Buddhist Wisdom

No Self, No Suffering

Melvin McLeod breaks down the Buddha’s four noble truths and argues it’s not only the ultimate self-help formula, but the best guide to helping others and benefiting the world.

Melvin McLeod



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What to Do When You Say the Wrong Thing

René Rivera on how to have empathy for the person you’ve hurt—and yourself.

Watercolor illustrations of a parent and child playing with a kite while a butterfly flies above

How to Talk to Kids About Death

When a loved one dies, grown-ups don’t always know what to say to kids. Gail Silver has helpful tips based on Buddhist teachings.

The Four Givings

Buddhism’s four immeasurables aren’t just states of mind we can achieve, says Venerable Hui Cheng. They’re gifts we can give to others.

Lion’s Roar March 2024 Book Reviews

You don’t have to be perfect to create positive change. Jessica Little reviews eight inspiring new books.

A More Present Life Starts Now

Life and practice don't need to be separate, writes Emily Horn. She shares how we can integrate moments of meditation into the routine experiences of our every day lives.

Severing the Roots of Our Discontent – The Buddhist Way

B. Alan Wallace on how the kleshas or “mental afflictors” keep us from realizing the true nature of our mind, and how we can begin to get to the root of our discontent by recognizing the kleshas for what they are.

Resources for Confronting Abuse in Spiritual Communities

From Ann Gleig and Amy Langenberg, authors of “Sexual Ethics and Healthy Boundaries in the Wake of Teacher Abuse,” from the Winter 2023 issue of Buddhadharma, comes this gathering of select websites, communities, and projects of value to Buddhist communities, teachers, and students looking to develop and maintain best practices when it comes to fostering healthy teacher-student relationships and addressing conflicts and pitfalls.

Read “A Teachers Return to the Valley of Renewal” an excerpt from Notebooks of a Wandering Monk

An excerpt from Notebooks of a Wandering Monk by Matthieu Ricard.— as reviewed in the Winter 2023 issue of Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Guiden

Read an excerpt from Illumination: A Guide to the Buddhist Method of No-Method

An excerpt from Illumination: A Guide to the Buddhist Method of No-Method by Rebecca Li — as reviewed in the Winter 2023 issue of Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Guide.

Read an excerpt from Seeing One Thing Through: The Zen Life and Teachings of Sojun Mel Weitsman

An excerpt of Seeing One Thing Through: The Zen Life and Teachings of Sojun Mel Weitsman, by Sojun Mel Weitsman — as reviewed in the Fall 2023 issue of Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Guide.

Read an excerpt from The Buddhist Tantras: A Guide

An excerpt from The Buddhist Tantras: A Guide by David B. Gray— as reviewed in the Winter 2023 issue of Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Guide

Read “Mere Perception in Vasubandhu’s Twenty Verses” from Making Sense of Mind Only: Why Yogācāra Buddhism Matters

An excerpt from Making Sense of Mind Only: Why Yogācāra Buddhism Matters by William S. Waldron — as reviewed in the Winter 2023 issue of Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Guide

Read an excerpt from Chapter 2 of Karma and Grace: Religious Difference in Millennial Sri Lanka

An excerpt from Karma and Grace: Religious Difference in Millennial Sri Lanka, by Neena Mahadev— as reviewed in the Winter 2023 issue of Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Guide

The Vastness of a Robe

Falling into bits and pieces, the robe — like everything else — becomes the universe. A teaching by Tenshin Reb Anderson.

Developing Our Spiritual Capacities

Informed by the teachings of Nichiren Shonin, founder of the Nichiren school of Buddhism, and Sot’aesan, the founder of Won Buddhism, Rev. Ryuei Michael McCormick looks at our capacity for spiritual awakening and how it relates to our maturity.

Awakening Through Sound

Guo Gu, contributor to the “Glimpses of Buddhanature” feature in the Fall 2023 issue of Buddhadharma, shares the practice of contemplation of hearing, a practice rooted in a method for awakening attributed to the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.

Man sitting on cliff overlooking mountain range

Venturing Beyond Our Fear of Emptiness

Paul Condon, author of “Buddhanature Beyond Mere Concept” from the Fall 2023 issue of Buddhadharma, explores how cognitive science can help us to realize buddhanature, and gain more capacity to participate effectively in the world.

Undoing Toxic Masculinity in Buddhist Communities

Ann Gleig, Nadine Levy, and Bhante Sujato shine a light on the harmful effects of toxic masculinity and its surprising, disturbing rise within the Buddhist milieu.

Tree silhouette with sunset in background

Unlocking the Wisdom of the Heart Sutra

The Heart Sutra is a pithy, powerful text. If you understand it, says Ven. Guan Cheng, you understand the Buddha's teachings.

Buddhanature Beyond Mere Concept

By letting go of the goal to realize buddhanature, says Paul Condon, we can embody it more freely.

Lotus flower photographed from below with sky in background.

Why Buddhanature Matters

Lopen Karma Phuntsho, writer-in-residence for Tsadra Foundation’s Buddha-Nature project, takes a look at the history and development of the Mahayana concept of buddhanature.

A momunment at Père Lachaise Cemetery reads "Aux Morts," or "to the dead," with stautes of people surrounded by flowers.

Learning From the Dead

Carolyn Campbell shares how studying the famous Père-Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France sparked an awareness of death that helped her wake up to life.

Painting of sunrise over sea

Your Enlightened Nature

The essence of mind is empty, luminous awareness. Mingyur Rinpoche on the Tibetan Buddhist practice of Dzogchen.

Traffic light with red light in the shape of a heart

Stop, Soothe, Shift: A 3-Step Practice to Do What Helps

Zen teacher Vanessa Zuisei Goddard shares her simple three-step practice to stop, soothe, and shift in the face of suffering.

colorful tiles collage painting with face and flower

On the Spectrum, On the Path

Meditation can help with navigating challenges, cultivating calm, and connecting with others. Four Buddhists with autism on how the practice has changed their lives.

Bird flying in blue sky with clouds

“I Miss the Sky”

Corresponding with prisoners, Katherine Jamieson has come to appreciate her own freedom.

Two figures bow towards each other

No Self, No Opponent

Are martial arts incompatible or in harmony with Zen? That depends, says Som Pourfarzaneh.

Illustration of woman getting haircut, looking in a broken mirror.

Love Thy Haircutter?

After an infuriating trim, Renshin Bunce realizes meditation isn’t helping her overcome anger—or is it?

collage of book covers

Lion’s Roar November 2023 Book Reviews

How do we transform suffering into happiness? Bonnie Nadzam surveys new books that are helping to show the way.

Mingyur Rinpoche sitting under a tree, looking off into the distance.

Clarity & Calm: An Interview With Mingyur Rinpoche

In this exclusive interview, Mingyur Rinpoche tells Lion’s Roar’s Andrea Miller how he learned to befriend his anxiety. We all have an innate well-being, he says. And we can all experience it.

Lotus flower

Nothing Is More Important Than Your Buddhanature

“What if,” asks Tsadra Foundation executive director Marcus Perman, “we were brought up with the knowledge that each one of us is by nature capable of complete freedom from suffering, and that we possess wisdom and compassion on a nearly unthinkable scale?”

Books

A Short Guide to Key Buddhanature Texts

Gary Donnelly shares a selection of key buddhanature texts to add to your reading list.

Pink flowers

How Insentient Beings Expound Dharma

Shohaku Okumura explains the connection between non-sentient beings and buddhanature.

green and black light sculpture

Meditations on Buddhanature

Four Buddhist teachers share concise instructions for recognizing the luminous nature of mind.

Hope for the Hopeless

Rev. Blayne Higa on the founder of Shin Buddhism’s “spiritual insight of imperfection and radical acceptance.” It can lead us to the ultimate realization of buddhanature.

Koi fish

Glimpses of Buddhanature

Buddhist teacher-practitioners from across traditions share personal moments that gave them insight into the true nature of mind.

Bookshelf

Buddhadharma on Books: Fall 2023

Joie Szu-Chiao Chen reviews seven new books for the Fall 2023 issue of Buddhadharma.

Joseph Goldstein. Photo by Stephanie Zollshan.

Joseph Goldstein: It’s Not Either-Or

In this conversation with Buddhadharma, the Insight Meditation Society cofounder applies the “harmonized understanding” approach championed in his book One Dharma to the idea of buddhanature. In the end, it’s not about who’s right or wrong about it. It’s about what leads us to less clinging.

A swimmer tries to stay afloat within a wave.

The World Between Breaths

Vanessa Zuisei Goddard on the famous Zen koan “Mu,” and how it helps us dive into buddhanature.

Left to right: Roshi Joan Halifax, Ari Goldfield, Rev. Konin Dhammadipa Cardenas

Ask the Teachers: How can I move from understanding emptiness philosophically to experiencing it directly?

