As we walk the dharma path, questions inevitably arise. Whether we’re struggling with doubts about our personal practice, or pondering how Buddhist teachings relate to our everyday lives, these questions present opportunities for growth and a deeper understanding of the dharma.
On the Buddhadharma homepage, you’ll find our dedicated “Ask the Teachers” section with a number of articles featuring three teachers from different Buddhist traditions offering their insights on a range of questions about life and practice. This section provides a unique opportunity to explore the big and small questions that emerge on the spiritual path — not only from the perspective of your own tradition, but also through fresh insights offered by other Buddhist approaches. Whether you’re seeking guidance on meditation, ethics, or daily life challenges, “Ask the Teachers” invites you to broaden your understanding and gain a richer, more holistic view of the dharma from a diverse set of voices.
So, whether you are wondering how to work with depression, how to share the dharma with your kids, how to keep your practice fresh, how reincarnation works, or whether there is a soul in Buddhism, “Ask The Teachers” offers answers that will help you develop clarity and a fresh perspective on these topics. By expanding our view and listening to a number of voices, we can gain deeper insight and practical wisdom, enriching our understanding of the dharma. Below are three of my favorite questions answered by different teachers. May they help you to navigate your path with greater wisdom and confidence.
At 6 a.m., one ring of the shrine bell would wake me up. Breathing in energetically, Grandma would sing:
Bussetsu ma-ka han-nya-ha-ra mi-ta-shingyo
As she sang the Heart Sutra in a strange, monotone voice, I would slowly get out of my warm futon next to hers. When she was done chanting at our home Buddhist shrine in our room, we’d move to the kitchen where our Shinto shrine sat up high and pray for a good day ahead. This was my daily routine until I was about six years old.
...wind elephant, wind, child tax-break. Dreaming mid-air of being colour blind. Baking soda, morale, no-limit, ni-ji-bi-de- [mysterious word], new frowning face…
It was an absolute shock when I first heard the English version: “No increasing, no decreasing... no eyes, no ears, no nose...” What?!
I had no idea, and I wonder how much Grandma knew as well. She’d insert word breaks whenever her breath ran out. The sutra is written and recited in the antiquated Japanese — she would have memorized it purely by the sound. The only word I got right was “air/sky/empty,” which appeared many times in the song.
My late Grandma, Chiyoko, would have learnt this chant through her diligent pilgrimages to many temples, regular visits to Mount Koya where many of our family members rest, and her encounters with the local Shingon temple priest. She recited the sutra every morning and every evening. This was her practice and way of life.
I’m grateful for the mysterious dharma seed she planted in me. It led me to the wonderful sangha at Lion’s Roar. It led me to meet the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, Pema Chödrön (both of whom remind me of my grandma), and many others — teachings like the three below, which each explore the wisdom of the Heart Sutra.
I have always admired Jon Kabat-Zinn for his historic role in founding the mainstream mindfulness movement. Jon and I haven’t spent a lot of time together over the years, but I think we’ve both felt a bond of friendship as dharma brothers. But until now I had never experienced him as a teacher.
I have met many of the leading dharma teachers of our time. It’s probably the greatest benefit of my role as editor-in-chief of Lion’s Roar. Now, after my series of three in-depth conversationswith him premiering next week, I feel Jon Kabat-Zinn is one of those great teachers.
As I am sure you will be, I was moved and inspired by the depth of his wisdom. By his profound and all-encompassing understanding of mindfulness that went far beyond the way I had thought about it. By his heartfelt dedication to the message that mindfulness — defined not merely as a helpful meditation practice but as a profound and transformative way of being and living — is the best way to benefit our lives and others, and perhaps the best hope for this troubled world.
As I listened to his wise teachings about the joyful, nondual nature of mindfulness — he talked about falling in love with the present moment — I was inspired to hope that I could bring this realization into my own practice and life. If you sign up for this free video series, I know you will be too.
