Category: Dharma in Daily Life
Do Buddhists pray? What for?
We're not praying for something. We're not praying to anyone. Why would Buddhists pray?
Watch 4 funny, poignant teachings from Ajahn Brahm
In this video series from Buddhadharma, Ajahn Brahm offers four short, insightful teachings.
The Five Mindfulness Trainings
Thich Nhat Hanh's Five Mindfulness Trainings are are based on the Buddha's five precepts and translated for modern times. Their nature is universal.
Ethics, Service, and a Meaningful Life
In the opening editorial of our July 2017 issue, our editor-in-chief Melvin McLeod discusses living an ethical life of service on the Buddhist path.
Fear and Fearlessness: What the Buddhists Teach
So much of our suffering—as individuals and as a society—is caused by fear. In fact, according to Buddhism, fear is at the very root of ego and samsara.
That Driver Could Be Your Mother
Compassion and rebirth came together for me recently as I sat reflecting on how I nearly drove my mother off the road.
The Decision to Become a Buddhist
Taking refuge in the Buddha, the dharma and the sangha is something more than a ritual, wrote Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Making Friends on the Buddhist Path
Zen teacher Norman Fischer extols the beauty and benefit of spiritual friendship on the Buddhist path.
Should I meditate for short or long periods?
How do you know when you're forcing your meditation, instead of applying proper effort? Do you recommend short periods of meditation or longer ones?
Committing to Impermanence
It may not be forever, but for right now Rachel Neumann and her partner of 20 years celebrate their love.
A Sudden Goodbye
When her teacher Kyogen Carlson died suddenly on September 18, 2014, Sallie Jiko Tisdale reeled from the shock of it. Then she quickly got down to work.
Dead Like Me
He tries to picture himself eating his favorite food or snorkeling an unknown sea, but sometimes thoughts of death just keep on coming. Here, in thirteen ways, Ira Sukrungruang unpacks what it means to be dead.
Who Was Dipa Ma?
Dipa Ma, known as "the patron saint of householders," was a primary teacher of Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg, as well as one of Jack Kornfield’s teachers. Amy Schmidt and Sara Jenkins tell the story of this inspiring female practitioner and meditation teacher.
Buddhist Ethics in the 21st Century
Koun Franz explains what ethics has meant in his own practice.
Love Fights the Power
For bell hooks, fighting oppression doesn’t require anger or conflict—just opening our hearts and speaking the truth fearlessly.
Enlightenment in Female Form
Gelek Rinpoche argues that enlightenment is possible only when female and male energies are both present. Tara practices bring enlightened female energy.
Suffering Opens The Real Path
Norman Fischer explains why it’s suffering that gives us the incentive, vision, and strength to transform our lives.
A Plea for the Animals
Animals feel suffering and want to live—just like us. Why do we withhold our compassion and kill these sentient beings by the billions?
The Four Seals of Dharma are Buddhism in a Nutshell
People often ask me: “What is Buddhism in a nutshell?” Or they ask, “What is the particular view or philosophy of Buddhism?” Unfortunately, in the West Buddhism seems to have landed in the religious department, even in the self-help or self-improvement department, and clearly it’s in the trendy meditation department. I would like to challenge…
Leading neuroscientists & Buddhists agree: “Consciousness is everywhere”
New theories suggest Buddhist teachings on consciousness may be correct, and the implications for science could be huge.