“I think I have some intellectual understanding of the Buddhist teachings on emptiness, but when I look at the world or at myself, I don’t see them as empty. How do I go from a philosophical understanding to a direct experience of emptiness?”

A Fire Runs Through All Things

Read an excerpt from A Fire Runs Through All Things: Zen Koans for Facing the Climate Crisis

An excerpt from Susan Murphy's new book, A Fire Runs through All Things: Zen Koans for Facing the Climate Crisis — as reviewed in the Fall 2023 issue of Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Guide

Read “Masculinities Beyond the Buddha,” an excerpt from Buddhist Masculinities

An excerpt of Buddhist Masculinities edited by Megan Bryson and Kevin Buckelew— as reviewed in the Fall 2023 issue of Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Guide

Weather Any Storm

Meditate with your children with Weather Any Storm author, Vanessa Zuisei Goddard

An excerpt Vanessa Zuisei Goddard's new book, Weather Any Storm — as reviewed in the Fall 2023 issue of Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Guide

Gesar: Tantric Practices of the Tibetan Warrior King

Read “Gesar the Warrior” an excerpt from Gesar: Tantric Practices of the Tibetan Warrior King

An excerpt of Gesar: Tantric Practices of the Tibetan Warrior King— as reviewed in the Fall 2023 issue of Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Guide

Bhikkhu Analayo

Read “The Basics of Signless Concentration,” an excerpt from Bhikkhu Analayo’s The Signless and the Deathless: On the Realization of Nirvana

An excerpt from Bhikkhu Anālayo's new book, The Signless and the Deathless: On the Realization of Nirvana — as reviewed in the Fall 2023 issue of Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Guide

A hand holds a mirror, reflecting an eye looking back at itself.

Finding Nonself on My Gender Journey

René Rivera shares the direct experience of nonself he discovered along his gender journey as a trans man.

Nagarjuna, Arya along with the disciple Aryadeva, retrieving the Prajnaparamita Sutra from the Naga Realm, Eastern Tibet, 1800–1899. Unidentified artist, Rubin Museum of Art. Item no. 174.

To Be or Not To Be? Be a Buddha!

Looking at the words of classical texts, Karl Brunnhölzl explores the notions of buddhanature and emptiness—how they may be understood as one and the same, and how they are not identical.

woman looks at advertising

Commentary: Is Advertising a Problem for Buddhism?

Buddhism values attention and self-mastery; targeted advertising generates craving. Jonathan C. Gold explores the conflict between the two, calling us to regain control of our mindful attention.

The Heart of Chan Buddhism

Chan Buddhism is a painstaking practice of learning nothing, says Gilbert Gutierrez. You can’t become enlightened — you can only embody it.

Right Here With You: Buddhist Chaplains’ Inspiring Stories of Spiritual Care

What’s it like to provide spiritual care in hospitals, hospices, prisons, and beyond? Seven Buddhist chaplains share their moving stories.

How Amida Buddha Illuminates the Path of Compassion

Rev. Dr. Kenji Akahoshi shares the history and practice of Shin Buddhism, offering a pathway to awakening through the compassion of Amida Buddha.

Scenes from the life of Milarepa.

How Listening Becomes a Spiritual Practice

Everything and everyone are always teaching us the dharma, says Christian McEwen. We just have to know how to listen.

Siddhartha’s 100th Birthday

A century after its publication, Randy Rosenthal explores how Hermann Hesse's classic novel "Siddhartha" came to be amidst the author's personal struggles and search for life's deeper meaning.

Meet a Teacher: Pema Khandro Rinpoche

Pema Khandro Rinpoche gets personal with the Lion’s Roar readership.

Pico Iyer looks over railing at water.

An Interview with Pico Iyer, The Contemplative Traveler

For writer Pico Iyer, travel is a spiritual experience that shakes up our usual certainties and connects us to a richer, vaster world. Iyer talks with editor-in-chief Melvin McLeod about his new book, "The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise," and his eclectic contemplative practice.

Lion’s Roar September 2023 Book Reviews

From simple healing instructions for daily meditation to a scientific theory of complexity and a thoroughgoing investigation into suicidal ideation, Bonnie Nadzam reviews this season’s latest titles.

Elemental Dakinis As a Path to Awakening

In this excerpt from “Dakini Journey in the Contemporary World; The Heart of Cho Vol.II,” Choying Khandro explores how Dakini energy, expressed as the Five Dakinis, becomes the embodiment and expression of the Five Elements in an awakened form.

The Meditative Beauty of Birding

Zen teacher Benjamin Mui Pumphrey on appreciating not just the rare birds, but also the sparrows and crows.

A man walks a labyrinth made of stones next to the ocean

Ancient and Modern Maps of the Mind

Tara Bennett Goleman looks at the parallels between of Buddhist psychology and modern cognitive science, revealing their shared insights that illuminate a hidden path towards inner freedom.

Your Liberation Is on the Line

No one who has ever touched liberation could possibly want anything other than liberation for everyone, says Rev. angel Kyodo williams. She shares why we must each fully commit to our own path liberation, for the benefit of all.

Meet Four Inspiring Buddhist Women of Wisdom

These four women Buddhist teachers are shaping Buddhism in America. Meet Doshin Mako Voelkel, Bonnie Duran, Lama Tsomo, and Myokei Caine-Barrett, Shonin.

Read an Excerpt from “The Making of American Buddhism”

An excerpt from Chapter 4 of The Making of American Buddhism by Scott A. Mitchell.

Finding the Dharma at the Library

Librarian Eileen Ybarra explores how her practice and librarianship work together to serve her community through deep listening, mindfulness, and compassion.

There Is No Teacher of Zen

It’s a paradox, says Hokuto Daniel Diffin. No one can teach you Zen, but you need a teacher to understand that.

Are the Dharma’s Healing Powers Just Placebo?

There are healing practices and rituals found across Buddhist traditions that reinforce the notion of the healing power of dharma. Dr. C. Pierce Salguero asks, what's behind the Buddhist approach to healing and medicine? Is the healing power of dharma simply placebo or something more?

Woman on surfboard with arms outstretched and sun in background.

Experience the Truth of No Self

When we see ourselves as separate, we’re limited, says Rebecca Bradshaw. In experiencing the truth of nonself, we free our hearts and minds.

Fun & Games: Psychic Powers in the Wilderness

Buddhist monk and scholar Thanissaro Bhikkhu reflects on encounters with his dharma teacher, who “could obviously read my mind and anticipate future events.”

Looking to the “Three Powers” for Patient Acceptance

Though deep in personal grief, Rev. Ryuei Michael McCormick knows that, through continued dedicated practice, he can nurture seeds of positivity within himself.

The Power of Buddhist Tantra

Gaylon Ferguson on how tantric view and practice help us turn confusion into clarity and wisdom.

The Dharma of the Second Bell

Rev. Joan Amaral recalls “Operation Bring John Home” — an effort to break through the bureaucracy that kept a married couple apart — while living one’s values and remaining unbowed.

A painting of a lotus flower with a flame in the center, in pink and purple

Cultivating the 5 Powers

Buddhadharma: Sister Dang Nghiem, thanks for speaking with us. Let’s lay the ground about how you came to the dharma and how you first encountered the five strengths. Sister Dang Nghiem: I came to the dharma in a desperate situation. I was born Buddhist. I took Grandma to the temple, that was the most I…

The Union of Energy and Wisdom

Jill Shepherd explores the relationship between the perfection of energy and wisdom, and how applying our energy and effort wisely leads to less harm to ourselves and others.

Is Buddhism a “Teaching of Images”?

Lama Hun Lye explores the power of images and how we can take inspiration from the different ways the awakened state has been represented across Buddhist traditions.

The Logic of Not-self

Thanissaro Bhikkhu, featured author in the Summer 2023 "Power & The Practitioner" issue of Buddhadharma, explores the Buddha’s teachings on how a sense of self is formed, how we use the five aggregates to define the self, and how to deconstruct the process.

Meet Sati-AI, a Non-Human Mindfulness Meditation Teacher

Sati-AI is an art project created to support meditators on their journey towards cultivating mindfulness and fostering personal growth. Ross Nervig speaks with its creator, Marlon Barrios Solano.

Buddha statue on blue background.

5 Buddhists on How the Buddha Nourishes Their Life

How does the Buddha nourish your life and practice? Five Buddhists contemplate this question.

The Buddha’s Path to Awakening

The Buddha discovered a path to liberation, and more than two thousand years later people are still following in his footsteps. Heather Sanche unpacks his life, legacy, and essential teachings.

The Tathagata’s Ten Wisdom Powers

The "Avatamsaka," or "Flower Garland Sutra," details the path and practices of the bodhisattva, including ten powers that arise from the awakened human mind. Rev. Heng Sure on how teacher and student alike might realize them.

