"The one time people ask me about ethics is when scandals or controversies happen in Buddhist communities," says Mingyur Rinpoche. But, as he notes, ethical conduct has always been central to the Buddhist path. Here he explains what it means to live a virtuous life, what a student a should look for in a teacher, what to do when serious ethics violations occur, and more. As [...]
Recipes for an Autumn Dinner
Edward Espe Brown, Zen teacher and author of the famed Tassajara cookbooks, offers four recipes for colorful, nourishing, seasonal meals: All Orange Winter Squash Soup With Dried Apricots, Mushroom Crepes With Mushroom Sauce, Watercress with Apple and Raisins, and Pear Crisp with Cardamom. One of the best ways people connect with each other is by eating together. "May I offer [...]
How to Feed Your Demons
Lama Tsultrim Allione teaches you an innovative technique to turn your inner demons into friends. Feeding our demons rather than fighting them contradicts the conventional approach of fighting against whatever assails us. But it turns out to be a remarkably effective path to inner integration. Demons (maras in Sanskrit) are not bloodthirsty ghouls waiting for us in dark [...]
Ask the Teachers: How do we retain passion while accepting all of life equally?
Question: How do we retain passion in life and still follow the teaching that we should accept all of life with equanimity? Narayan Helen Liebenson: I don’t think there is an inherent conflict between living passionately and living with equanimity. Not only can passion and equanimity coexist, they can work together harmoniously. When I use the word “passion,” I am referring [...]
Why Buddhism is True
Darwin and the Buddha agree on the problem, says evolutionary psychologist Robert Wright. The Buddha solved it. From the coming, November 2017 Lion's Roar magazine. Melvin McLeod: Your new book, Why Buddhism Is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment, is getting more mainstream attention than any other Buddhist-oriented book I can think of. Were [...]
Do Dishes, Rake Leaves: The Wisdom of the Ancient Homemakers
Photo by Anne E. Jones. Karen Maezen Miller on how the domestic practice of ancient Zen masters can lead us to intimate encounters with our own lives. In the fall, the broad canopy of giant sycamores in my backyard turns faintly yellow and the leaves sail down. First by ones, and then by tons. A part of every autumn day finds me fuming at the sight of falling leaves. Then, I [...]
The Best of the Dalai Lama: Life, Quotes, Teachings, and Books
This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness. -His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama His Holiness the Dalai Lama is one of the most beloved and recognized leaders of our time. He is the spiritual leader of Tibet, but his presence and impact is known worldwide as [...]
Statement: Myanmar’s Buddhist Leaders Must Take a Stand Against Ethnic Cleansing
In a public address on September 19, Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar, saying she is "deeply concerned" about those caught in the conflict, but Myanmar’s government needs time to investigate "what the real problems are" in Rakhine state. With hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fleeing their homes in Myanmar, more than 200 Buddhist teachers and community [...]
Open Your Heart Further
Pema Khandro Rinpoche on cultivating the boundless love of a bodhisattva. Don’t give up on love. When love is hard or painful, open your heart even further. That’s the advice given by the great nineteenth-century Buddhist master Patrul Rinpoche. He tells the story of a golden bee who lived happily with his lover in a lotus garden. From the moment these two bees met, [...]
Growing Together
Thich Nhat Hanh shows us how we can use loving relationships to cultivate the seeds of buddhahood inside us. To commit to another person is to embark on a very adventurous journey. You must be very wise and very patient to keep your love alive so it will last for a long time. The first year of a committed relationship can already reveal how difficult it is. When you first [...]