“Buddha” means “one who is awake.” The Buddha who lived 2,600 years ago was not a god. He was an ordinary person, named Siddhartha Gautama.
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 in Every Breath
When we stop feeding our cravings, says Thich Nhat Hanh, we discover that we already have everything we need to be happy.
The Simplest Meditation
In the opening editorial of our March 2020 issue, editor-in-chief Melvin McLeod looks at the perfectly simple lesson the Buddha taught.
Who Was the Buddha?
In our Weekend Reader newsletter, Lion’s Roar deputy editor Andrea Miller tells the story of Siddhartha Gautama.
Vajrayana Explained
The late Karma Kagyu master Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche presents a clear explanation of the view of Vajrayana and its main practices of generation and completion.
What Are the Three Devadutas?
Devaduta is pali for “divine messengers.” It is said that the Buddha embarked on his quest for enlightenment after encountering three devadutas: a sick person, an old man, and a corpse.
Buddha: Rebel With a Supremely Good Cause
To truly wake up, writes Kimberlyn David, we must expand our understanding of freedom like the Buddha did.
You Already Have What You’re Looking For
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche shares what he feels is the most helpful message Buddhism can offer in the coming decades.
Buddha’s Original Wakefulness
“Unless we can recognize and sustain the continuity of original wakefulness, deluded experience will not end,” says Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche. “It is the most important point of all.”