Buddhadharma on Books: Summer 2023

Joie Szu-Chiao Chen reviews eight new books for the Summer 2023 issue of Buddhadharma.

Read “Sangha of Boundless Life,” an excerpt from “Living Nembutsu: Applying Shinran’s Radically Engaged Buddhism in Life and Society”

An excerpt from Jeff Wilson's new book, "Living Nembutsu: Applying Shinran’s Radically Engaged Buddhism in Life and Society" — reviewed in the Summer 2023 issue of Buddhadharma.

Read “The Buddha Amitābha in the Himitsu nenbutsu shō,” an excerpt from “Esoteric Pure Land Buddhism”

An excerpt of chapter 7 of Aaron P. Proffitt’s new book, "Esoteric Pure Land Buddhism" — reviewed in the Summer 2023 issue of Buddhadharma.

Read “Two Realities,” an excerpt from Into the Mirror: A Buddhist Journey Through Mind, Matter, and the Nature of Reality

An excerpt of chapter 16 of Andy Karr's new book, "Into the Mirror" — reviewed in the Summer 2023 issue of Buddhadharma.

Read “Seventh Mind Training,” from Being Human and a Buddha Too: Longchenpa’s Sevenfold Mind Training for a Sunlit Sky

An excerpt from Anne Carolyn Klein's new book, "Being Human and a Buddha Too" — reviewed in the Summer 2023 issue of Buddhadharma.

Read “Erroneous Imaginations,” an excerpt from The Zen Way of Recovery

An excerpt from chapter 14 of Laura Burges' new book, "The Zen Way of Recovery" — reviewed in the Summer 2023 issue of Buddhadharma.

Read “Indian Epistemology,” an excerpt from Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics

An excerpt from "Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics, Vol. 4: Philosophical Topics" — reviewed in the Summer 2023 issue of Buddhadharma.

Read an excerpt from “Dancing with the Dead: The Essential Red Pine Translations”

An excerpt from "Dancing With the Dead: The Essential Red Pine Translations" — reviewed in the Summer 2023 issue of Buddhadharma.

Man with curly hair sits in thought resting his chin in his hand.

Am I Supposed to Stop Thinking?

Three Buddhist teachers answer the question "Are we supposed to stop or transcend thinking altogether, or to find another, more enlightened way to think?"

Ceramic buddha cup with red flowers in background.

The Buddha’s Smile

Lion's Roar Editor Andrea Miller tells the story of the ceramic Buddha cup from her childhood and how it inspires her on the Buddhist path.

The Ultimate Gift

Mushim Patricia Ikeda’s parents gave her baby sister to an aunt living an ocean away. This act of generosity changed the way she thinks about giving.

Yellow and red potatoes covered in dirt in a pot.

The Quickest Way to Clean Potatoes

When you stir dirty potatoes in a pot, they clean each other. Jane McLaughlin-Dobisz on the bumps and benefits of being with others.

Lion’s Roar July 2023 Book Reviews

Bonnie Nadzam surveys new books on crisis care, climate change, and deep dharma.

water pouring into pool with pink flower floating

Dogen’s Instructions to the Gardener

Karen Maezen Miller on cultivating the three minds—joyful mind, kind mind, and great mind.

Archway of flowers

The True Nature of a Flower

For Valerie Brown, her garden is a teacher of the dharma. In every bloom she sees impermanence, nonself, and nirvana.

The Path of Right View

Koun Franz on seeing what’s in front of you, even the things you’d rather not see.

This Is the Practice

When the Buddha tended to a dying monk, he demonstrated how to live, how to die, how to care for others. Vanessa Sasson offers her retelling of that poignant story.

5 Great Meditation Teachers

Beginning with the Buddha himself,  five extraordinary teachers instruct us in the practice of calming the mind, cultivating awareness, and — ultimately — finding freedom.

Silhouette of a woman.

Pema Chödrön’s Six Kinds of Loneliness

To be without a reference point is the ultimate loneliness. It is also called enlightenment.

See the Universe in a Sunflower

In this teaching from the late Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, he explores how looking deeply at a sunflower can help us discover the reality of interbeing.

Walking the Path of Right Action

Actions can be helpful in one situation yet harmful in another. Rebecca Li says awareness is needed to identify right action.

Celebrating Vesak, or “Buddha Day”

Vesak, also known as “Buddha Day," marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. This year, it falls on May 5.

In Search of the True Direction

Following yesterday's footsteps while hiking through the snowy woods, Peter Moretzsohn contemplates how our actions and thoughts shape the present and future.

Lessons from a Wildfire

When his community’s beloved retreat center burned to the ground, Anam Thubten took it as a teaching on impermanence.

Discover the Freshness of Each Moment

The fruit of Chan practice is discovering the freshness of each moment. Guo Gu on silent illumination, gong’an, and engaging with the world.

Realize Your True Nature

In this, the third of a four-part series on tantra, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche presents practices for recognizing the true nature of mind—empty and open, luminous and aware.

Lion’s Roar May 2023 Book Reviews

Bonnie Nadzam reviews new books that can help us navigate the ups and downs of life—from personal grief to collective rage to the joy of creativity.

How to Become a Bodhisattva

Pilar Jennings on how to overcome two common roadblocks to compassion. The key is facing the truth of suffering—your own and others.

How to Be a Mindful Bodhisattva

Mindfulness is more than just a meditation practice. Mindfulness is life, and life is love. That’s why it’s the whole path of the bodhisattva, says Zen teacher Norman Fischer.

The Sacred Desire to Exist

Out of the primordial desire to exist, everything comes into being. This sacred force, says Anam Thubten, is different from clinging, which is the source of our suffering.

The Luminous Dharma of “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Sean Feit Oakes explores the dharmic lessons of emptiness and compassion in the Oscar-winning film "Everything Everywhere All at Once."

When the Buddha Was a Tree

Trees can show us how to be bodhisattvas. Rafe Jnan Martin draws important lessons from an old tale.

The Buddha’s Mnemonic Device

Associate Editor Mihiri Tillakaratne introduces the May 2023 Issue of Lion's Roar. 

Sujata’s Gift

Realizing the middle way between asceticism and indulgence, Siddhartha accepted milk-rice from the farmer Sujata. Hun Lye celebrates the delicious, healthy rice dishes, which can remind us of that pivotal meal.

The Eightfold Path: Right Thought

We can’t control our thoughts, says Reverend Marvin Harada. But we can reflect on them—and doing that changes everything.

How to Practice Right Speech

Do you have something you want to say? Nikki Mirghafori on the questions to ask yourself.

The Eightfold Path: Right Livelihood

Work can be a path to changing the world, personal growth, and even spiritual discovery. Tami Simon explains.

The Eightfold Path: Right Effort

It’s not about striving for success, says Lama Karma Yeshe Chödrön. Right effort is a graceful fine-tuning.

The Eightfold Path: Right Mindfulness

Norman Fischer on why mindfulness is not always “right.”

The Eightfold Path: Right Concentration

When you’re in harmony with all the factors on the eightfold path, that is right concentration. A teaching by Bradley Donaldson.

The Path of Joy and Liberation

The Buddha’s four noble truths include the truth that the eightfold path is a way out of suffering. It’s not just the path to happiness, says Sister True Dedication. It’s happiness itself.

Let’s Not Walk on Dead Bodies

Zenzele Isoke calls on Western Buddhists to confront gun culture and the profound suffering it creates.

Can a Chatbot Share True Dharma?

Jiryu Mark Rutschman-Byler shares the story of “Roshibot,” an AI bot he created and trained with the teachings of the late Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki Roshi.

Nalanda: Powerful Then, Powerful Now

Jan Westerhoff explores what we know about the days when Nalanda flourished and what the essential teachings that emerged from it mean for us now.

Stepping Stones of Emptiness

The teachings on emptiness were studied, debated, and refined at Nalanda. They come to life now, says Gaylon Ferguson, in the progressive deepening of our meditation practice.

Vague? No. Ungraspable? Yes.

According to Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel, the "Heart Sutra," the best-known text of the Mahayana wisdom tradition, unfolds as a most unusual conversation that leads us to what lies beyond our concepts.

Profound View, Precise Conduct

Adrienne Chang shows how Shantideva joined the way we see with the way we act in his classic guide to living the life of a bodhisattva.

From Brilliant Scholar to Wandering Yogi

Naropa, among the most revered figures in Vajra­yana Buddhism, began as one of Nalanda’s foremost scholar–practitioners. Elizabeth Monson tells the story of his transformation from brilliant pandita to fierce and wild yogi.

The Journey to Where We Already Are

According to Francesca Fremantle, Buddhist tantra is based on the simple proposition that we’re already where we need to be. We simply need to allow ourselves to truly realize it.