You will also hear the fascinating story of Jon’s personal journey that led to the creation of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, which is recognized as the starting place of the mainstream or secular mindfulness movement. You will learn how he combined his personal understanding of the dharma with strategic brilliance to launch a new and genuine meditative tradition born on American soil and brilliantly designed for the modern world. I hope that “The Complete Path of Mindfulness” presented in the current issue of Lion’s Roar will make a contribution to this historic movement, which as I express in my editorial in the issue, may be the best way to bring the wisdom, methods, and benefit of dharma to as many people as possible.
Lion’s Roar is very pleased to offer you these three inspiring dialogues with Jon Kabat-Zinn free of charge. All you have to do is register hereto receive each of the three videos delivered to your inbox, beginning on September 20th. For a taste of how good they are — of what a great teacher Jon is — below are highlights from each of our three conversations.
I happen to be a musician in my spare time, so take what I’m about to say with a grain of salt. But of all art forms, there’s something especially sacred — even Buddhist — to me about music.
It’s got something to do with the way music manipulates time, each note highlighting the present moment as it moves steadily through the environment of past and future. Electronic composer Éliane Radigue compares that environmentto a river, through which her slowly evolving tones meander, always different, always the same.
Immersion in an awareness of that river can lead to a loss of ego, because ego is built on past and future narratives. Jazz legend John Coltrane believed that in seeing through those false narratives, musicians can give “the best of what we are.” On A Love Supreme, his watershed reimagining of modal jazz, he managed to achieve that aspiration for 33 minutes and 2 seconds.
A particular kind of music, often called “minimalism,” seeks to disrupt our normal way of listening, intentionally producing these transcendent moments. Though it’s debatable whether Coltrane could be lumped under that umbrella, Philip Glass is essentially a spokesperson for the genre. I remember being excited as a teenager by this sentence from his own liner notes to Music in 12 Parts:
“[W]hen it becomes apparent that nothing ‘happens’ in the usual sense… [listeners] can perhaps discover another mode of listening — one in which neither memory nor anticipation… have a place in sustaining the texture, quality, or reality of the musical experience.”
That sounds a lot like what Laurie Anderson has jokingly called “difficult listening.” And in fact, Glass admits that this kind of music can be more of a challenge to its audience than to its performers. But make no mistake, this music is made for an audience, as he himself argues.
All three of the musicians featured here consider(ed) themselves deliverers of liberation from ego, transmitting dharma/grace/awareness received directly, through their very performance, to any audience brave enough to listen. In that way, they are all bodhisattvas.
—Andrew Glencross, associate art director, Lion’s Roar magazine
Recently, I reconnected with an old friend I hadn't seen in a few months. As we caught up on each other’s lives, our conversation shifted to meditation and Buddhism. My friend, a native Spanish speaker, isn’t Buddhist and had never practiced meditation before, so I paused to consider how to respond.
I wanted to give her an answer she could relate to — something that wouldn't feel intimidating or push her away from the idea of meditating. We talked about meditation in Spanish, exploring different practices that I thought might resonate with her.
That night, during my own practice, I found myself reflecting on how meditation speaks a universal language, one that doesn’t rely on words, but on experience, and even the most basic techniques offer immense value. As a long-time Vajrayana practitioner, my practice primarily involves mantra recitation and visualization, but I’ve found great value in bringing it back to the basics from time to time.
In this spirit, we’re sharing three different meditation practices, each with something valuable to offer to both beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. As part of
Lion’s Roar’s Spanish-language translation project, El Camino del Buda, these practices are available in both English and Spanish. We invite you to explore them, knowing their benefits are great no matter where you are on your path.
—Mariana Restrepo, Deputy Editor, Buddhadharma
Follow El Camino del Buda on Facebookand Instagramto stay connected with new translations and original Spanish content. (Sigue a El Camino del Buda on Facebook& Instagrampara estar al día con nuestro contenido en español.)
3 Small But Powerful Mindfulness Practices from Thich Nhat Hanh
It’s no surprise that we often feel overwhelmed by life’s demands – long to-do lists, worry for the future, concerns for ourselves and our loved ones. Most of the time, there is no answer, no amount of planning we can do to solve these issues. When we feel the deep heaviness of overwhelm in our lives, often all we can do is turn to our attention. As poet Mary Oliver writes, “Attention is the beginning of devotion.” By tuning into small moments of mindfulness, we learn to anchor ourselves in the present.
