao, Yoda's teaching style owes something to Zen pedagogy, and Luke's "going forth" echoes something of Siddhartha's trials and awakening. The Dark Side, meanwhile, can be appreciated to some extent through the lens of the Buddhist three poisons: greed, hatred, and delusion. But there is more to it than that. The films explore disillusionment on the path, the cost of unbridled heroism, the limits of skillful means, relationships that rupture and fray, and what happens when accomplished practitioners lose their way. In these times of considerable collective anxiety and turmoil, it may be worth reflecting on what the Star Wars series can illuminate for enthused and weary Buddhists alike. Either way, May the 4th be with you!
Sangha Nights are a special, once-a-month opportunity for the Triratna NY-NJ community to come together for an evening of Dharma programming and companionship. We gather on Zoom for meditation, Dharma talk and input, discussion groups, and reflections — all held within the context of spiritual friendship and community.
Agenda:
Gathering
Meditation
Teaching
Discussion
Closing meditation
About the Leader:
Upayadhi began her journey in the Buddhadharma in 2004 at the London Buddhist Center in Bethnal Green. Over the years she has trained in a range of Buddhist contexts and traditions, but remains firmly rooted in the Triratna Buddhist Order, to which she was ordained in 2018. Professionally, her background is in leadership development, executive education and coaching. Following the wake-up call of the 2016 elections, Upayadhi entered Union Theological Seminary in New York, where as a seminarian she studied Buddhism and Interreligious Engagement. Her scholarship has focused on the 20th-century Dalit leader Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and his radical Buddhist imagination, which she places in conversation with Womanist and Black liberation theologies. She co-founded Awareness is Revolutionary, a collective of Buddhists committing to cultivating Beloved Community and accelerating racial literacy within a Dharmic framework. Upayadhi also teaches in secular contexts as a Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction teacher, and has practiced as an interfaith chaplain in healthcare settings.
How to Join:
Zoom information will be provided upon registration.
Registration:
Complete the Google Form below.
Payment Info:
Registration is free!