The Boundless Energy of No-Self

Zoketsu Norman Fischer on his deep love for Shantideva and how the great teacher’s insights lead us unavoidably to a path of vigorous service to the world.

Fresh Bread, Ancient Recipes

Fresh Bread, Ancient Recipes

Barry Boyce shares why Nalanda’s spirit of open inquiry is just what’s needed to keep Buddhism alive and vibrant in each generation.

Buddhadharma Book Briefs for Spring 2023

Joie Szu-Chiao Chen reviews "The Two Truths in Indian Buddhism," "Buddhist Ecological Protection of Space," "Forgiveness: An Alternative Account," and more. 

Meet a Teacher: Arinna Weisman

Arinna Weisman gets personal with the Lion's Roar readership.

How to Be a Bodhisattva

It may seem like an unattainable ideal, but you can start right now as a bodhisattva-in-training. All you need is the aspiration to put others first.

The Bird in the Cage Dilemma

C. Pierce Salguero contemplates the karmic framework in Buddhism, and how it informs life's ethical dilemmas. 

The Story of Khujjuttara

Wendy Garling tells the story of Khujjuttara, one of the Buddha's foremost female lay disciples.

tenzin palmo, tibetan buddhism, lion's roar, shambhala sun, nuns, monastery, dominique butet, olivier adam

Tenzin Palmo: There Is Nothing a Woman Can’t Accomplish

Dominique Butet and Olivier Adam profile Tibetan nun Tenzin Palmo, who is changing the role of women in Tibetan Buddhist traditions.

Mahaprajapati’s Daughters

If there’s a mother of Buddhism, it’s Mahaprajapati, says Andrea Miller. In women dharma teachers throughout the ages, we see a continuation of her strength and practicality, her wisdom and compassion.

Awakening the Sacred Feminine

In Vajrayana Buddhism, dakinis are seen as unbridled and enlightened feminine energy. Lama Tsultrim Allione on how she discovered her own dakini power.

Imagine You Are a Buddha

In this second part of his series on tantra, Mingyur Rinpoche explains how visualization practice helps us recognize our buddhanature.

A Buddhist and a Cop?

Dexter Cohen Bohn shares how NYPD Detective Jeff Thompson incorporates his Buddhist practice into role as a police officer.

Tuning In: A Buddhist Subtle Energy Practice for Anxiety

What does your body tell you when you're anxious? C. Pierce Salguero explains how Buddhist practice can help us tune in when strong emotions arise. 

A Meditation to Develop Bodhichitta

Thubten Chodron on how to develop bodhichitta, the aspiration to attain buddhahood in order to benefit others.

What Is a “Darkness Retreat”?

Rod Meade Sperry talks to Lama Justin von Bujdoss about the practice of "darkness retreat," which made headlines this week after NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers revealed he will soon undertake the practice to determine the future of his football career.

You’re Going to Carry That Weight

Does enlightenment make you a good person? Seth Zuihō Segall ponders the balancing act of enlightenment and admirability in Zen Buddhism. 

Heart to Heart

From Harriet Tubman to narcissism to Appalachian Zen — Bonnie Nadzam reviews new books that are sparking conversation.

Awake In the Now

“Buddha” means “the awakened one.” Karen Maezen Miller on what it is the Buddha woke up from—and how you can wake up, too.

The Buddha’s Four Foundations of Mindfulness

Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi unpacks the Buddha’s original mindfulness manual.

Confessions of a Hungry Ghost

Sensei Alex Kakuyo on finding refuge in the present moment.

What a Good Horse You Are!

The Buddha valued dispassion, yet he also knew the power of love. Reiko Ohnuma on the poignant relationship between Siddhartha and his horse.

You Are Already a Buddha

In this, the first of a four-part series on tantra, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche presents the three stages of meditation. Meditation, he says, is the process of recognizing your buddhanature, then nurturing that recognition.

This Path Is Endless

Martin Luther King Jr.’s work is not finished, says Shinge Roko Sherry Chayat Roshi. We must continue it with gratitude on the endless path toward liberation for all.

The Bardo of a New Era: Part I, The Path of Justice

In the first of a two-part article on change, Dr. g examines how by embracing the "bardo" state, we can find meaning in impermanence.

Opening to a Vaster Sense of Buddhist Practice

Brian Lesage reflects on how we can honor past and future generations of Buddhist practitioners by bringing the spirit of offering into our everyday practice.

Grandmother’s Wisdom

Stephen Murphy-Shigematsu’s grandmother taught him that it’s the human condition to be lonely. Being mindful of our loneliness connects us to all others who are feeling the same way.

The Way of Flowers

Joan Stamm on how the Japanese art of flower arranging taught her to appreciate her mother—and the seeds she planted in Stamm’s heart.

Watch: Roshi Joan Halifax’s Two Prayers for Now and Our New Year

Roshi Joan Halifax shares two short prayers to set the intention for the new year.

Yes, Never, Sometimes?

As many participate in "Dry January" in the wake of party season, we look at the surprising diversity of Buddhist views.

A Sacred Place

Photographer Chris Rainier has spent decades seeking out spiritual landscapes and religious sites on all seven continents. He’s come to understand what sacred really means.

Have a Very Buddhist Christmas

Joy, giving, family, and peace—people of all faiths can celebrate these values of the holiday season. Eight Buddhists offer their take on yuletide dharma.

The Evolutionary Journey of Mothering

Judy Yushin Nakatomi reflects on the evolutionary ride of caring and learning, and protecting that is mothering.

Ask the Teachers: What separates secular mindfulness from Buddhism?

Myozen Joan Amaral, Rev. Marvin Harada, and Pema Khandro Rinpoche answer a question about secular expressions of Buddhism.

Abortion, the Legal System, and Skillful Means

In the opening commentary of the Winter 2022 issue of Buddhadharma, Lama Karma Chötso shares her experience as one of seven clergy in Miami-Dade County who filed lawsuits seeking to invalidate House Bill 5.

How Do We Cultivate Dharma Teachers?

Ven. Pannavati, Rev. Blayne Higa, Rev. Myokei Caine-Barrett, and Kakumyo Lowe-Charde explore the complexities of guiding others toward leadership roles.

The Practice of No Practice

I am such that I do not know right and wrong And cannot distinguish false and true; I lack even small love and small compassion, And yet, for fame and profit, enjoy teaching others. —The Collected Works of Shinran While at first glance this might not seem much of a consolation, according to Shinran (1173–1263),…

Lucidity Without Limit

Dream yoga, says Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, is a practice of changing our waking life. He shares the four foundational practices of this powerful mind training. 

Affinity Sanghas and the Practice of Refuge

Arisika Razak explores the history, meaning, and ultimate refuge of affinity-group sanghas.

Translation, Transmission, and the Act of Surrender

Cinthia Font and Lama Karma Yeshe Chodron, share not only the place the translator holds in the transmission of the dharma, but also how it feels to sit in that seat and hold that responsibility.

How Self-Compassion Can Help Us Survive the Holidays

If you're spending the holidays with family this year, Jeremy Mohler has some advice for staying present when old wounds pop up.

Breaking Free from Addiction

The dharma can help people wake up to the truth of their substance abuse and find a way to get—and stay—sober. We present four true stories of recovery.

The Dharma of Fiction

Novels, fables, and plays — they’re stories that are made up, yet they often express deep truths. Five writers and thinkers explore the spiritual teachings they’ve found in fiction.

Meet a Teacher: Qalvy Grainzvolt

Qalvy Grainzvolt gets personal with the Lion's Roar readership.

The How of Happiness

Mindfulness, courage, and compassion are key. Bonnie Nadzam presents a selection of new books on living well.

pema khandro rinpoche breaking open four points letting go milarepa longchenpa vajrayana tibetan emerging presence contrived self, the play of experience rupture bardo buddhadharma lion's roar teachings death dying in between groundless

The Four Points of Letting Go in the Bardo

It’s when we lose the illusion of control—a "bardo" state where we are most vulnerable and exposed—that we can discover the creative potential of our lives.

What Is Zen Buddhism and How Do You Practice It?

Zen teacher Norman Fischer takes you through the principles and practices of the major schools of Zen. Includes specially selected articles for further reading.

Churning waves.

Pema Chödrön’s Three Methods for Working with Chaos

Pema Chödrön describes three ways to use our problems as the path to awakening and joy.

Building Beloved Communities

Rehena Harilall shares her vision of building and repairing community with an open, kind, and compassionate heart.

Lama Tsomo on Buddhist Practices That Help Us Cultivate Wisdom & Connection

Rod Meade Sperry talks to Lama Tsomo about her new book "Deepening Wisdom, Deepening Connection."

Light the Lantern of Compassion

When we learn that we are all interconnected, says Keturah Kendrick, we develop a deeper compassion for those around us and ourselves.

