Archives: BD Articles
No More Secrets
We took our time getting to the issue of abuse in Buddhist sanghas—perhaps too long. In hindsight, I wish we had talked sooner.
Which River Will You Cross?
Whether buying products on the internet or Zooming with our students and teachers, we instantly recognize our interdependence, and yet how about when we walk outside our door?
No Shortcut to Awakening
Ross Bolleter guides us through the Cycle of Merit, the ancient Chan master Dongshan’s map showing us the way to enlightenment and back to where we are.
Forum: Milestones and Dilemmas
Bhikkhu Bodhi, Sarah Harding, and T. Griffith Foulk reflect on the state of Buddhist translation and the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Being Shaken
Early in my Zen practice I could not sit still in meditation, as I was besieged with involuntary movements, says Edward Espe Brown.
Profile: Naropa University
Michael Haederle profiles the Naropa University, and Buddhist secondary education institute in Boulder, Colorado.
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.