Category: Dharma & Society
Return to the (Political) World
In the last of the famed ox-herding pictures, the disciple returns to the world with open, helping hands. That includes the messy, neurotic, imperfect world of politics, the very place where the bodhisattva way is practiced and our realization is put on the line.
The Dalai Lama’s View on Sexuality, “According to Buddhist Tradition”
Leaving the Fairmount Hotel in San Francisco, having just met with the Dalai Lama, the words, "according to Buddhist tradition" reverberated in my head.
k.d. lang’s “Watershed” interview
k.d. lang's album, Watershed, reflected the dramatic changes in her life since she became a committed Buddhist.
The Ten Hearts of an Earthworm
They have five pairs of tiny beating hearts. But what really makes earthworms precious, says Lin Jensen, is simply that they exist.
Can Buddhism Save the Planet?
<p><strong>Buddhism may be our planet’s only real hope, say David Loy and John Stanley. They’re calling for an international gathering of Buddhist leaders to address the ecological crisis before it’s too late.</strong></p> <blockquote>If we continue abusing the earth this way, there is no doubt that our civilization will be destroyed. This turnaround takes enlightenment, awakening. The Buddha attained individual awakening. Now we need a collective enlightenment to stop this course of destruction. Civilization is going to end if we continue to drown in the competition for power, fame, sex, and profit.<br /> <br />— Thich Nhat Hanh, <em>The Art of Power</em></blockquote>
Profile: Buddhist Peace Fellowship
Andrea Miller profiles the Buddhist Peace Fellowship in Berkeley, California.
A Lotus in Mormon Land
In Utah, Buddhist scholar Charles Prebish is surprised to discover a Buddhist community thriving alongside its Mormon neighbors.
Profile: The University of the West
A Profile on the University of the WEST (UWest), founded by Master Hsing Yun in 1991.
Wisdom of the Rebels
Tom Robbins on the Zen rebels, Sufi saints, and wild yogis who fight conventional mind with humor, outrageousness, and paradox.
Melody vs. Meditation
There are two sides to singer-songwriter Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls: the “just sitting” meditator and the crazed composer.
Profile: Birken Forest Monastery
David Kirk profiles the Birken Forest Monastery in British Columbia.
The Art of Losing
Ruth L. Ozeki's touching memoir is also a profound meditation on love, stories, and the difference between losing and letting go.
Profile: Barre Center for Buddhist Studies
David Swick profiles the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies in Massachusetts.
Writers and the War Against Nature
Zen practitioner Gary Snyder traces his lifelong commitment to the environment and calls on all creative people to rise in its defense.
He Has Tried in His Way to Be Free
Leonard Cohen is succeeding. In 2007, Sarah Hampson had a rare opportunity to spend an afternoon with the famed singer and poet.
The Ecology of Aging
Many people look at the aging population as a problem, but Theodore Roszak thinks it could result in a wiser and more caring society.
A Challenge to Buddhists
Bhikkhu Bodhi looks at how Buddhist practice can be applied to the modern world in a way that provides aid to various problems of the age.
Politics of a Still Mind
Perry Garfinkel offers an appreciation of the deep personal realization behind Thich Nhat Hanh's philosophy of Engaged Buddhism.
Suffering Too Insignificant for the Majority to See
Alice Walker describes the great toll, both personal and societal, of racism in America, and how Buddhism has helped her heal its wounds.