Becoming a Buddhist

“When we take refuge in the Buddha, we mean the qualities of the Buddha that are inherent within us. We are taking refuge in our own intrinsic enlightenment.”

The Innermost Essence

From "The Innermost Essence" by the great Dzogchen teacher Jigme Lingpa (1730-1798) and translated by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

A man giving a homeless person some spare change.

Noble Heart of All Existence

Compassion is not a path that is taken because it leads somewhere else. Everything that we encounter, all that we experience, is this path.

Shambhala Sun, Happiness, Psychology, Sakyong Mipham

The Endless Migration

Psychologically, we are migrators. Going from one thing to another is what makes us happy. So do you think that all stops when you die?

Walking With St Francis

Gretel Ehrlich walks in the footsteps of St. Francis through the Umbrian countryside and ponders the life of a saint who was "radical without bitterness, vital yet gentle, dramatic—even outrageous at times—without narcissism."

Take a Closer Look at the Journey from Birth to Death

We could look at our life as a whole as a journey from our birth to our death, says Judy Lief. But we should not stop there. We could take a closer look.

Zen Talks and Poems

"The vastness lying beyond can only be detected by those who know what real Zen practice is all about,” said Nyogen Senzaki.

Learning Where You Are The Experience of Place Based Education

Where are you? Who are you? How does where you are affect who you are? Place based education is interested in examining these questions.

Bonded by Gunk and Styrofoam

“I was a styrofoam tar baby. We laughed together about my appearance. My brother told me it was a thankless job and that I had done well. We made a link.”

Strengthening the Will to Live

When we consider the will to live seriously, formulae such as ‘anger is bad, love is good’ become painfully simplistic.

My Year of Meats Ruth Ozeki Shambhala Sun Buddhism

My Year of Meats

Mirroring the journey of her novel’s heroine, Ruth Ozeki explored meat and media and discovered that writing is always political and denial always a choice. What’s in a Name? Last year my first novel was published. It’s called My Year of Meats. It’s a good title, I think. A funny title. A little proud, a…

Zen Sells: How Advertising has Co-opted Spirituality

From computers to beauty products, Madison Avenue has discovered that spirituality sells. Todd Stein on the irony of spiritual themes in materialism.

How Do We Measure Progress?

Ronald Colman argues for a more human and sustainable measure of progress than simple economic growth, one that truly reflects what we value in life.

A Time to Find Meaning

“Even when disease cannot be cured, there is often a way to use this difficult experience to know more intimately the value and purpose of your life.”

The Wisdom of Shambhala

In the classic Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior, Chogyam Trungpa offered a powerful vision of spirituality founded on basic human wisdom, a path of meditation and warriorship for people of any belief or way of life. In this chapter from the long-awaited sequel, entitled Great Eastern Sun: The Wisdom of Shambhala, Chogyam Trungpa discusses Working with Early Morning Depression. Introduction by Diana Mukpo.

The Rain and the Temple

"Pushing the dripping hair from my face, the rain running down my cheeks, I speak to my old teacher. ‘I’m here. It took me a while, but I made it.’

Jon Kabat Zinn: The Prescription is Meditation

From the inner city to hospitals and prisons, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn’s meditation courses are helping thousands handle illness stress, anger and addiction.

Mind at Peace, Body in Balance

A look at healing meditations developed by Tulku Thondup Rinpoche, author of The Healing Power of Mind.

Sex & Buddhism

Robin Kornman argues that, unlike other religions, Buddhism doesn’t view sex as a particularly important spiritual issue.

Pure Passion

Judith Simmer-Brown on the role of desire in Buddhist Tantra: "The intensity of desire can only be liberated by desire itself."