Where Do You Find Inspiration?

Lion’s Roar’s publisher, Ben Moore, shares where he finds inspiration in daily life.

On sunny days, I sometimes take a small detour on my morning walk to work through a cemetery near my home. It’s a bright, open place with large trees around the perimeter and a few old apple trees along the path. It’s a short walk, but it offers a quiet moment before I hit the morning bustle, and I welcome the quiet reminders carved into the headstones — that life is fleeting and impermanent, and all the more precious because of it.

I see the headstones of Nellie and Thomas, who passed away just a year apart after fifty years of marriage. They silently remind me that even the deepest bonds are not everlasting. William, who died at forty-four, was just a year older than I am now. He reminds me that although I enjoy good health and still feel youthful (most of the time), there are no guarantees that I have decades ahead. “There will be time for that later” is uncertain, but I’m invigorated, not depressed, by that reminder.

Awareness of death reminds me not to be idle. It reminds me to invest my energy in what truly matters.

Faced with the reality of death — this issue’s cover theme — how can we grow as individuals? This question is central to my Buddhist practice. Awareness of death reminds me not to be idle. It reminds me to invest my energy in what truly matters. It reminds me to make the most of this precious human birth and to exert myself, as much as I can, for the bene t of all beings.

I find more inspiration when I arrive at the offices of Lion’s Roar. After more than two years as publisher, I continue to be inspired by the content our editorial team produces and the effort of all our staff to benefit others. When I can pause for a moment amid the frenzy of the day, I experience Lion’s Roar as the soft hum of (mostly) cheerful, (usually) disciplined effort in support of the dharma and of spiritual practitioners everywhere.

At Lion’s Roar, we offer Buddhist wisdom and practice in many ways. There’s Lion’s Roar magazine, which obviously you’re familiar with. There’s also a wealth of great content at LionsRoar.com, where you’ll find thousands of web exclusives and editors’ favorites from nearly four decades of publishing. And you might know we publish a quarterly journal for committed practitioners, Buddhadharma, which is rich in deep teachings, provocative discussion, and informative articles. We’re now celebrating its fifteenth year of publication and preparing to launch it in a beautiful new format.

Yet these different manifestations — and many more we plan for the future — come down to only one thing. At its essence, Lion’s Roar exists to share timeless and profound Buddhist wisdom, in skillful ways, for the benefit of all beings. Whether it’s print, web, video, audio, live events, or other formats, we believe in the potential of these teachings to transform lives. We’re committed to delivering them in whichever forms benefit our audience and the future of Buddhism in the modern world.

Lion’s Roar is an independent, mission-driven non-profit. It exists solely to serve the dharma and those who benefit from it — people like you. We need your insight, feedback, and, yes, financial support. How are we doing? If you feel inspired, please send me an email and let me know. You can reach me at [email protected]; while I may not be able to respond to every email, I promise that I will read and reflect on each one.

What’s your experience of Lion’s Roar? What should we do differently? How can we serve you — and the dharma — better? The world needs the dharma more than ever, and so we need you more than ever.