Category: Teachings
Understanding emptiness — in 50 words or less
“Emptiness.” It’s a fundamental Buddhist concept — but what does it mean? And how could you explain it to someone else?
Is enlightenment off-limits to laypeople?
Three teachers discuss whether Buddhists must in ordain to achieve enlightenment.
Buddhism’s Big Lies
Karen Maezen Miller breaks down the three most common lies in Buddhist discourse.
There Is No Blame
“There are no human enemies,” says Sylvia Boorstein, “only confused people needing help.”
If Siddhartha Didn’t Leave Home
As A. Jesse Jiryu Davis meditates on the anniversary of the Buddha's enlightenment, he finds a tender connection to the young man who said goodbye to everything.
Heart of the Dalai Lama
In this exclusive and heartfelt essay, Pico Iyer reveals the simple human secret that makes the Dalai Lama the most beloved spiritual figure in the world.
What is Buddhist Salvation?
In Buddhism, says Zen teacher Koun Yamada, we find salvation by experiencing our true nature as human beings.
“What kind of Zen teacher has panic attacks?”
Recently, for the first time in my life, I had a full-blown panic attack.
Karma Is Not Fate
You can't deny your karmic inheritance, said the late Traleg Rinpoche, but that doesn't mean you can't change.
You Already Understand!
There’s no better example of Zen’s direct, penetrating spirit than these exchanges between the late Zen master Seung Sahn and his students.