Category: Dharma & Society
Meet the Blue Dragon
John Tarrant shares what he feels is the most helpful message Buddhism can offer in the coming decades.
It Takes a Village Zendo: Roshi Pat Enkyo O’Hara’s Search for Connection
A lifelong outsider, Roshi Pat Enkyo O’Hara leads a warm and engaged Zen community in New York’s Greenwich Village. Lindsay Kyte profiles one of Buddhism’s leading teachers.
InsightLA to hold first residential meditation retreat for transgender community
Creating Joy In Community, the first residential retreat for transgender people, welcomes members of the transgender, gender nonconforming, genderqueer, and non-binary community to join together and cultivate "trans joy."
Review: “Cinderella Liberator” by Rebecca Solnit
In 1892, a book was compiled of 345 versions of the Cinderella story and related tales. Now, from Rebecca Solnit—Zen Buddhist and acclaimed author of Men Explain Things to Me—comes the enlightened, feminist version for our time.
Where I Make Sense
Buddhism teaches us that the buddhas can appear in different bodies. Finn Enke chronicles a lifelong journey to find the identity that makes them feel, finally, “I am here.”
As a Buddhist, should I support the pro-choice view on abortion?
Three teachers respond to the question: How would you counsel someone who is considering getting an abortion?
The Undefended Heart
The way to helpful communication in difficult situations, says Ray Buckner, is by pausing, creating space, and listening to your body and mind.
Mindful Parenting, Made Simple
Sumi Loundon Kim offers five doable mindfulness tips for busy parents.
Review: “Ecodharma”
We review “Ecodharma: Buddhist Teachings for the Ecological Crisis” by David R. Loy.
Will We Open the Door or Close It?
There’s a powerful force for change in America, says Christian leader Serene Jones, but powerful forces oppose it. It’s a battle that is as much spiritual as political.
The Radical Buddhism of Rev. angel Kyodo williams
I just want people to be liberated. John DeMont on the radical Buddhism of Rev. angel Kyodo williams.
Commentary: Centrism is Not a Middle Way
In a seemingly divided America, political "centrism" is gaining popularity. But, from a Buddhist perspective, Buddhist teacher Ethan Nichtern argues, centrism is actually a kind of extreme.
The First Women’s March
More than two-and-a-half centuries ago, Mahapajapati Gotami, the Buddha's aunt, set a precedent for the women's rights.
Jodo Shinshu Buddhist priest and jazz musician Joseph Jarman dies at 81
Joseph Jarman developed a love of Jazz while in the army and then discovered Buddhism when he returned home. The two passions defined the rest of his life.
I’m culturally a Christian – but in every other way, a Buddhist
With the Holiday season upon us, Sumi Loundon Kim reflects upon her split religious identity: culturally Christian, devoutly Buddhist.
Commentary: Why I’m Not Attending Conferences in the USA
After the Muslim ban was instituted, Buddhist scholar and priest Jeff Wilson vowed to renounce his attendance at conferences in the USA. As a society, he says, it is imperative that we stop hiding behind borders.
The Hungry Ghosts of “Mad Men”
The characters in "Mad Men" are like hungry ghosts, says Rod Meade Sperry, endlessly consuming liquor, drugs — and each other.
How Personal Grief Connects Us to Shared Compassion
Laura Johnson’s eight-month-old cat died as the 2018 California wildfires destroyed nearby homes. She reflects on how her deeply personal loss opened her heart to society's shared humanity.
What Happens When a Government Loses Its Compassion?
Without compassion, everyone is worse off. Zen teacher Roshi Joan Halifax comments on the Trump administration's family separation policy.
What’s the connection between Buddhism and ethnic cleansing in Myanmar?
How have Buddhists become implicated in one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world? Randy Rosenthal looks through history to understand how a religion of peace has become a justification for violence.