Category: Teachings
“Look, Look!”
Here is the gate through which the buddhas come into the world, born of women, born of wisdom. Judith Simmer-Brown comments on this koan.
What Do You See?
Ever notice how quickly you form opinions about the world around you? Next time stop and take a closer look, suggests Geoffrey Shugen Arnold.
Empty Splendor
The tantric path teaches us how to cut through our concepts, says the late Traleg Rinpoche, so we can experience reality in its full clarity.
The View from Mount Meru
Ajahn Punnadhammo explains how traditional Buddhist cosmology contains important insights for practicing the Buddhist teachings.
Now the Bad News: Birth, Old Age, Sickness, and Death
A prince was so shocked that he went off to seek enlightenment. Now, birth, old age, sickness, and death is still the impetus for awakening.
Why I Quit Facebook
What if our online life gets in the way of our flesh and blood connections? Sumi Loundon Kim on how she cut the wireless tether. (It wasn’t easy.)
True Blessings
In this commentary on Guru Rinpoche visualization, Tulku Thondup Rinpoche reveals the deep nontheistic essence of Vajrayana practice.
Forum: Your Meditation Reality Check
Three teachers discuss how to identify obstacles in your practice, apply antidotes that work, and deepen your meditation in the process.
Understanding Emptiness & Interdependence
Emptiness and interdependence—they’re more than concepts; they’re key to realizing real-world benefits in our lives. His Holiness The Karmapa helps us put our wisdom into practice.
Journey to Awakening
The spiritual path is like any journey we take into uncharted territory—we need a map, a vehicle, and a guide to reach our destination. Judy Lief takes us on the three-yana journey of Vajrayana Buddhism.
From The Under 35 Project: “Getting With the Four Noble Truths”
In an essay from the Under 35 Project, Nick Walser explains how he sees and attempts to "do" the Four Noble Truths.
Video: Experience ten minutes of an eight-week “Retreat”
By Canadian filmmaker David Cherniack, a new documentary film follows thirty-five Westerners as they attempt an eight-week, silent retreat.
From The Under 35 Project: “The Space of Emptiness”
The gift a flash of emptiness can give, writes Leslie Gossett, is an opening to the world.
Confessions of a Zen Novelist
When bestselling author Ruth Ozeki becomes a Zen priest, she finds out Zen and novel writing do not easily go hand in hand.
Take a Hard Look
You might not think your practice has selfish motivations, says Bardor Tulku, but if you take a close look, you may be surprised by what you find.
Guide to the Three-Yana Journey
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s comprehensive presentation of the three-yana journey, taught only to his senior students, is being made public for the first time in The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma. Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche takes us through this unique body of teachings.
On Second Thought
Shayne Larango turns away from her corporate life to join a Vipassana retreat – only to find the transition more difficult than anticipated.
Social Media Guidelines for So-Called Vajrayana Practitioners
From the Facebook page of Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse -- author of "Pure, Clear, and Vibrant" -- comes this unique set of social media guidelines for Vajrayana Buddhists.
The Practice of Not-Thinking
Discursive thinking can be slowed down to give the mind a rest. Toni Bernhard gives five suggestions for practicing "Not-Thinking."
What’s In a Name?
Ajahn Amaro presents two helpful meditation practices you can do while listening to the inner sound.