Archives: LR Articles
The Elephant in the Meditation Room
Does Buddhism mean you have to be a liberal? No, says Buddhist and lifelong Republican Christopher Ford.
Recalling Bob Dylan’s Buddhist “Monk”
Bob Dylan’s just won the Nobel Prize for Literature — for his body of songwriting. Seems about right; this is, after all, a person of many talents. Which leads us to recall one less-appreciated Dylan art pursuit: painting. In October 2011, the exhibition Bob Dylan: The Asia Series, was mounted at New York’s Gagosian Gallery.…
What is the Rakusu?
Have you ever wondered about that bib-like garment that Zen priests and some lay practitioners wear around their necks? (It was also worn by three people on the cover of the first issue of Lion’s Roar.) Called a rakusu, it’s a miniature version of the Buddha’s monastic robe. Since the Buddha’s robe was said to…
Book Reviews for November 2016
We review David Nichtern's "Awakening from the Daydream," Marianne Williamson's "Tears to Triumph," Norman Fischer's "Experience," and more.
The Power of a Two-Inch Circle
With a little pink ink, tattoo artist Amy Black helps breast cancer survivors reclaim their bodies.
Tomoji Ito’s Kitchen Sermons
For, Shinso Ito, being a good citizen comes down to how we behave in our daily interactions and personal relationships.
What Do Buddhists Mean When They Talk about Karma?
What do Buddhists really mean when they talk about karma? We answer your questions on Buddhism and meditation.
Zen priest, Harvard researcher explains the secret to a “good life”
What makes a good life? In this moving TED Talk, Zen priest and Harvard researcher Robert Waldinger answers that question based on 75 years of data.
17 Resources to Develop Self-Compassion
Essential books, audio, websites, and videos to help develop self-compassion.
What Actually Happens in the Lotus Sutra?
Donald S. Lopez, Jr. unpacks the Lotus Sutra, one of the most famous Buddhist scriptures, explaining how it came to be and how its influence has grown.
Watch the beautiful short film, SIT — plus a bonus clip
SIT is a new, short documentary film by Yoko Okumura, daughter of the Bloomington, Indiana-based Japanese Soto Zen priest Shohaku Okumura.
Pema Chödrön’s Meditation to Touch In with the Present Moment
Try this meditation practice to ground yourself in the present moment from renowned Buddhist teacher Pema Chödrön.
Uncovering the Buddhist lessons in Alan Moore’s “Swamp Thing” comics
More than thirty years ago, famed comics auteur Alan Moore put a Buddhist spin on DC Comics’ Swamp Thing.
In NYC, talking about young people and the future of Buddhism
Young people are hungry for spirituality, yet shun religion; how can Buddhists serve these seekers without compromising their sacred traditions?
Watch the heartwarming “Love Has No Labels” — the first PSA to win an Emmy
In this beautiful PSA about implicit bias, we're reminded of love's power to cross any perceived boundaries.
Bhikkhu Bodhi talks “Four Noble Truths of the Climate Crisis” at White House
In this video from a gathering of Buddhists at the White House, Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi addresses climate change and related issues through a Buddhist lens.
Watch the trailer for the new Benedict Cumberbatch-narrated documentary about Thich Nhat Hanh
The trailer for Walk With Me — a "journey into the world of mindfulness... and Thich Nhat Hanh," narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch — has been released.
Why We Meditate
We don’t meditate to become better people or have special experiences, says Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Meditation is simply the way we relate to our already existing enlightened state.
Playing With Buddha
At age seven, Ira Sukrungruang believed that the Buddha was more than a bronze statue. The Buddha was his best friend.
Coming Home: A Buddhist transitions genders
In 2010, at fifty-three, I surgically transitioned from male to female. It happened after years of therapy, soul-searching, and grudging self-acceptance.