Category: Dharma & Society
The World Is Your Zendo
On remote islands, Pico Iyer discovers that this moment, now, is the gift-wrapped present we can’t afford to overlook.
Christiana Figueres: The Climate Optimist
Doom and gloom won’t help, says climate leader and Buddhist practitioner Christiana Figueres. What we need is a “can-do” mindset of possibility. Andrea Miller reports on Figueres’ five concrete actions we can take right now to decarbonize.
It’s No Time to Be Neutral
Bhikkhu Bodhi, one of Buddhism’s leading activists and scholars, says there are four steps we need to take to resist Trumpism.
Be Beautiful, Be Yourself : Q&A with Brother Trời Bảo Tạng
Kim Thai interviews Brother Trời Bảo Tạng, a monastic in the Plum Village tradition, who discusses why a non-binary monastic order is needed, and the practice of speaking up and letting go.
Metta is Not for Wimps
Chenxing Han reflects on the courage and vulnerability required to practice loving-kindness amid political division, offering us a glimpse into how compassion can transform fear into connection in uncertain times.
When Numbness Calls, Choose to Feel
Following the U.S. presidential election, Ravi Mishra encourages us to stay present with our shared heartbreak as a way to counter numbness and dissociation.
I’m Not Here to Be a Vessel for Fear
Kaira Jewel Lingo encourages us to confront our own fears and assumptions with mindful presence and compassion, inspiring a path toward healing a fractured country.
A Time for Bodhisattvas
It is now time to ask ourselves, “What would a bodhisattva do?,” and let that be our guide and inspiration. Lion’s Roar offers us the wisdom of leading Buddhist teachers, leaders, and activists as we contemplate how to meet a dark time with the compassion, courage, and skill of bodhisattvas dedicated to the welfare of all beings.
Toward a Worldwide Culture of Love
The practice of love, says bell hooks, is the most powerful antidote to the politics of domination.
The Path is Peace
Thich Nhat Hanh, in his address to congress, says only listening, mindfulness and communication can remove the perceptions that underlie violence.
How Not to Freak Out
If you find all the bad news overwhelming, Buddhist teacher Judy Lief has some meditations to help you relieve your anxiety.
Now We Wait
It could be anywhere from hours to days — and possible even longer — before we know the outcome of the most crucial American election of modern times. Wth the future direction of the country at stake, here is some Buddhist wisdom to help us while we wait.
How to Be a Good Citizen in Troubled Times
A good society is built one citizen at a time. Here are some Buddhist-inspired ways to be a good citizen in these troubled political times.
Toward a Revolution of Love
In this important essay, the late bell hooks inspires us to make her vision of a culture of love come true.
Thich Nhat Hanh’s Love Letter to the Earth
The earth is you. You are the earth. When you realize there is no separation, says the late Thich Nhat Hanh, you fall completely in love with this beautiful planet.
You and Me — It’s All One Thing
James Ishmael Ford finds that an ancient Zen story's wisdom speaks quite well to our confusion around questions of identity, sexuality, and gender.
Very Mindful, Very Demure: The Joy of Jools Lebron’s Playful Mindfulness
Pop culture writer Jennifer Keishin Armstrong unpacks the joyful wisdom behind Jools Lebron’s viral “very mindful, very demure” TikTok trend.
The Life-Changing Words of Mary Oliver
Rick Bass looks at the late Mary Oliver’s poem “The Summer Day,” which asks, “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
The Shape of Emptiness: David Provan’s Life & Art
Shortly before the acclaimed artist David Provan passed away on April 18, 2024, Jennifer Keishin Armstrong interviewed him at his studio. Now, recounting their meeting, she explores the Buddhist concepts at the heart of his work.