Category: Teachings
Enter… the Bodhisattva
David Loy on why Buddhism’s bodhisattva ideal is what the world needs now. Unless you’re on long retreat in a Himalayan cave, it’s becoming more difficult to overlook the fact that our world is beset by interacting ecological, economic, and social crises. Climate breakdown, species extinction, a dysfunctional economic system, corporate domination of government, overpopulation—it’s…
How did a Buddha statue land in Viking hands?
Last month, Sweden Post released a stamp that depicts the Buddha sitting in a lotus as part of a series commemorating the Era of Vikings.
The Promise of Nibbana
What does final liberation and the end of suffering look like and how is it achieved? Mahasi Sayadaw explains Nibbana.
It’s Time for Buddhists to Address Ableism and Accessibility
Often, people with mobility impairments are excluded from encountering the dharma. The time is ripe to address accessibility head-on.
Zazen: Just Ordinary Mind
Our natural mind is clear, simple, and ordinary. The practice of Zen meditation, says Susan Murphy, is simply to abandon anything extra. Then the ordinary reveals its magic.
Understanding Emptiness — in 50 Words or Less
“Emptiness.” It’s a fundamental Buddhist concept — but what does it mean? And how could you explain it to someone else?
Is enlightenment off-limits to laypeople?
Three teachers discuss whether Buddhists must in ordain to achieve enlightenment.
Buddhism’s Big Lies
Karen Maezen Miller breaks down the three most common lies in Buddhist discourse.
There Is No Blame
“There are no human enemies,” says Sylvia Boorstein, “only confused people needing help.”
If Siddhartha Didn’t Leave Home
As A. Jesse Jiryu Davis meditates on the anniversary of the Buddha's enlightenment, he finds a tender connection to the young man who said goodbye to everything.
Heart of the Dalai Lama
In this exclusive and heartfelt essay, Pico Iyer reveals the simple human secret that makes the Dalai Lama the most beloved spiritual figure in the world.
What is Buddhist Salvation?
In Buddhism, says Zen teacher Koun Yamada, we find salvation by experiencing our true nature as human beings.
“What kind of Zen teacher has panic attacks?”
Recently, for the first time in my life, I had a full-blown panic attack.
Karma Is Not Fate
You can't deny your karmic inheritance, said the late Traleg Rinpoche, but that doesn't mean you can't change.
You Already Understand!
There’s no better example of Zen’s direct, penetrating spirit than these exchanges between the late Zen master Seung Sahn and his students.
The Taste of Liberation: The Jhanas
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, author of the classic meditation manual Mindfulness in Plain English, explains the jhanas and how they can be reached.
Neuroscience and Buddhism converging on the inconstant self
An increasing number of scientific researchers are referencing and drawing on Buddhism in their studies, especially in the field of neuroscience.
What does it mean to be devoted to one’s guru?
Buddhadharma ask three teachers about a complex issue at the heart of tantra practice: guru devotion.
Ambedkar’s Vision for India’s Dalits
The Buddhist revival in India has brought millions of the country’s most impoverished and marginalized people to the Buddhist path.
How to Have A Successful Buddhist Retreat Experience
Christine Skarda’s advice for a successful meditation retreat .