Unraveling Anxiety

Buddhist teacher Judy Lief explains the Buddha’s deep analysis of the roots of anxiety and shows how mindfulness can help us ease the suffering of an anxious mind.

Yes, We Can Have Hope

Roshi Joan Halifax reflects on the idea of "wise hope" and why we should open ourselves to it.

Zen Is All of Life: Remembering Roshi Bernie Glassman

Bernie Glassman broke open our idea of what Buddhism could be. He fed the hungry, cared for the sick, and bore witness to the world’s pain.

How to Be Weird

Eric G. Wilson explains how we can see the strangeness in reality, and how examining the "weird" can help us understand the essence of life. 

Under the Skeleton Tree

Bonnie Nadzam relives the childhood ritual of playing dead.

How to Feed All Beings

Koun Franz contemplates how caring for ourselves is caring for all.

How to Navigate Transitions in Times of Uncertainty

Monica Jordan reflects on her experience moving from Argentina to the United States and how it changed her perceptions of life's transitions.

A Mindfulness Studies Student Book Roundup

Mindfulness Studies student Naomi Matlow shares her top 10 mindfulness books for those undergoing a similar path.

How I Transformed Rage into Compassion

As racist and xenophobic violence and discrimination rose amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Tanny Jiraprapasuke learned to transform her rage into compassion for herself, her community, and beyond.

Memories of Thay

A collection of tributes to and memories of the late Vietnamese Buddhist teacher and founder of the Engaged Buddhism movement, Thich Nhat Hanh.

Finding the Buddha In You

Candice Tsuei explores what her journey to Buddhism has taught her about attachment, enlightenment, and life.

Packed and Ready for Whatever’s Next

Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche offers a fresh teaching on "phowa" practice and how navigating the various transitions in our lives, including the very small ones, lays a foundation for navigating the much bigger ones when they come.

The Zen Watchmaker

Sherri Posey is a Buddhist hospital chaplain and professional watchmaker. She reflects on how time’s fleeting nature connects everyone.

How Pema Changed My Life

Lion's Roar's Beth Wallace reflects on how Pema Chödrön impacted her life, from the November 2022 Issue of Lion's Roar.

What I Learned in Hell

Buddhist teacher Justin von Budjoss was a chaplain to staff at America’s most notorious jail—Rikers Island in New York. There he learned two important lessons: Buddhism really helps people, and prisons should be abolished.

Lion’s Roar Book Reviews for November 2022

An AI robot answers your spiritual questions. Bonnie Nadzam reviews this innovative new book and other titles coming out this fall.

I Am So Happy You Are Safe

As blow after blow strike the Black community of Minneapolis, Zen practitioner and physician Dr. Didi Koka finds strength in the example of Harriet Tubman and support from a mantra of mutual caring.

Meet a Teacher: Bhante Buddharakkhita

Bhante Buddharakkhita gets personal with the Lion’s Roar readership.

Chan Luminaries

When we recite the names of historical teachers and remember their stories, we find role models for our lives and practice. Bhikshuni Heng Yi on five inspiring Chan ancestors.

4 Places You Can Practice Chan Buddhism

Chan is a vibrant practice tradition in America. Lina Verchery recommends four communities.

What Are the Three Minds?

Zen master Dogen wrote that someone working to benefit others should maintain three minds: magnanimous mind, parental mind, and joyful mind.

Gone, Gone, Everything Gone

Like leaves in the autumn or wood in the fire, all things pass. But, there is a moment in which we can see things as they are.

Progress & Pitfalls: An Historic 20 Years

For Buddhadharma’s 20th-anniversary issue, Barbara O’Brien takes a look back at the last two decades of losses, challenges, and opportunities in Western Buddhism.

We Give What We Hope to Receive

According to Dawa Tarchin Phillips, the work in the Buddhist BIPOC community is about recognizing the need for dignity, safety, and access—and then offering those same things.

I Will Follow in the Direction of Hope

Larry Ward looks at the path of leadership, and how we get entangled along the way.

Buddhadharma Book Briefs for Fall 2022

Joie Szu-Chiao Chen reviews Lauren Shufran’s "The Buddha and the Bard: Where Shakespeare’s Stage Meets Buddhist Scriptures," Rachael Stevens’ "Red Tara: The Female Buddha of Power and Magnetism," a new translation of Dogen’s Zuimonki, and more.

It’s About Time : 20 Years of Buddhadharma

Editor Koun Franz introduces the 20th anniversary issue of Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's Guide, which looks back at where Western Buddhism has been, and what might lie ahead.

It’s Time to Redefine “We”

How, asks Brian Joshin Byrnes, do we as Buddhists come into genuine contact with the people and places we reject?

Learning Is the Path Forward

In the commentary for Buddhadharma’s 20th-anniversary issue, Sonam Kachru reminds us we are all on a path of learning—and that we always have a long way to go.

How Are We Meeting This Moment?

Stephanie Kaza invites Buddhist communities, and specifically Buddhist leaders, to take a serious look at how they are—or aren’t—responding to the climate crisis.

To Save the World We Must Come Out of Hiding

When the suffering of the world knocks at our door, says Singhashri Gazmuri, we must be courageous enough to open it.

Ask the Teachers: How do I maintain my faith in Buddhist teachings?

Willa Blythe Baker, Josh Korda, and Tenku Ruff answer a practitioner's question about losing faith in the institutions of Buddhism and the dharma itself. 

Welcoming Faith

For Myokei Caine-Barrett, how we welcome the various parts of our traditions is a reflection of how we welcome others.

Who Am I?

Melissa Myozen Blacker teaches the Koan practice of asking again and again, "Who am I?" Every time an answer arises, set it aside. Eventually, answers stop coming, replaced by a feeling of profound wonder.

The Ultimate Service

Indigo Ocean explores the concept of worship and how it can enrich the Buddhist practice of awareness. 

Karen Maezen Miller, Dishes, Leaves, Lion's Roar, Shambhala Sun, Joshu, Zen, Life

Do Dishes, Rake Leaves: The Wisdom of the Ancient Homemakers

Karen Maezen Miller on how the domestic practice of ancient Zen masters can lead us to intimate encounters with our own lives.

Buddha statue holding flowers.

Glimpses of Awakening

Although enlightenment can seem like an unreachable goal, says Judy Lief, we're actually having glimpses of awakening all the time.

Canyon form emptiness thich nhat hanh.

The Heart Sutra: the Fullness of Emptiness

Emptiness is not something to be afraid of, says Thich Nhat Hanh. The Heart Sutra teaches us that form may be empty of self but it’s full of everything else.

How to Have the World — and the Life — We Want

Leading Buddhist teacher Sharon Salzberg talks to Lion's Roar's Andrea Miller about how to care for ourselves, for others — and for the future. Because we’re in it for the long haul.

The Sutra That Saved Me

Nichiren practitioner Johnny Edward Dean Jr. reflects on how his daily practice and chanting the Odaimoku helped him navigate mental health challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic.

4 Ways to Heal Yourself with Love

Loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, equanimity—these four loving qualities are powerful ways to heal our trauma.

5 Reasons to Meditate

The simple act of stopping, says Pema Chödrön, is the best way to cultivate our good qualities. Here are five ways meditation makes us better people.

Why You Should Read “That Bird Has My Wings” by Jarvis Jay Masters

Jenny Phillips reviews "That Bird Has My Wings: The Autobiography of an Innocent Man on Death Row" by Jarvis Jay Masters, the powerful memoir first published in 2009 and now in the news in 2022 thanks to Oprah Winfrey's picking of it for her famed book club. 

Zen Mind, Writer’s Mind

Author Natalie Goldberg discusses Zen and the writer's practice.

Reading book while meditating.

9 Essential Books for Your Meditation Library

If you're looking for good reads to begin or deepen your relationship to Buddhist meditation, you can't go wrong with these nine essential picks.

Clouds and sky.

Develop a Mind Like Sky

Meditation comes alive through a growing capacity to release our habitual conflicts and worries that make up our sense of self, and to rest in awareness.

Oh Tara, Protect Us

In this teaching, Thubten Chodron comments on a prayer to the buddha Tara to protect us from the eight dangers.

Death: The Greatest Teacher

Buddhist teacher Judy Lief explains why our awareness of death is the secret of life.

Buddhist nun Ayya Khema was a force of nature — and of unconditional love

Lion's Roar's Rod Meade Sperry talks to Leigh Brasington about a new posthumous release from Ayya Khema, "The Path to Peace: A Buddhist Guide to Cultivating Loving-kindness."

The Sutta Pitaka

What was it like to gather around the Buddha and hear him teach? To find out, says Pascale F. Engelmajer, just read the suttas.

Buddha eyes.

7 Things the Buddha Never Said

Monk Thanissaro Bhikkhu, a trained translator of the Buddha's words, reveals seven fake Buddha quotes he's found. See if you're not surprised.