The late teacher of mindfulness, Thich Nhat Hanh, wrote about how these small moments allow us to check in and find peace in our lives. The simple act of pouring tea or taking a walk turns into meditation when we bring them our full attention. As we focus on the present moment, we can touch real life through our tea or the footfall of each step. This Weekend Reader offers three small practices from Thich Nhat Hanh for cultivating mindfulness and aliveness as we confront daily uncertainties. May they bring you a moment of presence this weekend — no matter how small.
In an interviewwith Lion’s Roar, Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned teacher of mindfulness, praised the benefits of meditation. “The practice of meditation helps us to release the tension — within the body, within the mind, within the emotions — so that healing can take place,” he said.
And yet we can still find it difficult to prioritize meditation. Perhaps we think we don’t have the time, even though a simple meditation practice can be done in as little as one minute. Maybe we feel we don’t have the necessary “props,” even though all we need is our breath and a place to sit. We might also worry that our mind is so busy that the practice won’t work, but meditation is just that: a practice. The truth is, you can’t failat it.
Whether you’re an experienced meditator struggling to keep up with your practice, a beginner finding it hard to stay on track, or you’ve never meditated before, our “How to Meditate” page should give you just the inspiration you need. There you can learn how to meditate, practice along with guided audio, understand the benefits of meditation, and have your questions about cultivating a consistent practice answered.
You’ll find our page below, along with a teaching from Pema Chödrön on how meditation makes us better people, and a guided video breath meditation practice. We hope these resources help you along your journey.
I recently flew to Scotland to embark on a literary pilgrimage. Despite my chronic travel bug, it was my first time venturing beyond North America since the pandemic began.
During orientation at the program I was attending in Edinburgh, we were each asked what drew us there. I was excited about the program’s theme and faculty, but my response was more about wanting an excuse to travel, explaining how this trip was an effort to reconnect to my pre-2020 self. I was surprised to discover how much this sentiment resonated with my peers; we were collectively in a phase of recovery and reconnection.
Of course, this yearning isn’t exclusive to the COVID era. I recently stumbled across a Georgia O’Keeffe quote extracted from a 1933 letter: “I have done nothing all summer but wait for myself to be myself again.” But it’s made me reflect on the transformative powers of travel and how it helps us tap into our truest selves. Being in foreign environments — and therefore out of our routines — often propels us to be fully present. Unburdened by our typical daily duties, we easily slip into a sense of wonder and appreciation for our surroundings. The experience of being a foreigner in a new environment also fosters feelings of surrender, humility, reflection, compassion, and respect.
At the same time, I’m fully aware that the ability to travel is a privilege. What’s more, I’m realizing that the therapeutic and spiritual perks associated with travel aren’t geoblocked. Similar feelings of joy, awe, introspection, and openness can be accessed while staying put — traveling just facilitates them.
Exposure to and immersion in different cultures is wonderful, but traveling is sometimes more about a state of mind than the destination. For this Weekend Reader, I’ve chosen three pieces that may not feel immediately related, but I believe are synergistic. Editor-in-chief Melvin McLeod’s interview with Pico Iyer highlights the joys of travel. Meanwhile, Mark Coleman explores how the natural world offers an opportunity to wake up, and Santiago Santai Jiménez reveals how groundlessness and letting go are key to nurturing a beginner’s mind — something akin to a traveler’s eyes.
Knowing that different routes can lead to the same place, the latter two pieces suggest how we might evoke some delights and insights that Iyer speaks of no matter where we are. Bon voyage!
I love summer, I really do. With its bright, long days and welcoming weather, my world opens up to endless possibilities. The extended daylight hours allow more time for activities and get-togethers. Weekends become packed with barbecues, road trips, and outdoor adventures. However, around the middle of the season, my tank becomes empty, and I find myself losing steam trying to pack it all in.
