Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason–John, president of the Buddhist Recovery Network, promotes recovery alternatives grounded in dharma and diversity. Rod Meade Sperry: You are the president of the Buddhist Recovery Network. What is the BRN's role? Valerie Mason-John: The BRN was started so people involved in different Buddhist-inspired recovery programs could pool ideas and [...]
KFC launches bizarro meditation-themed video series
The videos play on common spiritual tropes, and — Rod Meade Sperry reports — are just about as weird as mass-marketing gets. And now — as they say — for something completely different. Fast-food behemoth KFC has launched a series of six long videos that play upon meditation and Eastern-religion tropes, as well as visuals and ideas that come from counter-culture and the [...]
Judd Apatow, HBO to share “The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling” in March 2018
Judd Apatow's documentary about the life and wisdom of the comedian Garry Shandling — who died in 2016 — will air in two parts in March. For a while now, there have been rumblings about filmmaker and comedian Judd Apatow developing a documentary film about his friend, the late, and truly great Garry Shandling -- comedian, TV pioneer, and yes, serious Zen Buddhist. Now, I'm [...]
Opinion: Net Neutrality Repeal Threatens Independent Voices & Journalism Like Lion’s Roar
On what's being called "Break The Internet" Day, LionsRoar.com editorial director Rod Meade Sperry invites you to consider how a repeal of Net Neutrality rules could stifle independent voices, in turn impacting the dharma — and what you can do to help prevent that from happening. On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will be voting on whether or not to [...]
Lion’s Roar’s “How to Meditate” Reader’s extras
Thanks for reading Lion's Roar's special edition, How to Meditate: Buddhist Practices for Your Heart & Mind. Throughout this special publication, we've listed great further readings to help deepen your experience with and understanding of Buddhist meditation. You'll find all of those here, by section, along with still more support for your practice, from Lion's [...]
Watch: Leonard Cohen’s contemplative “Leaving the Table” video
A moving new video for "Leaving the Table," from the late Leonard Cohen's last LP, "You Want It Darker," has been released. It begins with what one might read as a meditating Cohen -- he was a dedicated Zen student, after all -- atop an abstract mountaintop/cross hybrid, and then leaping into the air, flying into a version of the world packed with references his to his life [...]
In honor of “Character Day,” a Buddhist guide to character strengths
Wednesday, September 13, marks the fourth annual Global Character Day, which was launched by filmmaker and Webby Awards founder, Tiffany Shlain. The idea of the day is to get us all talking about "the importance of character building in today’s increasingly distracted and overly-connected world." Sounds to us at Lion's Roar like a very good thing to do. Perhaps the place to [...]
Sam Littlefair debuts as new LionsRoar.com Editor
Outgoing editor Rod Meade Sperry, who will remain with Lion's Roar focused on editorial across media, shares his excitement about the transition. It’s been my pleasure and privilege to serve as LionsRoar.com’s editor since we launched — and before that, as editor of our magazines’ previous sites. But all things, as they say, are impermanent, and I'm stepping away from the [...]
North American Buddhist Alliance issues response to racial violence
In a new statement shared with Lion's Roar, the North American Buddhist Alliance (NABA) responds to the current events and crises related to White Supremacy in the United States. NABA describes itself as “a new, idealistic, and organic organization modeled after Northwest Dharma Association. We are not a governing body nor are we interested in developing a hierarchy of any [...]
What are the Five Precepts?
How can Buddhists know if their life is an ethical one? By keeping the five precepts, a set of guidelines for those who wish to do no harm. Some Buddhists follow them as literally as they can and others take a more situational approach, guided by compassion and what creates the most benefit. There are many different sets of precepts, but common to all Buddhists are five [...]