All Alone or One With Everything?

Are we all alone in this world or at one with everything? Nick Walser shines a spotlight on the paradoxical nature of loneliness.

The Sacred Work of Sandra Cisneros

Sandra Cisneros writes to honor her ancestors, because when that’s her motivation, ego gets out of the way. Angélica Paljor profiles the celebrated author of The House on Mango Street.

Living Fully Is to See Each Moment as Brand New

As our world consistently changes, Rebecca Li explains how we can feel true freedom when we learn to live every moment as a new experience.

No Self, No Suffering

Melvin McLeod breaks down the Buddha’s four noble truths and argues it’s not only the ultimate self-help formula, but the best guide to helping others and benefiting the world.

The Vinaya Pitaka

The Vinaya is more than just the monastic rule book, says Amy Paris Langenberg. It’s a treasure trove of stories shedding light on ethical dilemmas, community tensions, and human foibles.

What “No Self” Really Means

The journey of awakening, says Buddhist teacher Gaylon Ferguson, begins by examining our usual beliefs about who we are. Because maybe we’ve got it wrong.

Up-to-Date Dharma

From Silicon Valley and Afrofuturism to healing trauma and gender transition, here is a selection of new books offering a Buddhist take on today’s issues.

Meet a Teacher: Rev. Marvin Harada

Learn more about Buddhist teacher, Rev. Marvin Harada.

Uncover the Golden Buddha Inside You

The gold of your true nature can get buried beneath fear and confusion, but it can never be tarnished. Tara Brach on how to trust your basic goodness.

“I Take Refuge in Amida Buddha”

The Pure Land is right here, right now, says Sensei Alex Kakuyo. Chanting the nembutsu can help you see that.

Transforming Self-Comparison

Eda Ocak reflects on how meditation practice and the Buddha’s message of no-self transformed her habit of self-comparison.

Crying in the Bathroom: A Q&A with Author Erika L. Sanchez

Lion's Roar associate editor Mariana Restrepo talks to award-winning novelist, poet, and essayist Erika L. Sánchez about her new memoir, "Crying in the Bathroom."

Only Genuine Compassion Will Do

It's not enough to simply to believe compassion is important. We must transform our thoughts and behaviour on a daily basis to cultivate compassion.

Dalai Lama compassion Buddhism Child Shambhala Sun Lion's Roar

Living the Compassionate Life

The Dalai Lama explains how the Buddhist teachings of mindfulness and compassion lead inevitably to feelings of self-confidence and kindness.

Zen Priest and Author Ruth Ozeki wins Women’s Prize for Fiction for latest novel

Ozeki wins the Women’s Prize for Fiction for her fourth book, The Book of Form and Emptiness.

How Do We Make Sense of Rebirth?

Questions around rebirth—from how it works to whether it’s even real—have energized and divided Buddhists for millennia. In this excerpt from his book "Rebirth," Roger R. Jackson unpacks the complexity of it all and offers four basic approaches to incorporating it (or not) into our own practice.

Buddhism, Nonviolence, and the Moral Quandary of Ukraine

How does Buddhism make sense of war? In the abstract, the teachings are straightforward. But according to Bhikkhu Bodhi, if we find ourselves supporting those who are fighting back in Ukraine, then we have to ask some hard questions—and maybe accept some uncomfortable truths.

Zen in Vietnam: The Making of a Tradition

A century ago, Buddhists in Vietnam—and in much of Asia—started rewriting their traditions, and in some cases even their history. Alec Soucy explains how what we think we know of Vietnamese Buddhism points to a much more complex reality.

Wisdom Seeks for Wisdom

In this teaching from 1965—taken from the oldest extant recording of his talks—Shunryu Suzuki Roshi explains what it means to understand your true nature.

Buddhadharma Book Briefs for Summer 2022

Joie Szu-Chiao Chen reviews Through the Forests of Every Color by Joan Sutherland, Renunciation and Longing by Annabella Pitkin, The Dharma in DNA by Dee Denver, and more.

Listen, Contemplate, Meditate

These instructions, which appear across traditions, sound so simple that we may imagine they’re self-explanatory. Lama Karma Yeshe Chödrön invites us to look deeper.

Ask the Teachers: Is Buddhism About Ethics or Enlightenment?

Bhante Sumano, Jisho Sara Siebert, and Gaylon Ferguson explore the meaning of ethics and enlightenment on the Buddhist path.

We Cannot Ignore Buddhist Extremism

If we don’t allow our practice to include the political, asks Brenna Artinger, then how can we stand up to those who do?

Black Buddhists, Black Buddhisms

Rhonda Magee reviews "Black Buddhists and the Black Radical Tradition," by Rima Vesely-Flad.

Forum: BIPOC Buddhism

La Sarmiento, Margarita Loinaz, and Carol Iwata discuss the experiences of BIPOC Buddhist practitioners—the obstacles they face, and the contributions they are making. Moderated and with an introduction by Mariana Restrepo.

Grandmother Mind

Grandmothers care about others and shed tears for their suffering. That’s why Dogen said having Grandmother Mind is the most important thing of all. Zen teacher Susan Moon contemplates her own journey as a grandmother and her responsibility as an ancestor-to-be.

Waking Up to the World

Travel broadens the mind and opens the heart. Three personal stories of transformational travel in Thailand, Ethiopia, and Yemen.

Adapting the Precepts for Reconciliation

Patrice Clark Koelsch reimagines the five precepts to apply when engaging in morally-charged activist settings.

Trust In Life

Meditation, writes David Guy, is the practice of trusting life. When we practice this trust, we can more easily accept the inevitability of death. 

Photo of streetscape and the bookshop City Lights in San Francisco.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Enlightenment

Things to see, do, and enjoy in three American Buddhist hotspots.

Meditation Only Goes So Far

If you want to connect with the open, spacious quality of mind, says Willa Blythe Baker, at some point you have to stop trying to meditate.

How to Set Better Boundaries

Guided by Buddhist teachings on the brahmaviharas, Elizabeth Hernandez-Stomp helps us learn when to say yes and how to say no.

The Best Souvenir

In the opening editorial from our July 2022 issue, Deputy Editor Andrea Miller reflects on her time in Morocco, and the feeling of connection we experience through travelling. 

Practice for a World at Risk

It’s the concept of “other” that drives the evils the world suffers from, says Roshi Joan Halifax. The contemplation we need now is that in reality there is no separation.

The Search for Light

Koans, Shakespeare, working with suffering — Bonnie Nadzam looks at new books offering different insights into Buddhist practice today.

Meet a Teacher: Jan Chozen Bays

An interview with Jan Chozen Bays from our “Meet a Teacher” series in the July 2022 issue of Lion’s Roar magazine.

Walking In the Footsteps of the Buddha

When we visit the very places where the Buddha lived and taught, we discover deeper meaning in his teachings. Shantum Seth takes us on a sacred pilgrimage.

On Suffering and the End of Suffering

It's an essential truth about life itself: suffering of one kind or another is a natural part of existence. Knowing this truth gives our lives wholeness and peace, as it frees us from the exhausting postures of pretense and denial.

Koans, Lion's Roar, Buddhism, John Tarrant, How to, Zen

How to Practice Zen Koans

John Tarrant demystifies Zen koan practice. Yes, it’s paradoxical, poetic, and totally personal. And so is life.

Reimagining School Through a Buddhist Lens

Susan Yao explores how Buddhist principles could help us reimagine the American school system.

I Never Gave Up on Dharma: Ngakpa Kalzang’s Journey from Tibet

Dhondup T. Rekjong tells the story of Ngakpa Kalzang, an exile of Tibet and experienced tantric Buddhist practitioner working as a landscaper on Canada's Vancouver Island.

Buddha Amitabha.

The History of Pure Land Buddhism

Pure Land is both a distinct school of Buddhism that developed in Japan and, says Aaron Proffitt, a cornerstone of the whole Mahayana tradition.

Detox Your Mind: 5 Practices to Purify the 3 Poisons

Five Buddhist teachers share practices to clear away the poisons that cause suffering and obscure your natural enlightenment.

She Who Hears the Cries of the World

In Buddhism, compassion is embodied in the bodhisattva Kuan Yin, who is said to manifest wherever beings need help.

The Pure Land Is in the West

Jean-Paul Contreras deGuzman on the hidden history of Pure Land Buddhists in America.

When We Do Harm

Avery Grace reflects on what to do when we harm others, how we can move forward, and the compassion we need for ourselves to do better. 

Should I Try to Stop Thinking?

Good luck with that. What you can do, says Jules Shuzen Harris, is change your relationship with your thoughts.

I Vow to Save Everyone?

Noel Alumit reflects on the daunting commitment of the bodhisattva vows, and how his ordination bolstered his relationship with his mother and culture.

