About Rod Meade Sperry

Rod Meade Sperry is Editorial Director of Lion's Roar's Special Projects and of LionsRoar.com. He is the editor of A Beginner’s Guide to Meditation: Practical Advice and Inspiration from Contemporary Buddhist Teachers, and co-author, with Miguel Chen, of I Wanna Be Well: How a Punk Found Peace and You Can Too.

East Bay Meditation Center hosts Tara Brach “Power of Compassion” benefit event and livestream

by Rod Meade Sperry| April 17, 2019

On April 22, East Bay Meditation Center will host “The Power of Compassion,” a benefit event led by Tara Brach.

Dalai Lama hospitalized with chest infection, now discharged

by Rod Meade Sperry| April 10, 2019

Photo by Erik Törnerc.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, age 83, has been hospitalized in Delhi, India, after feeling discomfort in his chest, which doctors have determined was caused by an infection.

Is Emptiness > Mindfulness?

by Rod Meade Sperry| April 5, 2019

Each Friday, we share three topical longreads in our Weekend Reader newsletter. This week, LionsRoar.com’s Rod Meade Sperry looks at the beauty of emptiness.

Spirit Rock, Jack Kornfield, withdraw Noah Levine’s authorization to teach

by Rod Meade Sperry| February 22, 2019

Noah Levine. Photo by Jakob Lagerstedt.

The Ethics and Reconciliation Council of Spirit Rock Meditation Center has withdrawn the authorization to teach given to Noah Levine. Jack Kornfield, who led Levine’s teacher training and was his authorizing teacher, has rescinded that 2006 authorization.

Buddhist teacher Sharon Salzberg suffers health emergency

by Rod Meade Sperry| February 21, 2019

Buddhist teacher Sharon Salzberg has suffered what a new letter from Salzberg’s director of operations, Lily Cushman, describes as “a major health emergency this past weekend.”

The Hungry Ghosts of “Mad Men”

by Rod Meade Sperry| December 7, 2018

The characters in “Mad Men” are like hungry ghosts, says Rod Meade Sperry, endlessly consuming liquor, drugs — and each other.

Our Furry Friends

by Rod Meade Sperry| November 30, 2018

Each Friday, we share three topical longreads in our Weekend Reader newsletter. This week, LionsRoar.com’s Rod Meade Sperry shares the lessons he’s learned through the years from loving and losing pets.

Wayne Shorter’s New Musical Masterwork, Emanon, Is a Big Mind Adventure

by Rod Meade Sperry| September 27, 2018

Wayne Shorter is one of jazz’s great geniuses, and at 85 remains an inspired, inspiring workhorse. His new three-disc album — which comes matched with a graphic novel — showcases his innovation, recalls his storied career, and reflects his Buddhist practice.