Archives: BD Articles

Hope for the Hopeless

Rev. Blayne Higa on the founder of Shin Buddhism’s “spiritual insight of imperfection and radical acceptance.” It can lead us to the ultimate realization of buddhanature.

Awareness, from the Moment You Wake Up

We’re often encouraged to bring meditation “off the cushion” and into our everyday lives—Sayadaw U Tejaniya shows us what that really looks like.

Peter Coyote is seen giving a talk at San Francisco Zen Center

Watch: Peter Coyote talks “Stumbling” on the Zen Path

Peter Coyote looks back at his life in the arts, activism, politics, and Zen.

Sexual Awakening: Buddhists Talk About Intimacy, Issues, and Embodiment

Aiming to shed light into this often-overlooked aspect of spiritual life, Emma Markham reflects on her conversations with practitioners about Buddhism and sexuality.

Venerating Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva by Engaging the World

According to An Tran, reciting the Twelve Aspiration Prayers of Avalokitesvara encourages us to engage with the world as part of our practice, so that we may become instruments of the buddhas of this world, helping ease the suffering of beings and our environment.

Photo of a placard with "One World" written with the Earth.

What Buddhists Can Do About Earth’s Challenging Next Ten Years

John H. Negru on why, in our unprecedented era, we must engage in the liberating act of awakening to interdependence together.

Who Was Patrul Rinpoche?

Matthieu Ricard provides a glimpse into the life of Patrul Rinpoche, one of the most revered spiritual teachers in Tibetan history.

A Radiance of Nuns

Tsunma Sherab Khandro attended March’s Alliance of Non-Himalayan Nuns’ Gathering in Dharamsala, India. Here, she shares her experience and her perspective on the many challenges today’s nuns are faced with as they strive to uphold their vows, including lack of community and financial support.

A monk standing in a field, with a statue of Padmasambhava in the distance.

Is the Guru Model Broken?

Pema Khandro Rinpoche, Lama Rod Owens, Lama Rigzin Drolma, and Lobsang Rapgay discuss the guru model in the Tibetan tradition, in which the teacher is central to the path.

Bodhisattva, What Color is Your Neck?

When it comes to right speech, can Buddhist practitioner Ching Pan follow the example of Green-Necked Avalokitesvara? Could you?

Late translator Jeffrey Hopkins with two colleagues.

Remembering Tibetologist Jeffrey Hopkins

As reported here last week, the important Tibetologist and translator, Jeffrey Hopkins, died on July 1. Here, Buddhist teacher Anne C. Klein (Lama Rigzin Drolma) shares a personal reflection of her dear friend and colleague.

Talking with Namchak Foundation about their unique “Compassion In Action” Fellows Program

In this video conversation, Namchak Foundation’s Jessica Larson and Marissa Fornaro speak to the Buddhadharma editorial team about their “Compassion in Action” Fellows Program and who can benefit from it.

Meet a Teacher: Lama Karma Yeshe Chödrön

In this conversation with Buddhadharma’s deputy editor, Mariana Restrepo, Lama Karma Yeshe Chödrön discusses the interconnectedness of her personal experience, her role as a dharma teacher and translator, and how these different facets are integrated into her dharma practice.

Image of Sangha members practicing walking meditation at plum village on Earth Day 2023.

How to Work Together for Real Change

Ethics was deeply important to the late Vietnamese Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. (In fact, “An Ancient Path for Modern Times: Applied Ethics” is the theme of his Plum Village community’s retreat for experienced practitioners this year.) Here he explains how we can awaken together through our work—and why we must.