When the storms of life hit, your body can be a place of refuge and healing. Cyndi Lee says it starts with making friends with your body. My beagle, Little Bit, can sense a storm gathering. The reason I know this is because Little Bit uses the language of her body to communicate her fear. From just the slightest shift in air pressure, her chunky little body starts quivering. [...]
Make Your Love Skillful
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Sensei on the unity of life, love, and practice. “I beg your compassion. Please give me a way to liberation,” the student asked. “Who is binding you?” replied the teacher. “No one is binding me,” answered the student. “Then why seek liberation?” responded the teacher. In the Mahayana tradition, enlightened wisdom and selfless compassion are [...]
Real Buddha Quotes About Fake Buddha Quotes
Bodhipaksa shares what the Buddha said about being misquoted, and speculates how he would've felt about fake Buddha quotes. Some claim that the Buddha was too “spiritual” to care about being misquoted. Yet the Buddhist scriptures indicate this was something that he was concerned about. For example, from the Abhasita Sutta: Monks, these two slander the Tathagata [the Buddha]. [...]
What is the connection between Buddhism and secular mindfulness?
What is the connection between Buddhism and secular mindfulness? Some people say mindfulness is just Buddhism in another form. Is that true? The word mindfulness is used in two main ways. First, it refers to the basic human ability to be aware of one’s mind and surroundings and attend to the present moment. This is a natural quality of mind and is not the discovery or [...]
The Real Meaning of Original Sin
Buddhists misrepresent the Christian view of human nature, says theologian Steven Shippee. It’s a lot closer to Buddhism than you think. Mahayana Buddhist traditions affirm the teaching of buddhanature (tathagatagarbha) — that fundamentally all sentient beings possess the same noble qualities as the Buddha. As a student of Mahayana Buddhism, this has been for me the single [...]
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Buddha!
You’ve heard about “fake news.” What about “fake buddha quotes”? Bodhipaksa on why, when it comes to dharma, you can’t believe everything you read on the internet. They’re everywhere you look. In Facebook memes, quotes sites, blog articles, and even in published books, Hallmark-style Fake Buddha Quotes (FBQ) abound. I first started to document these a few years ago after [...]
Do Buddhists try to convert people?
I’ve heard that Buddhists don’t proselytize, but I’ve had some conversations with Buddhists who are trying to convince me their view is right. Do Buddhists try to convert people like other religions do? Buddhists vow to be kind and do no harm. Forcefully trying to persuade someone to take up a spiritual path or identity is, on the face of it, unkind. Proselytizing is often [...]
The Power of Real Love: A Conversation with Sharon Salzberg and bell hooks
How do we bring more love into our lives? Sharon Salzberg and bell hooks sat down with Lion's Roar's Melvin McLeod for a special discussion on love in celebration of Salzberg's new book, Real Love: The Art of Mindful Connection. Photos by Christine Alicino. If love is what we need more of—and we do—then Sharon Salzberg and bell hooks are two of the most important voices [...]
Does Buddhism say I should give money to panhandlers?
I know generosity is considered an important virtue by Buddhists. Does that mean when I see people on the street asking for money I should always give it to them? Generosity, or dana, is indeed one of the predominant Buddhist virtues, and it’s deep and far-reaching. Generosity is not merely about giving things. It begins with cultivating a generous nature that sees the [...]
How to Practice Shamatha Meditation
Shamatha meditation—mindfulness or concentration—is the foundation of Buddhist practice. Lama Rod Owens teaches us a version from the Vajrayana tradition. Shamatha means “peaceful abiding” or “tranquility.” Also called mindfulness or concentration meditation, shamatha is an important introductory practice that leads to the practice of vipashyana, or insight [...]
