Archives: LR Articles
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.
Training the Mind to Transform Adversity into Awakening
Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche explains how obstacles can be brought to the spiritual path and become opportunities for awakening.
Forum: How Does Karma Really Work?
Norman Fischer, Robin Kornman, and Ajahn Amaro get to the bottom of this challenging question that baffles so many Westerners.
Do you believe a person can practice Buddhism and be in the military?
Ask the Teachers: Do you believe a person can practice Buddhist ways and still maintain a job in the military?
The Great Shooting Way
Review of Zen Bow, Zen Arrow: The Life and Teachings of Awa Kenzo, the Archery Master from Zen in the Art of Archery.
Yoga Body, Buddha Mind
A complete spiritual practice—or even just a healthy, satisfying life—requires working with both mind and body.
Feeding the Spiritually Hungry
For all their material success, says Pico Iyer, many Japanese feel alienated and spiritually starved. They responded hungrily to the Dalai Lama’s teachings on his recent tour of Japan.
The Other Side of the Postcards
HIMALAYA: Personal Stories of Grandeur, Challenge, and Hope. Edited by Richard C. Blum, Erica Stone, and Broughton Coburn.
A Very Public Hermit
ECHOING SILENCE: Thomas Merton on the Vocation of Writing. By Thomas Merton, edited by Robert Inchausti.
Jamil’s Heart
Through the practice of compassion meditation, Rosalind Harris transforms the grief of her son’s murder into solidarity and friendship with all young African-Americans, whose life of violence and oppression is a national tragedy.
The Poetry of Authentic Presence
A Cascading Waterfall of Nectar, by Thinley Norbu. Reviewed by Steven Goodman.
Stumbling on Happiness
Are we just too dumb to be happy? Psychologist Daniel Gilbert reveals some of the common mental mistakes that defeat our search for happiness.
Thanks for the Dance: Pico Iyer considers Leonard Cohen
Pico Iyer considers Leonard Cohen—the ladies’ man, the balladeer, the Zen poet, and the essence of cool with a new love giving voice to his songs of parting and old age.
Shodo Harada Roshi: Nuclear Reactor of Zen
Although not widely known, Harada Roshi is one of the few Japanese Zen masters specializing in teaching Western students.