What does ‘dedicating merit’ really do?

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, Nikki Mirghafori, and Gyokei Yokoyama answer the question: "We are encouraged to dedicate the merit of our practice to all beings. It’s a beautiful idea, but what effect, if any, does it really have? And can you offer something you’re not sure you even have?"

About the art in the Spring 2019 issue of Buddhadharma

We take a closer look at the art featured in the Spring 2019 issue of Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Quarterly.

Inside the Spring 2019 issue of Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Quarterly

The Spring 2019 issue of Buddhadharma is available now. Preview the magazine contents and sample articles below.

You’re Caught in a Dream. Wake Up!

When you see that much of your life is spent in dreamlike states, says Pema Khandro Rinpoche, you are freed from the suffering they cause.

Chairs and a table in a tidy room.

Zen and the Way of Tidying

Marie Kondo's philosophy of tidying is sweeping the globe. If you take the fad seriously, writes Cristina Moon, it can offer a glimpse of the profound.

Key Terms of Shin Buddhism

From the archives of Buddhadharma, the late scholar and translator Taitetsu Unno defines several key terms of Shin Buddhism.

Power & Heart: Black and Buddhist in America

At the first-ever gathering of Buddhist teachers of black African descent held at New York’s Union Theological Seminary, two panels of leading Buddhist teachers took questions about what it means to be a black Buddhist in America today.

What Is Rainbow Body?

In Tibetan Buddhism, it is said that certain meditation practices can alter the appearance of the body, transforming it into five radiant lights. The name given to this physical fluorescence is “rainbow body.”

What is Nichiren Shu?

Along with Soka Gakkai and Nichiren Shoshu, Nichiren Shu is one of the largest sects of the Nichiren school of Buddhism. A Nichiren Shu priest explains the tradition’s roots, practices, and basic teachings.

Lotus flower.

Black Bodhisattvas

Dr. Kamilah Majied reflects her experiences at The Gathering of Buddhist Teachers of Black African Descent.