The Spirit of Plum Village

“The next Buddha may be a sangha,” Thich Nhat Hanh famously said, and the practice of community was always central to his life and teachings. Dharma teacher Mitchell Ratner experienced the wonders, lessons, and challenges of living the mindful life at Plum Village.

My Flight from the Real

Pico Iyer thought he would find what is truly real by going off to a monastery, but he was really fleeing it. Dropping his spiritual romaticism, he found it in ordinary life.

The Heart of a Story

From the healing power of storytelling to the dharma of literature—Bonnie Nadzam recommends new books to help us make sense of our lives.

Meet a Teacher: Gregory Pai

An interview with Gregory Pai from our “Meet a Teacher” series in the May 2022 issue of Lion’s Roar magazine.

The Primal Vow

The foundation of the Pure Land path, explains Takashi Miyaji, is Amitabha Buddha’s vow to liberate anyone who calls on him.

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What do all of the terms for Buddhist meditation mean?

I’m confused about all the different terms for meditation, like shamatha, vipassana, zazen, mindfulness, calm abiding, insight, just sitting. What's what?

Finding Home on My Path of Transition

On the Transgender Day of Visibility, Ray Buckner shares his journey to find home on both the Buddhist path and the path of transition.

Architectural drawing of a door.

The Doors of Liberation

No self, no form, no goal: Thich Nhat Hanh on the truth we’re distracting ourselves from.

10 Steps to Tame the Elephant

For generations, Tibetan practitioners have been guided by a chart outlining the nine stages of samatha meditation. Jan Willis takes us through the map and introduces us to the characters along the way.

Compassion Without Calculation

How do we practice ethical conduct, or sila, without falling into judgment, and without ignoring the complexity of each moment? According to Norman Fischer, the way has always been there.

Lean In to the Suffering

Sister Clear Grace Dayananda left the monastery, packed her life into a little van, and went out into the world to meet people where they are and where they are suffering. Here, she considers khanti, the paramita of forbearance, and the work it requires.        

No Separate Thing

I am grateful to have come upon a path that asked me to “buck up,” to throw myself in completely, to take my yearnings for awakening seriously, and to commit to an arduous road. I am grateful because this is how life is. Life is vigorous. My teacher didn’t ask me to give up family,…

First, an Open Hand

In any presentation of the paramitas, dana, or generosity, always comes first — Nikki Mirghafori explains why.  

The Freedom of Emptiness

At the heart of the path of the paramitas is prajna, or wisdom—but a wisdom that goes beyond our conventional ideas about it. Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche unpacks how that kind of wisdom works.

Ask the Teachers: What would the Buddha do?

Myokei Caine-Barrett, Dave Smith, and Lama Karma Yeshe Chödrön on knowing — or not knowing — what the Buddha would do.

Buddhadharma Book Briefs for Spring 2022

Joie Szu-Chiao Chen reviews Seeing with the Eye of Dhamma by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, Roaming Free Like a Deer: Buddhism and the Natural World by Daniel Capper, Rethinking 'Classical Yoga' and Buddhism by Karen O'Brien-Kop, and more.

Can We Know Others’ Worlds?

Constance Kassor reviews "Other Lives: Mind and World in Indian Buddhism," by Sonam Kachru.

Right Action in the Face of Suffering

As we witness the great suffering of the Russian-Ukraine war, says Dan Zigmond, we have a moral obligation to pay attention.

Rest in Your Buddhanature

Your true nature is like the sky, says Mingyur Rinpoche, its love and wisdom unaffected by the clouds of life. You can access it with this awareness meditation.

Life on the Edge

Buddhist teacher Joan Halifax describes five “edge states” where courage meets fear and freedom meets suffering.

Meditating on the Hugeness of Life

It's a three-week "practice period" at the Zen Center. Sure, it sounds tough — but in the end, it's all love.

Coming Home to Myself

Mariana Restrepo shares her journey towards embodying all facets of her intersectional identities.

Bearing Witness to Ukraine’s Suffering

As we bear witness to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we cannot fall into our tendency to turn away from suffering, says Roshi Joan Halifax.

Enlightenment of the Cosmic Buddhas

Through the Pure Land practice of nembutsu, explains Mark Unno, we “foolish beings” entrust ourselves to the full awakening of Amida, the primordial Buddha of Infinite Light.

We Are All Thay’s Continuation

Six women from the Order of Interbeing reflect on the impact of their beloved teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, following his death.

Plum Village shares eulogy for Thich Nhat Hanh, images from funeral procession

We would like to express our deep love and gratitude as we make the vow to carry your teachings, compassion, and insight far into the future, the eulogy reads.

What Can “Encanto” Teach Kids About Buddhism?

Looking for ways to teach her toddler about Buddhism, Mariana Restrepo finds valuable lessons about compassion and the causes of suffering in Disney’s Encanto.

What Can I Say About My Beloved Teacher?

Larry Ward shares a poem about Thich Nhat Hanh, whose teachings have guided many towards a life of mindfulness, joy, and peace.

The Traveling Nunk Is Still Traveling (Part II): A Q&A with Sister Clear Grace Dayananda

In the introduction to the first conversation, I wondered whether Sister Clear Grace would find sustaining generosity for this mission from Buddhists and non-Buddhists. I wondered what might be gained by the non-Buddhist strangers who would be in conversation, perhaps for the first time, with a Black Buddhist monastic defying gender norms talking about racial,…

Everything Is This Wisdom

Pema Khandro on the primordial knowing that, according to the Dzogchen teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, is the source and true nature of ourselves and all reality.

The Mind-Heart of the Buddha

At the core of Mahayana Buddhism, explains Kaira Jewel Lingo, is bodhichitta, the bodhisattvas’ enlightened aspiration to save all sentient beings.

This Very Mind Is Buddha

In the Chan and Zen traditions, says Guo Gu, enlightenment is not something we create or achieve. It’s who we already are.

Cooled, At Peace, Free from Suffering

Bhante Sujato on nibanna, the state of enlightenment beyond all conditioned existence.

Meet a Teacher: Bhante Sanathavihari

I grew up in the ethnically diverse neighborhoods of Koreatown and Hollywood in Los Angeles. My father was a Marine Corps veteran and my mother was from Jerez, Mexico. My parents had an affinity for Asian cultures, and my first school was a private Christian Korean school. In my teenage years, I attended Hollywood High…

Joyful Wandering

From ecology to nirvana to a monk in high heels — Bonnie Nadzam recommends new books for your spiritual journey.

Fragrant

Fragrant

A smell could take Marianna Pogosyan back in time, or she could stay present to this precious, fleeting moment.

Shall I Stay or Shall I Go?

More people than ever before are changing jobs, or at least thinking about it. To help you decide, says Dan Zigmond, contemplate the nature of change.

Thich Nhat Hanh.

Remembering Thich Nhat Hanh (1926-2022)

Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Buddhist monk and founder of the Engaged Buddhism movement, died January 22 in his home country of Vietnam. He was 95. 

Continuing Thay’s Teachings

Meet eight of Thich Nhat Hanh’s students who are now teachers themselves. In their own unique ways, they’re helping to carry his dharma into the future.

Whatever Way the Wind Blows

So-called objective reality, Pico Iyer finds, is as fickle as the weather. Maybe that’s because it’s as much mind as matter.

Why Meditation isn’t Enough

We can’t just blindly meditate, says Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche. Our practice must be illuminated by deep, critical study of the Buddhist teachings.

The Four Noble Truths

Buddhist teacher and scholar Jan Willis on the Buddha’s central teaching — his diagnosis and cure for suffering.

Working with Loneliness on the Contemplative Path

Rashid Hughes explores the importance of listening to loneliness and leaning into social intimacy when engaging in contemplative practice.

To Practice Mindfulness Is to Return to Life

Thich Nhat Hanh says that mindfulness shows us the suffering of life and connects us with compassion.

Dharma for a Traumatized World

The cause of our global suffering is forgetting that we belong to one another and to the earth. Tara Brach recommends four practices to nourish a sense of collective belonging.

Ubuntu: I Am Because We Are

The African philosophy of ubuntu teaches that we are human only through the humanity of others. Buddhists of African descent explore the synergy between ubuntu and the Buddhist teachings on interdependence.

The Zen of Joan Didion

Read David Swick's classic Lion's Roar profile of Joan Didion, who died December 23 at age 87.

The Many Faces of Cultural Appropriation

What does cultural appropriation mean in a Buddhist context? According to Chenxing Han and Trent Walker, the answer is not as simple as we might like it to be.

May All Be Well: The Aspirations of the Medicine Buddha

Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche shares the fundamentals of Buddhist medicine and the intentions behind it.

The Practice of Wonderment

When your life takes the shape of a question, says Guo Gu, then you have entered the practice of huatou.

