Archives: BD Articles
The Road to Diversity
Our panel looks at the problem of “whiteness’ in American Buddhism and what can be done—and in some cases is being done—to make it more diverse.
Inside Art: Blind Men Crossing the Bridge
Stephen Addiss analyses Blind Men Crossing the Bridge by Hakuin Ekaku (1685–1768), Ink on paper, 7 1/2 x 26 inches (19.2 x 67 centimeters).
Saturday Night at the Raccoon Lodge
Barry Magid grapples with the difficulty of dharma taking root in America as it adopts different cultural rituals.
Seeing Ourselves Clearly
“The suffering and happiness each of us experiences is a reflection of the distortion or clarity with which we view ourselves and the world.”
The One Heart of Flight 93
Sensei Anthony Stultz served as the Buddhist chaplain at the tenth anniversary memorial for the victims of Flight 93.
What to Do When Energy Runs Wild
Advanced meditation practices can cause energy imbalances that lead to serious physical and emotional problems, Ken McLeod explains.
Lives Lived: A Composer’s Journey
In this autobiographical essay, Peter Lieberson explained how his music and Buddhist practice deeply influenced one another.
Why I’m Not a Buddhist
Stephen Schettini explains his justification for practicing Buddhism without calling himself a Buddhist.
The Face of Western Buddhism
Sociologist James Coleman looks at the emerging Buddhist population in America and who will shape the new public face of Buddhism.
The Challenges Ahead
Two hundred teachers gathered for a Buddhist Teachers Council to discuss the future of Buddhism in the West. A forum on the key issues.
A Sane Life
In this teaching, the late American Zen pioneer Charlotte Joko Beck reminds us that having a sane and satisfying life comes from having a sane and balanced practice.
In Memoriam: Joko Beck
Barry Magid remembers the great pioneer of American Zen, Charlotte Joko Beck, whose influence changed our thoughts on the nature of practice.
The Taste of Thusness
Hoko Jan Karnegis explains how nyoho, or the dharma of thusness, guides the menu at a Zen kitchen.
What Kind of World Do We Want?
For many of us in the West, Buddhism first appears on the horizon as a path to inner peace offering relief from the tensions of daily living.
Review: The Taming of the Demons: Violence and Liberation in Tibetan Buddhism
There once stood a buddha coated in spiders, scorpions, and snakes. He had nine vile heads, enormous wings, eighteen hands clasping fearsome instruments, and spat fire as he trampled the beings underneath him.
Reconnecting With Ourselves
To heal our painful habits, we need to turn attention inward and reconnect with our experience through stillness, silence, and spaciousness.
What Are Dharma Teachers For?
Given how difficult Buddhist teachers can be to locate, trust, understand, accept, admire, and follow, are they even necessary?
Let’s Be Realistic
Chan Master Sheng Yen reminds us not to be discouraged that we haven’t attained enlightenment. After all, we’re only human.