Shamatha meditation—mindfulness or concentration—is the foundation of Buddhist practice. Lama Rod Owens teaches us a version from the Vajrayana tradition. Shamatha means “peaceful abiding” or “tranquility.” Also called mindfulness or concentration meditation, shamatha is an important introductory practice that leads to the practice of vipashyana, or insight [...]
Do You Know Your True Face?
Lama Rod Owens says we all need to look honestly at who we are, in all our complexity -- and that includes those who teach the dharma. Excerpted in the Fall 2017 Buddhadharma, "The Best of 15 Years." About a year after I finished the traditional three-year retreat program and had begun my work as a dharma teacher, I experienced a kind of breakdown, a severe sense of being [...]
Protest Is My Spiritual Practice
Lama Rod Owens says protesting is a spiritual act that engages the practitioner's body, speech, and mind in service to others. But many Buddhists are resistant to resistance. On August 25, I marched with thousands of other religious leaders in the 1,000 Ministers March for Justice, organized by Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network. Ministers from across [...]
Stand Against Suffering: A Call to Action by Buddhist Teachers
Thirteen leading Buddhist teachers, joined by more than 140 additional signatories, call on Buddhists and all people of faith to take a stand against policies of the new administration that will create suffering for the most vulnerable in society. As long as a society protects the vulnerable among them, they can be expected to prosper and not decline. —The Buddha, in the [...]
Buddhists & Ethical Misconduct: We All Have Patriarchy Work to Do
Lama Rod Owens on why Buddhist community members — especially male-identified teachers, monks, staff, authorities, and lay practitioners — must confront and deal with ethical misconduct, and how to do it. Buddhist communities are not unlike other organized religious communities: where there is hierarchy, patriarchy, and a clergy class with weak accountability structures, [...]
My Body, My Life
How mindfulness has helped Buddhist teacher Lama Rod Owens live as a Black queer man in America. For me, practicing mindfulness is about showing up in the best way possible in my body and in my life. As an authorized lama in the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism, I am trained in Mahamudra, a system of meditation and philosophy that is concerned with revealing the true [...]
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. One Perfect Christmas Bonnie Nadzam on letting go of holiday expectations, and simply enjoying the mystery and tradition of the season. I was raised Catholic and once, as a girl, I had The Perfect Christmas. The snow was [...]
Forum: The Road Ahead
Gen X teachers from across traditions are transforming the vision and landscape of American Buddhism. Six years ago, Jack Kornfield and Noah Levine had the idea for post-baby-boomer-generation dharma teachers to meet, learn from, and support each other. Starting with that simple idea, Noah, Spring Washam, Josh Bartok, Lama Willa Miller, and I organized a conference, held in [...]
We Are Tara
Tara is the female buddha of compassion. Called Drolma in Tibetan, her name means Female Liberator or Mother Liberator. In her most recognized form, she is Green Tara, a radiant woman of color who sits on an immaculate lotus draped in the finest silks and adorned in exquisite ornaments. Though her iconography is similar to other buddhas, what is noticeably different about [...]