Nichiren Shonin: A Teacher of Equality

Based on letters Nichiren Shonin wrote to his female followers, Myokei Caine-Barrett explains why the thirteenth-century champion of the Lotus Sutra was a practical feminist.

Shin Buddhism Is American Buddhism

It’s a late summer afternoon, and strings of lanterns run from the Buddhist Church of Oakland’s substantial facade to the trees in Madison Park. Inside, the minister is giving tours of the hondo, where services are held. He explains the meaning and symbolism of the altarpieces—the statue of Amida Buddha, or Buddha of Infinite Light…

Everything Is Buddhanature

Original sin vs. original goodness: Mahayana Buddhism offers a more hopeful view of human nature. Zen teacher Melissa Myozen Blacker reveals how nondual practice frees us from our temporary obscurations and reveals our true, awakened nature.

Monks in orange robes walking on alms rounds in Los Angeles.

Buddhist groups increasingly taking root in Latinx communities

More and more Buddhist groups are offering programs in Spanish and doing outreach in Latinx communities. That means stronger community for everyone, reports Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil.

Aaron Lee.

Let’s Continue Aaron’s Work

Funie Hsu reflects on honoring the legacy of Aaron Lee, known to many as the "Angry Asian Buddhist."

Tibetan Nuns Project educates female monastics

Rinchen Khando Choegyal fights the second-class status of female monastics in Tibetan Buddhism.

Mountain.

In Accord with All Time 

If you can know yourself as the unity of past, present, and future, says Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, then you see you’re right where you ought to be.

Buddha and candles.

Illness and the Buddha’s Prescription

The Buddha knew that illness is a natural part of human life. Toni Bernhard shares how the first noble truth has helped her gracefully accept being chronically ill.

Mirror in tall grass reflecting the sky.

What is Satipatthana?

Satipatthana as defined by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, an abbot in the Thai Forest Tradition.

3D Buddha.

Buddhahood in Three Dimensions

In these teaching on chapters one and twenty of the Lotus Sutra, Thich Nhat Hanh discusses the three dimensions in which all beings and things reside.

Sayadaw U Pandita

Who Was Sayadaw U Pandita?

Burmese meditation master Sayadaw U Pandita had a defining influence on the Western Insight movement of Theravada Buddhism.

Silk painting of the bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta

Who Was Prajnatara?

Geoffrey Shugen Arnold tells the story of Prajnatara, the 27th "patriarch" of Indian Buddhism — who is believed to have been a woman.

Thangka painting of Milarepa.

The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa: A New Translation

Tibetan translator Christopher Stagg died in a car accident on October 1, 2018. In tribute, we are republishing this excerpt from his recent translation of The Hundred Thousands Songs of Milarepa, which was featured in the Winter 2017 issue of Buddhadharma.

Namkhai Norbu

Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, leader of the International Dzogchen Community, dies at 79

Norbu was a Tibetan master of Dzogchen and taught extensively around the world.

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How We Work with Koans and How They Work on Us

Joan Sutherland, Judy Roitman, and Bodhin Kjolhede examine the practice of koan introspection and how different traditions approach it.

Thangka painting of Milarepa.

Who Was Milarepa?

Milarepa was a Tibetan master, yogi, and poet who led an inspiring life of spiritual progress and human accomplishment.

Zen Koan Shambhala Sun Buddhism

Koans: One with the Question

The enlightenment stories of the ancient masters are confounding to conventional mind. Their truth, says Melissa Myozen Blacker, is revealed only when our whole being becomes the koan.

Basics Buddha Families Irini Rockwell Loving-Kindness Shambhala Sun - Nov '02

The Five Buddha Families

The five buddha families, traditionally displayed as a mandala, are an ancient Buddhist system of understanding enlightened mind and its various aspects.

About the art in the Fall 2018 issue of Buddhadharma

We take a closer look at the art featured in the Fall 2018 issue of Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Quarterly.

Training the Buddhist Leaders of Tomorrow

Gina Sharpe and Larry Yang share how the most diverse Buddhist teacher-training program in American history, now underway at Spirit Rock, came to be.