Category: Dharma in Daily Life
The Bearable Lightness of Being
When we honor life but don’t make it a big deal, we become more joyous. The fancy name for that, says Pema Chödrön, is enlightenment.
Losing Katherine
Katherine was the sort of person who might suddenly ask, “How do you know love?” Natalie Goldberg recounts what she learned from this friend.
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.
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.
Let’s Talk: Cybersanghas—Do They Work?
Dosho Port discusses the emerging trend of online sanghas, and whether the dharma can be practiced digitally.
Buddhist sixth grader allegedly told to “change his religion” by Louisiana public school officials (updated)
Buddhist sixth grader allegedly told to "change his religion" by Louisiana public school officials.
The Joy of Falling: Skiing as Meditation
Melvin McLeod shares a little piece he wrote for the July 2013 "Body" issue on skiing as a practice of fearlessness and trust.
Why great leaders are spiritual
On a day we honor Nelson Mandela, surely we are also pondering what makes leaders great.
Is Mindfulness Ethically Neutral?
Toni Bernhard discusses why she thinks Mindfulness should not be considered a passive practice.
Back from the Brink
Jim Willems’ chronic pain and illness had become so bad he decided to take his own life. But the dharma kept him going through the darkness.
Can meditation become addictive?
The teachers are asked whether meditation can become addictive, bringing about withdrawal symptoms when a session is missed.
Profile: Sanshin Zen Community
Michael Haederle profiles the Sashin Zen Community, led by Shohaku Okumura Roshi and based in Bloomington, Indiana.
Ground-breaking TV documentary series depicts realities of dying
Konchog Norbu reports on the new Showtime documentary series, Time of Death, to see how it approaches a difficult topic.
Editorial: Welcome to the Big Tent
Associate Editor Rod Meade Sperry's editorial introduction of the November 2013 issue of Lion's Roar magazine.
The Dalai Lama and Aung Sang Suu Kyi meet together in Prague, praise Vaclav Havel at human rights conference
The Dalai Lama and Aung Sang Suu Kyi meet together in Prague, praise Vaclav Havel at human rights conference.
A Beautiful Wish (You Are the Sun…)
Our deepest and most beautiful wish is to become a better person. Just follow the wanting itself, says Zen teacher John Tarrant. That is the gate.
Rules to Live By
Doing the right thing doesn’t always mean following the rules, says Edward Brown. He only wishes he had known that years ago.
Journeys: The Real Rodeo
Kiley Jon Clark recounts an exhilarating moment of transition that turned "doing" into "being" – much like his Buddhist practice.
The Last Embrace: The Dalai Lama blesses a dying man
In this moving rembembrance, Elaine Mansfield recalls when His Holiness and her husband made a very meaningful connection