Archives: BD Articles
Buddhism: A Journey Through History
Read a review of Donald S. Lopez, Jr.'s new book, Buddhism: A Journey Through History, plus an excerpt courtesy of its publisher, Yale University Press.
From Eternity to Eternity: Memoirs of a Korean Buddhist Nun
Read Constance Kassor's review of Bulpil Sunim's From Eternity to Eternity: Memoirs of a Korean Buddhist Nun.
Nepal’s Shechen Monastery ends affiliation with Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi
The monastery announced the news via a statement released January 8.
The Sorrow of Life is Fuel for Our Awakening
Inspired by the life and poetry of Kamo no Chōmei (1155-1216), Zen Buddhist practitioner David Chang explores the value of cultivating inner stillness while also bearing witness in times of crisis and upheaval.
A Professor’s Dilemma
Jan Willis on teaching Buddhism in an academic classroom, and what kind of Buddhist understanding her students are receiving.
When we meditate, who or what is meditating?
The teachers are asked "If meditation is ultimately about mind seeing its own true nature, how are we to understand the mind that meditates?"
A Meditation to Identify Your Addiction Triggers
Chönyi Taylor presents a meditation to familiarize yourself with the triggers that set off addictive behaviors.
Are You Ready for Death?
What we see as the worst crisis of our lives is actually a wonderful opportunity to discover enlightened mind, says The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche.
The Natural State of Happiness
Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche presents five noble qualities that enable us to experience our ever-present natural happiness.
The Koan in the Refrigerator
All he wanted was an egg. Instead Sam Guthrie got a close-up look at his compulsive need for order.
Not by Ourselves
Shikantaza demands our full self-expression, says Tenshin Reb Anderson, and this can only be realized when we meet intimately with others.
The Problem of Personality
We believe deeply in ourselves as personalities, says Ajahn Sumedho, each committed to the reality of our own personal history and distinctive traits.
Attending to the Deathless
“When the heart is released from clinging,” said the Buddha, “then consciousness does not land anywhere. That state, I tell you, is without sorrow, afflication or despair.” Ajahn Amaro on abiding in the consciousness that is completely beyond conditioned phenomena—neither supporting them nor supported by them.
The Real Practice of Mindfulness
As mindfulness becomes an increasingly popular concept, it is often mistaken for just “being in the moment.” Andrew Olendzki examines the Abhidharma teachings to uncover what mindfulness practice really is and how it works.
See Things Clear Through
Upasika Kee Nanayon, shows us how to combine concentration and clear-seeing to penetrate the "mass of deceit" that is the mind.
Gaining Perspective on Habitual Patterns
When you’re caught in your habitual patterns, says Joan Sutherland, try not to fixate on your reactions. Instead cultivate awareness of everything that is happening in the moment.
Becoming Truly Alive
We live a kind of artificial life, says Thich Nhat Hanh, lost in worries and anger. Our practice is to wake up and live each moment fully.
The Clarity Aspect
Emptiness without wisdom can lead to nihilism, explains Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. That's why we have the teachings on buddhanature.
Queens Without a Kingdom
In her book "Queens Without a Kingdom Worth Ruling: Buddhist Nuns and the Process of Change in Tibetan Monastic Communities," Chandra Chiara Ehm explores the often-overlooked lives of Tibetan nuns, highlighting the social and institutional challenges they encounter. Read an excerpt, courtesy of Vajra Books.
Remembering Hozan Kushiki Alan Senauke (1947-2024)
Senauke was a musician, writer, and a major contributor to the Buddhist world, as Berkeley Zen Center abbot and through his work with Buddhist Peace Fellowship, the International Network of Engaged Buddhists, and the Clear View Project, focused on affecting social change in Asia.