Category: Dharma & Society
Transcending Time with Umeboshi
Elissa Altman shares the story of "Grandma's Ghost," a 30-year-old Japanese <em>umeboshi</em> plum, and the healing it brought in this difficult time.
New York Buddhists support detainee Mohsen Mahdawi
The Buddhist Council of New York and the Columbia University Buddhist Association have both called for the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, the former president of the C.U.B.A., who is facing deportation.
New York City Co-Names Street “Thich Nhat Hanh Way” in Honor of Renowned Zen Teacher
On April 11, New York City co-named a stretch of West 109th Street “Thich Nhat Hanh Way” in a moving tribute to the late Zen teacher. Sandi Rankaduwa reports on the historic ceremony.
New Buddhist Coalition for Democracy launches, issues Call to Action
“As Buddhists, we are called upon to witness, respond to, and resist the ongoing systematic destruction of norms and institutions that allow free societies to flourish,” the Buddhist Coalition for Democracy’s Call to Action reads.
Seeking Buddha in Gaza
As a Buddhist and a Jew, Linda Hess considers how to respond with wisdom and compassion to the violence inflicted on the people of Gaza and the rage she feels about it. Paintings by Malak Mattar.
I Vow Not to Burn Out
Mushim Patricia Ikeda says it's not enough to help others. You have to take care of yourself too.
Welcoming the Year of the Wood Snake
For Tibetan Buddhists, this week marks Losar, the new year — a time to clean house, cherish family, make offerings, contemplate the past year and welcome the new.
The Blind Passions of “Love Is Blind”
Netflix’s <i>Love Is Blind</i> isn’t just melodramatic reality TV, says Rev. Jean-Paul deGuzman. It’s a mirror for our own attachments and delusions.
We Remember: Six Remarkable Black Buddhists
In celebration of Black History Month, we find inspiration in the lives and practice of six remarkable Black Buddhists.
A Body Scan Meditation for Stress Relief
From your facial muscles down to your toes, body scan meditation can relieve stress and help you discover what your body really needs.
Mindful Cooking with Chef Bryant Terry
How can all communities thrive? Bryant Terry on the importance of cooking mindfully.
Matthieu Ricard: The Path to a Compassionate Society
In this video interview, Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard joins Lion’s Roar editor-in-chief Melvin McLeod to discuss compassion as a transformative force for addressing the challenges of our time. Drawing on his decades of humanitarian work with Karuna-Shechen, he shares how altruism can help build a more compassionate and hopeful society.
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.