Archives: BD Articles
Is Western Psychology Redefining Buddhism?
Jack Kornfield, Judy Lief, and Bodhin Kjolhede examine the influence of Western psychology on Buddhism. Introduction by Ajahn Amaro.
Take a Good Hard Look
Everyone faces doubts about their progress on the path, says Doug Phillips, and the Bahiya Sutta shows us how to meet that doubt honestly.
Commentary: Respect the Fifth Precept
Noah Levine's commentary on the fifth precept, sobriety, and taking refuge.
Let’s Talk: Can Buddhists Come Together on Climate Change?
Bob Doppelt discusses how Buddhists can come together on climate change and make a difference for our future.
Reviews: Milarepa, He Started Like Us
Karl Brunnhölzl reviews "The Yogin & The Madman" by Andrew Quintman, a new biography of Milarepa.
Reviews: How the Buddha Became St. Josaphat
Reviews of "In Search of the Christian Buddha: How an Asian Sage Became a Medieval Saint" by Donald S. Lopez, Jr. and Peggy McCracken.
Women in Buddhism Study Initiative, University of Hamburg
Bhikkhu Analayo spent many years poring through the voluminous discourses of the Pali canon, trying to unravel an enduring mystery. What, he wondered, was the Buddha’s true view on the ordination of female monastics, or bhikkhunis?
Forum: Your Teacher and You
A forum on what it means to have a teacher today, how you can make the most of the relationship, and what you can do when it’s not working.
Teachers Are People Too
We want our teachers to practice what they preach, but when we look closely, they can seem just as flawed as the rest of us. Sumi Loundon Kim discovers for herself what’s so special—and so ordinary—about being the teacher.
A Commentary on “The Eight Bardos”
According to Tibetan Buddhism, all life and death take place in the gap, or bardo, between one state and another. While the most famous bardo is the one between death and rebirth, there are others that also shape our lives. Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen presents a commentary on Milarepa’s song of realization “The Eight Bardos.”
A Meeting of Hearts and Minds
In a teacher-student relationship, says Jakusho Kwong, it’s not enough to know your teacher’s heart and mind. You also need to know your own.
Falling in Love with a Buddha
Frank Berliner, a student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, describes the ever-deepening stages of relationship one experiences with their guru.
Chanting Names Once Forgotten: The Zen Women Ancestors Document
A quiet movement to reshape our understanding of Zen lineage and history is bringing attention to the forgotten names and voices of women in the tradition.
Enlightenment is Something We Do Together
There’s a romantic idea of enlightenment as a solitary and heroic act, but even if you’re off by yourself in a cave, you are still part of a culture, and it’s observable that some cultures are more friendly to discovery than others. Building a culture has been an ongoing and repeated task of Buddhism since the time of the Buddha.
Is there an eternal soul in Buddhism?
The teachers are asked if there is an eternal soul Buddhism.
Let’s Talk: Cybersanghas—Do They Work?
Dosho Port discusses the emerging trend of online sanghas, and whether the dharma can be practiced digitally.
Profile: The New York Buddhist Church
Michael Haederle profiles the New York Buddhist Church.
Journeys: A Glimmer of Dharma
Patrick Brady discusses his struggle and perseverance to follow the Buddhist path while in prison.
A Questioning Life
Toni Packer didn’t call herself a Buddhist, but she dedicated her life to exploring the path of awakening.