Archives: LR Articles
Robert Thurman, Buddha’s Champion
Renowned activist and scholar Robert Thurman can translate sutras, joke with the Dalai Lama, and call in a favor from George Lucas. Retirement, says Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, won’t slow this man down.
Zen and the Way of Tidying
Marie Kondo's philosophy of tidying is sweeping the globe. If you take the fad seriously, writes Cristina Moon, it can offer a glimpse of the profound.
Commentary: Centrism is Not a Middle Way
In a seemingly divided America, political "centrism" is gaining popularity. But, from a Buddhist perspective, Buddhist teacher Ethan Nichtern argues, centrism is actually a kind of extreme.
The Life of Sotaesan, Founder of Won Buddhism
Sotaesan believed that anyone could attain enlightenment, regardless of background or education, so he founded Won Buddhism to make the dharma accessible to everyone.
Power & Heart: Black and Buddhist in America
At the first-ever gathering of Buddhist teachers of black African descent held at New York’s Union Theological Seminary, two panels of leading Buddhist teachers took questions about what it means to be a black Buddhist in America today.
40 More Years of Benefit
In the opening editorial of the March 2019 issue of Lion’s Roar, our publisher Ben Moore reflects on Lion's Roar's last 40 years, and what's ahead.
What Is Rainbow Body?
In Tibetan Buddhism, it is said that certain meditation practices can alter the appearance of the body, transforming it into five radiant lights. The name given to this physical fluorescence is “rainbow body.”
How Do Theravada Buddhists View Extremism Within Theravada?
In media reports on religious violence in Sri Lanka and Myanmar, the perspectives of moderate and progressive Buddhists are often invisible. Khin Mai Aung talks to six Theravada Buddhists about Theravada extremism.
Share Your Wisdom: Do you practice Buddhism alongside another religion?
We 've got a question for you. Do you practice Buddhism alongside another religion? If so, how does that work?
What is Nichiren Shu?
Along with Soka Gakkai and Nichiren Shoshu, Nichiren Shu is one of the largest sects of the Nichiren school of Buddhism. A Nichiren Shu priest explains the tradition’s roots, practices, and basic teachings.
Black Bodhisattvas
Dr. Kamilah Majied reflects her experiences at The Gathering of Buddhist Teachers of Black African Descent.
Who Was Bodhidharma?
The legendary founder of Zen in China famously taught a dictum long-regarded as the taproot of Zen, “Point directly at the human mind, see its nature, and become Buddha.”
The Future Is Now
The future of Buddhism will be decided by how we act right now, says Johnny Edward Dean Jr. He’s putting his faith into action on the South Side of Chicago.
The First Women’s March
More than two-and-a-half centuries ago, Mahapajapati Gotami, the Buddha's aunt, set a precedent for the women's rights.
Jodo Shinshu Buddhist priest and jazz musician Joseph Jarman dies at 81
Joseph Jarman developed a love of Jazz while in the army and then discovered Buddhism when he returned home. The two passions defined the rest of his life.
Emptiness and Existence
His Holiness the Dalai Lama takes us step by step through the famed logic of Madhyamika, the Middle Way that defeats all extreme views of reality.
Snow Salutations
Yoga practitioner Alison Wearing discovers how to appreciate the moment, even in the great white north.
You Are Already Dying
The most profound meditation, says Joan Halifax, is contemplating the certainty of your own death.
Life, Death, and Love
Artist and writer Susan MacLeod observes the foibles, humor, and caring of life in a nursing home. There, she and her mother finally came to know each other.
Sandra Oh, Jack Kornfield, and Trudy Goodman on the Future of Buddhism
Leading Buddhist teachers Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman join actor Sandra Oh for a wide-ranging and intimate conversation about their lives, the future of Buddhism in America, and their happy relationship as beloveds.