Archives: LR Articles

I feel a lot of pain when I meditate. What can I do?

Mushim Patricia Ikeda talks about dealing with physical pain in meditation.

Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Happiness, Meditation, Shambhala Sun, Teachings, Thoughts, Lion's Roar, Buddhism

Resting the Busy Mind

The way to really rest our busy minds in meditation is to let go of all thoughts about our thoughts. The more we do this, the more we discover our "enlightened potential."

Who Was Niguma?

In the tenth and eleventh centuries, Niguma was one of the most important Buddhist teachers and yoginis in India.

The Hungry Ghosts of “Mad Men”

The characters in "Mad Men" are like hungry ghosts, says Rod Meade Sperry, endlessly consuming liquor, drugs — and each other.

Finding Hope in Hopelessness

If I have no belief that my vision can become real, asks Margaret Wheatley, where will I find the strength to persevere?

Love Doesn’t Have to Mean Agreeing

Susan J. Stabile on how to live with — or even support — your partner’s differing religious beliefs.

How Personal Grief Connects Us to Shared Compassion

Laura Johnson’s eight-month-old cat died as the 2018 California wildfires destroyed nearby homes. She reflects on how her deeply personal loss opened her heart to society's shared humanity.

Dogen’s Instructions for Zazen

Shine the light inward. Body and mind will drop away. A meditation instruction from Eihei Dogen, one of Buddhism’s greatest teachers.

Buddhadharma Book Briefs for Winter 2018

Rory Lindsay reviews "Spontaneous Creativity," by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, "In the Cool Shade of Compassion" by Kamala Tiyanavich, and more.

Original sin vs. original goodness: Mahayana Buddhism offers a more hopeful view of human nature. Zen teacher Melissa Myozen Blacker reveals how nondual practice frees us from our temporary obscurations and reveals our true, awakened nature.

Editorial: What Does It Mean to Be Kind?

In the opening editorial of our January 2019 issue, Lion’s Roar‘s editorial assistant Hal Atwood shares how she defines kindness.

What Happens When a Government Loses Its Compassion?

Without compassion, everyone is worse off. Zen teacher Roshi Joan Halifax comments on the Trump administration's family separation policy.

Metta for Refugees

Zen priest Liên Shutt teaches a short meditation to foster compassion for beings in search of refuge.

I’ve been meditating for a long time, but I’m still a schmuck. What’s the point?

In the November 2018 issue of Lion’s Roar magazine, 14 Buddhist teachers answer the most frequently asked questions about challenges on the spiritual path. Here, Sylvia Boorstein shares the simple way Buddhist practice has changed her.

Waking Up Alone

Everything changes; nothing lasts. In matters of the heart, this can be hard. Karen Maezen Miller on what to do after the love story ends.

Monks in orange robes walking on alms rounds in Los Angeles.

Buddhist groups increasingly taking root in Latinx communities

More and more Buddhist groups are offering programs in Spanish and doing outreach in Latinx communities. That means stronger community for everyone, reports Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil.