It was not just his teachings on gender and class, which seem modern even today. Andrew Olendzki on all that made the Buddha one of the most radical people who ever lived. Then with the gleaming of the night, Close to the rising of the sun, All my craving simply dried up As I sat there with my legs crossed. —The Theragatha Every Buddha image we see reflects such calm, [...]
The Do-Nothing Farmer’s Guide to a Perfect Harvest
Mark Frank’s five steps to successfully doing nothing — in your garden or any other part of your life. I discovered “do-nothing” farming in my reading of Masanobu Fukuoka, author of One Straw Revolution and one of the pioneers of natural farming and permaculture. After farming for six years with his words in my heart, I have found that Fukuoka’s “do nothing” does not mean an [...]
Have a Very Buddhist Christmas
Joy, giving, family, and peace—people of all faiths can celebrate these values of the holiday season. Eight Buddhists offer their take on yuletide dharma. One Perfect Christmas Bonnie Nadzam on letting go of holiday expectations, and simply enjoying the mystery and tradition of the season. I was raised Catholic and once, as a girl, I had The Perfect Christmas. The snow was [...]
The Breath of Love
When life was at its worst, breath was her companion. Now in recovery, Rev. Sarah Siegel finds the breath is still her path to love and a sense of peace. Whether I knew it or not, during the years I spent in active addiction to opiates and working as a stripper, my breath was my most loyal and kind companion. I used to view myself as a victim of circumstances at [...]
Practice: What Are My Intentions for Today?
A daily intention-setting practice, from Sylvia Boorstein. Read her full teaching on the power of the Buddhist practice of intention. Here is a set of intentions based on traditional Buddhist precepts. Some people I know have them taped to their bathroom mirror and say them aloud each morning: On behalf of myself and all beings, I intend to refrain from consciously hurting [...]
Four Reflections That Strengthen Your Intention to Practice
Norman Fischer on four contemplations that will turn your mind toward positive thought and strengthen your intention to practice. Read Fischer's full teaching on the practice of intention. Every time we sit in meditation, every time we turn the mind toward positive thought and action to benefit others, we are strengthening our intention, our commitment, and our vow to [...]
How to Practice Mindful Eating
Jan Chozen Bays teaches us how to make every meal a celebration of gratitude, enjoyment, and true nourishment. In Zen we are instructed, “When hungry, just eat.” Whenever we eat or drink we have the opportunity to turn our attention to the vivid clarity of this very moment of experience—if we take time to just eat. Too often we feel that eating is something to get over [...]
Meet a Teacher: Myokei Caine-Barrett, Shonin
Buddhist teacher Myokei Caine-Barrett, Shonin gets personal with the Lion's Roar readership. I was born in 1951 in Tokyo, Japan. I grew up in a military family, and over the years we lived in Okinawa, Germany, and El Paso, Texas. I encountered Buddhism for the first time in about 1963. A friend’s mother took her to Soka Gakkai meetings, and my parents allowed me to go so I [...]
What Is a Stupa?
Learn the meaning behind these famous Buddhist monuments. Stupas are one of the most recognizable forms of Buddhist architecture, dotting the landscape in all Buddhist countries. Like Buddhist temples, their style differs from culture to culture, but the basic structure remains the same. At its simplest, a stupa is a dirt burial mound faced with stone, often containing [...]
One Simple Practice That Changes Everything
Making sure that your intentions align with your real values is one of the best ways to lead the life you want. That’s why, says renowned Buddhist teacher Sylvia Boorstein, right intention is the key to the Buddha’s eightfold path. I’ll never forget my astonishment when I heard the Tibetan teacher Nyshul Khen Rinpoche say, “Everything hangs on intention.” I thought, “Of [...]