Making Offerings to Our Ancestors

When we place offerings on the altar for teachers long past, do we understand what we are doing, or why? Zenju Earthlyn Manuel looks into the depths of that encounter between past and present.

Ask the Teachers: Are my finances at odds with my Buddhist practice?

Sean Feit Oakes, Gendo Lucy Xiao, and Lama Liz Monson on balancing Buddhist practice and the financial realities of life.

When We Have No Choice

Sometimes, says Pema Khandro, there’s no way out. It’s at those times that we can discover the depth and resilience of the mind.

Buddhadharma Book Briefs for Winter 2021

Joie Szu-Chiao Chen reviews "We Were Made for These Times" by Kaira Jewel Lingo, "The Wakeful Bod" by Willa Baker Blythe, "The Buddha’s Tooth" by John S. Strong, and more.

What Stories Do We Allow Ourselves to Hear?

When we read fantastical stories in Buddhist texts, we might simply dismiss them as myth. Ralph H. Craig III invites us to look at them a little more deeply.

The Best of bell hooks: Life, Writings, Quotes, and Books

Renowned author, feminist theorist, and cultural critic bell hooks passed away on Dec. 15 at the age of 69. Read about her remarkable life and and work, alongside a selection of pieces by and conversations with hooks published in the pages of Lion's Roar.

Why Do Buddhas Look So Different?

Ikumi Kaminishi looks at regional differences in sculptures of the Buddha.

The Ordinary, Extraordinary Teacher

Buddhadharma Editor Koun Franz on meeting his teacher for the first time. 

Teachers You May Not Know But Should

Ross Nervig on some teachers past and present whose lives and teachings have a lot of offer us.

Together in This Moment

From the Dalai Lama to queer dharma to the beloved community — Bonnie Nadzam looks at new books that bring us together in the wisdom of the present.

She Who Hears the Cries of Marines

As ex-Marine Alex Kakuyo laments a war he can no longer believe in, he turns for help to the bodhisattva Kannon and the buddha Amida.

The Old and the Beautiful

In Japan, wabi sabi is an aethetic principle that sees beauty in imperfection and age. Can Kem McIntosh Lee see the wabi sabi of her own aging body?

If You Meet The Buddha On The Road, Kill Him?

Chris Pacheco, Lion’s Roar’s Associate AV Editor, unpacks the real meaning of ninth-century Chinese Buddhist monk Linji Yixuan's famous quote.

Find the Wisdom in Paradox

If we don’t embrace the often-paradoxical complexity of societal ills, the actions we take to solve them will be merely “Band-Aids.” Kritee on getting to the root of a problem.

Sugar Skulls

Día de los Muertos is a reminder, says Linda González, that we are all one in life and death.

Eihei Dogen

The Man Who Redefined Zen

From just sitting to cooking as practice, Dogen defined how most of us understand Zen today. Steven Heine on the life and global impact of Dogen Zenji.

Compassion and Wisdom

The human heart is basically very compassionate, but without wisdom, compassion will not work. Wisdom is the openness that lets us see what is essential and most effective.

Meditating on the Mind Itself

A teaching on the practice of Mahamudra by the late Kagyu master Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche.

10 Buddhist Books Everyone Should Read

10 Buddhist books everyone should have, as selected by the editors of Lion's Roar.

Our Bodies are Basically Good

Non-diet dietician Jenna Hollenstein's book "Eat to Love" paves a Buddhist path toward transforming our often troubled relationship with food and body.

What are some good Buddhist books about death and dying?

There are plenty of Buddhist books with helpful advice about how to help dying people—and how to die yourself.

Dogen’s 4 Key Teachings

From being to the nature of time, Dogen explored the big questions. Four experts unpack some of his most influential concepts.

Practice Is the Right Medicine

This, says Jan Chozen Bays, is the healing power of practice: we release our fear, transform our unskillfulness, and discover our kindest selves.

Buddhadharma Book Briefs for Fall 2021

Joie Szu-Chiao Chen reviews What I Don’t Know about Death by C. W. Huntington, The Guru Principle by Shenpen Hookham, Questioning the Buddha by Peter Skilling, and more.

What Is the Buddha in You?

Sonam Kachru reviews C. V. Jones’ "The Buddhist Self."

Turn Your Thinking Upside Down

We base our lives on seeking happiness and avoiding suffering, but the best thing we can do for ourselves is to turn this whole way of thinking upside down.

Everything Dies

It’s the Buddha’s basic teaching. It’s life’s universal truth. It’s what we most want to deny. Sallie Jiko Tisdale on how this hard but liberating truth can transform your life.

The Buddha Would Have Believed You

In too many Buddhist communities, women have not been believed when revealing harm caused by men. Bhikkhu Sujato looks to the Vinaya and finds another approach.

Reclaiming Our So-Called “Cultural Baggage”

Asian American Buddhist communities have for years been dismissed by “convert” Buddhists for carrying “cultural baggage.” Nalika Gajaweera says the response should not be to let it go but to claim it as a mark of cultural responsibility.

Spiritual Friendship Is the Path

Each one of us, says David Viafora, can be a kalyana mitra, or “spiritual friend.” Here’s how.

“Days of Spring,” 2021. Painting by Yeachin Tsai. © Yeachin Tsai

The Building Blocks of Belonging

According to Willa Blythe Baker, making a strong, healthy community starts with understanding how it is constructed.

His Dharma Heir

An excerpt from Ruth Ozeki’s new novel, "The Book of Form and Emptiness."

The Three Minds of Zen

Zen teaches that we should maintain “a joyful mind, an elder’s mind, and a great mind.” According to Jisho Sara Siebert, they’re never far away.

This World of Dew

Editor-in-Chief Melvin McLeod reflects on the importance of death in Buddhist philosophy in the opening editorial of the November 2021 issue of Lion's Roar.

Meet a Teacher: Ven. Dr. Jue Ji

Learn more about Buddhist teacher, Ven. Dr. Jue Ji. 

7 Life and Death Questions

Michael Hebb, founder of Death Over Dinner, offers some important questions to guide your contemplation of mortality.

The Five Remembrances

To change your life now and prepare for the inevitable, says Pamela Ayo Yetunde, regularly contemplate these five home truths.

Goodbye and Good Journey

Buddhist funeral traditions around the world help both the dead and their loved ones let go and move on.

Birth and Death in Every Breath

When we practice mindfulness of breath, says Judy Lief, we connect to the reality that birth and death are happening in every moment.

Where, Oh Where Will I Go?

“When the body has dissolved into the four elements, where will you go?” asks the koan called Doushuai’s Third Barrier. Vastness into vastness, concludes Zen teacher John Tarrant.

Good Death? Let’s Get Real

Most of the time death won’t follow our script, says Roshi Joan Halifax. But amid its messiness and pain, our experience can be respected, and we can learn.

Spiritual Free Agents: The Buddhists of Gen Z

A report on findings from Gen Z Buddhists surveyed in Springtide Research Institute's "The State of Religion and Young People."

Running into Joy

Sometimes sitting with her sadness becomes too difficult. But Vanessa Zuisei Goddard has learned she can run with it—and through it.

Motherhood Is the Path

Like motherhood, the path to awakening demands compassion, love, and sacrifice. Jenna Hollenstein explains the parallels between mothers and bodhisattvas. 

Man staring in the mirror.

What Is Your Body?

It’s less than we think. It’s far more than we know. It’s who we are but it’s not. Contemplate the deeper reality of the body.

Emptiness, Meditation, Shambhala Sun, Shikantaza, Shosoku, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, Zen, Lion's Roar, Buddhism

Wherever You Are, Enlightenment Is There

A talk by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi on enlightenment.

The Opposite of Grasping Is Intimacy

Willa Blythe Baker explores the idea of “entanglement,” coming to the conclusion that the opposite of attachment isn’t detachment — it’s intimacy.

The Life-Changing Practice of Death Awareness

Chris Pacheco, Lion’s Roar’s Associate AV Editor, on why you might take up the Buddhist practice of maranasati, or mindfulness of death — even if you really, really don’t want to.

An Economy Based on Caring

Farmers, grocery store clerks, garbage collectors, teachers—we’re not just interdependent with essential workers such as these; we’re dependent. Norman Fischer on fair wages for all.

The Ultimate Self-Help

Our editor-in-chief, Melvin McLeod, shares why Buddhism is the ultimate self-help, despite one of its central principles — nonself.

Pa’s Smile

Jaimal Yogis’s dad explained his final wishes: “I’ve gotten so much from Buddhism for good living, I’m not going to pass up their tips for good dying.”

Daily Life is Practice

These days, if an aversive reaction starts to form in my mind, I think to myself, “Wait! Don’t disturb the peace!”

Distraction Buddha.

The Dharma of Distraction

It goes a lot deeper than how many times a day you check your phone. According to Buddhist teacher Judy Lief, distraction i