a dog named dominga

The Dharma of Dogs

Zen teacher Roshi Joan Halifax recalls her good fortune with four-legged friends.

Spiritual But Not Religious Buddhism

Are You Spiritual But Not Religious?

Buddhism is about realization and experience, not institutions or divine authority. This makes it especially suited to those who consider themselves spiritual but not religious. Here are ten reasons why:

That Time I Sobbed My Way Through a Himalayan Meditation Retreat

Fear, sadness, grief, jealousy, and anger are like quicksand: resisting them in a sudden, knee-jerk way can make them much more troublesome. But investigating them patiently – embracing them, even — can undo their effects. Pema Chödrön, an American nun in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, tells a story about Milarepa, a Tibetan sage who lived…

Crowd watching fireworks.

The Biggest Party Ever

As a child, Howard Axelrod dreamed of a festival that everyone in the world attended. Now he realizes that it's been happening all along.

How do I explain my Buddhist practice to my family?

Every time I see my family, I end up hurt because they believe Buddhism is a weird fringe religion. How can I make them understand?

Meditator holding an iPhone.

15 Buddhist Apps to Help Recognize You Don’t Really Need a Buddhist iPhone App

Sam Littlefair learns why there are so few Buddhist apps and how — even if they're not totally necessary — they might help you on your spiritual journey.

The Perfect Love We Seek, The Imperfect Love We Live

Psychologist John Welwood looks at the difference between absolute and relative love, and the wound within each of us that no other can heal.

Awakening My Heart: On Retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh

Andrea Miller attends a transformational six-day retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh.

Emotional Resilience Krissy Pozatek, Children, Raise, Family, Parenting, Shambhala Sun, Lion's Roar, Buddhism

How to Raise an Emotionally Resilient Child

Emotional health means accepting the full range of human emotions, both the painful and the positive.

Should I Meditate If I Can’t Stop Thinking about Porn?

Bodhin Kjolhede, JoAnna Harper, and Repa Dorje Odzer answer the question "Should I meditate if I can't stop thinking about porn?"

Trust in Your Goodness

Instead of trying to promote or defend ourselves, we can base our lives on something more powerful and trustworthy—our basic goodness.

thich nhat hanh, children, questions, zen, buddhism, lion's roar, shambhala sun

Is Nothing Something?

Thich Nhat Hanh answers children’s questions.

Right Now, It’s Like This: How to make this popular Buddhist phrase work for you

Meditation teacher Vinny Ferraro explains the simple but helpful phrase, “Right now, it’s like this.”

Woman standing in front of a subway.

Take Three Conscious Breaths

Pema Chödrön teaches us a simple technique we can use anytime we need a break from our habitual patterns.

Do I have to put others before myself?

Buddhist teachings say that I should put others before myself. But they also say I should have compassion for myself. How do I do both?

Sex, Flesh, Desire, Karen Connelly, Lion's Roar, Shambhala Sun

Flesh Sex Desire

Flesh. Sex. Desire. It’s not the only holy trinity, but it’s my favorite one.

Clasped hands.

How to Be a Help

We may not be able to stop someone from dying or suffering pain, but we can still help through the honesty, compassion and presence of mind we bring.

How do Buddhism and yoga work together?

I’ve been practicing yoga for many years and love it. Recently I’ve become interested in Buddhism. How do the two practices work together?

Christmas Bowling Children Sons Family Divorce Jewish Buddhism Lion's Roar Shambhala Sun Kim Rosen

Xmas Spirit

Sad, angry, lonely—Daniel Asa Rose and his sons are reeling from the recent family breakup. In a closed bowling alley on Christmas Eve, they open their hearts.

Home Cooking

At New York’s Reciprocity Foundation, homeless youth receive nourishment for body and mind alike. Founder Taz Tagore explains the program’s recipe for success.