Archives: LR Articles
We Cry Out for Justice
There will only be justice in America, says Jan Willis, when we see all people as our equals. She offers an ancient Buddhist meditation to help us do that.
There’s Always a Light
We may be practicing social distancing, says Andrea Miller, but we’re still connected. Let’s be a light for each other.
Buddhism in the Age of #BlackLivesMatter
We need to update the traditional narrative of the Buddha’s life, says Pamela Ayo Yetunde, for people who know suffering all too well. She offers some alternative stories for the time of #BlackLivesMatter.
Happiness Is a Kind of Flower
Thich Nhat Hanh on how we can see happiness in the world around us.
Making the Warrior Commitment
Pema Chödrön shows us how we can let go of self-centered worries and become a bodhisattva-warrior. It's the greatest happiness of all.
Senjoy and Her Soul
A Zen koan that takes on the problematic question of our self-identity on a personal level begins simply with a question. Zen teacher Goso asked, “Senjo and her soul are separated—which is the true Senjo?” The question is based on a beautiful old Chinese ghost story. Once, in a village by a river, a girl…
Taking A Walk
Thich Nhat Hanh shares how to turn the everyday act of walking into a meditation.
Lighting Incense
Thich Nhat Hanh shares how to make even the smallest gestures, like lighting incense, an act of mindfulness.
Drinking Orange Juice
Thich Nhat Hanh shares how to turn your morning glass of O.J. into a little ritual of mindfulness.
Where the Buddha’s Lessons Began
On a backpacking trip through Nepal and Ladakh, Ryan Fitzpatrick encountered his fair share of expectations, attachments, and obstacles. Though none of us are traveling right now, here he shares what we can learn when we do.
Bread of Life
Making bread requires the acceptance of both the imperfect and the impermanent, says Elissa Altman. She shares her thoughts on the meditative process of bread making and a recipe for a bloomer loaf.
National Treasure: Gary Snyder
Beat hero, steward of the earth, Zen Buddhist, and poet Gary Snyder turns 90 on May 8. He looks back on an honorable life at the leading edge.
The Nature of Fear
In this classic piece from the Lion's Roar archives, Joseph Goldstein explores the different types of fear, and how we can sit with fear and hold onto it in our practice.
They Called Us Enemy
In his graphic novel, They Called Us Enemy, actor/activist George Takei tells his own story of growing up in a World War Two internment camp, shining a light on how it must feel to be in an immigration detention center today. Read an excerpt below.
Nine Buddhist Teachers Explain Suffering
Nine teachers explain what suffering is, how we feel it, and why it isn't a condemnation — it's a joyous opportunity.
Buddhist Teachings, Wisdom, and Practices for the Coronavirus Era
A collection of Buddhist teachings, wisdom, and practices for these uncertain times.
Watch “Courage in Our Difficult Time,” from Jack Kornfield
Jack Kornfield shares a new talk and guided meditation to help us navigate the global anxiety of the coronavirus pandemic with courage.
Love Emerges in the Face of Disaster
In the face of challenges like the coronavirus crisis, says Rodney Smith, we must remain vulnerable and tender toward our grief and surrender to love.
Holding Still in the Middle of Fire
Lama Elizabeth Monson was on pilgrimage with her husband in Bhutan when borders began to close as coronavirus cases expanded around the world. Trying to get home, she learns the power of finding stillness in the midst of chaos.
Watch: Practices for When You Are Sick, led by Roshi Joan Halifax
Roshi Joan Halifax leads us through a short and simple practice to help us navigate the illness and fear brought on by the coronavirus crisis.