Painting of the Buddha preacahing.

The Buddha is Still Teaching

The true Buddha isn’t limited to the body or mind of a particular person who lived long ago. He is present today, says Jack Kornfield, in teachers pointing the way to a timeless freedom.

Wall of books with door.

How to Read and Study Buddhist Teachings

There is such a wealth of Buddhist books and teachings to consume. Where do you start? Here are some tips on how to tackle your reading list.

How Meditation Saved My Mind

Sometimes we’re committed to our meditation practice and sometimes we drift away. No matter what, Matthew Kohut believes we can always find our way home to the cushion.

Lots of Buddhas

In Sanskrit, the word buddha can mean “awakened,” “expanded,” and “understood.” It was the title bestowed on an itinerant teacher about whom little is known, apart from the teachings that have been attributed to him. The Buddha first appears in the rock edicts of Emperor Ashoka, who ruled India from 268 to 232 BCE. For…

How Do I Put My Mind to Rest?

Zen teacher Karen Maezen Miller explains Bodhidharma's famous practice of wall-gazing.

The Tao of Buddha

In "China Root," David Hinton invites the reader to reexamine Zen through its roots in Taoist teachings. Here, he takes a Taoist lens to the idea of “Buddha” itself.

Buddha, the Ultimate Radical

Andrew Olendzki shares all that made the Buddha one of the most radical people who ever lived.

I See You, I Am Here: The Secret to Heartfelt Communication

Stephen Murphy-Shigematsu shows us how we can truly connect with others with the Zulu practice of Sawubona.

Everybody Loves Something

According to Pema Chödrön, love and compassion are like the weak spots in the walls of ego.

Heart Emoji

Their sangha gathered virtually, but it was still real. Rachel Paige King on the loss of an online dharma brother.

The Family That Meditates Together

It’s not easy, but getting your family to meditate could be the best thing you do as a parent. Gail Silver on how to interest your kids in breathing, seeing, and being.

The Why and How of Lojong, or Mind Training

The teachings on lojong, are an invaluable aid to practitioners. They show us how the wisdom and skillful means of the Mahayana can actually be put to use.

Acknowledging Buddhism’s South Asian Roots

Vishnu Sridharan points out a blind spot in Western Buddhism — South Asia is exorcized, while Buddhism’s origins in South Asian culture are ignored.

Meet a Teacher: Mary Stancavage

An interview with Mary Stancavage from our "Meet a Teacher" series in the July 2021 issue of Lion's Roar magazine.

Faith for Troubled Times

Anne Lamott, Joko Beck, the mindful family, Black liberation—Tracy Franz looks at new books offering the spiritual wisdom we need today.

Who Are You, Really?

You don’t have a surface public self and a private inner self, nor do you have one true, unchanging self. What you have, says Barry Magid, is multiple shifting self-states—and they can get along just fine.

Cherry blossoms.

Shikantaza is Understanding Emptiness

What is shikantaza? Suzuki Roshi, the great Zen teacher, says that it is the experience of receiving a "letter from emptiness"

Photo of Thich Nhat Hanh and his fellow monks and nuns walking at sunset

Sangha Is More than a Community

Thich Nhat Hanh explains that sangha is more than a community, it’s a deep spiritual practice.

Truth in Fiction

Pico Iyer loves reading spiritual books, but he’s found just as much good dharma in the books of three favorite novelists.

You’re Ready Enough

Wherever you find yourself, says Pema Khandro, that’s the starting point of the bodhisattva path—all you need to do is take that first step.