To prioritize rest in these wonderfully busy months, I always set a lofty reading goal. When the nice weather hits, I tend to shy away from more dense, academic material and gravitate towards the light, inspiring, and heartfelt. I want to read short, devourable stories — as many as possible. “Beach reads,” if you will.
Reading fiction, no matter the genre, can be a lesson in deep compassion. While these stories may be products of imagination, their characters and the narratives they live out can hold invaluable teachings that exemplify the principles we aspire to nurture in Buddhist practice. The three pieces below highlight the value in fiction and the impact it can have on our spiritual journey.
May they inspire you to embrace the joy of reading this summer, and do some beachside contemplation of your own.
—Martine Panzica, Assistant Digital Editor, Lion’s Roar
After twenty-two years in print, Buddhadharma — published by Lion’s Roar to share dharma teachings, practice instructions, and community news germane to all Buddhists — now has a fully revamped, beautified, and reorganized website. Our mission is to make Buddhadharma the #1 place where committed Buddhists can deepen their practice and study.
The quality content Buddhadharma readers have learned to rely upon is all there, with helpful new articles and videos being added regularly. The site is also easier to navigate, with four main areas meant to help you deepen your dharma understanding:
Practice — Dharma teachers’ instructions and advice for undertaking meditation and ritual.
Philosophy — In-depth teachings on the “whys” behind what Buddhists do.
Traditions — Drill down to the teachings of a specific Buddhist school, or enhance your understanding of how different traditions reinforce (or differ from) one another.
Sangha — What’s exciting or important in news and discussion from Buddhist communities? You’ll find it here.
And then there’s our new special section of Deep Dives offering multiple teachings and points of view on subjects of interest or concern to Buddhists. Our current featured Deep Dive, in recognition of his birthday, is titled “Buddhist Teachings of the Dalai Lama.” Check it out here. And dharma-book lovers shouldn’t miss Buddhadharma’s ongoing book coverage, featuring Constance Kassor’s reviews of new titles, as well as excerpts of them all so you can get a taste of them yourself. You’ll find them right on the Buddhadharma homepage.
Whether you’ve been practicing for two years or twenty (or fifty!), the new Buddhadharma is made, truly, for you. Enjoy this sampling, then come have a visit.
Thank you for your practice,
— Rod Meade Sperry & Mariana Restrepo, the Buddhadharma editorial team
Ask the Teachers
As we walk the dharma path, questions inevitably arise. Whether we’re struggling with doubts about our personal practice, or pondering how Buddhist teachings relate to our everyday lives, these questions present opportunities for growth and a deeper understanding of the dharma.
On the Buddhadharma homepage, you’ll find our dedicated “Ask the Teachers” section with a number of articles featuring three teachers from different Buddhist traditions offering their insights on a range of questions about life and practice. This section provides a unique opportunity to explore the big and small questions that emerge on the spiritual path — not only from the perspective of your own tradition, but also through fresh insights offered by other Buddhist approaches. Whether you’re seeking guidance on meditation, ethics, or daily life challenges, “Ask the Teachers” invites you to broaden your understanding and gain a richer, more holistic view of the dharma from a diverse set of voices.
So, whether you are wondering how to work with depression, how to share the dharma with your kids, how to keep your practice fresh, how reincarnation works, or whether there is a soul in Buddhism, “Ask The Teachers” offers answers that will help you develop clarity and a fresh perspective on these topics. By expanding our view and listening to a number of voices, we can gain deeper insight and practical wisdom, enriching our understanding of the dharma. Below are three of my favorite questions answered by different teachers. May they help you to navigate your path with greater wisdom and confidence.
—Mariana Restrepo, Deputy Editor, Buddhadharma
My Grandmother’s Riddle
At 6 a.m., one ring of the shrine bell would wake me up. Breathing in energetically, Grandma would sing:
Bussetsu ma-ka han-nya-ha-ra mi-ta-shingyo
As she sang the Heart Sutra in a strange, monotone voice, I would slowly get out of my warm futon next to hers. When she was done chanting at our home Buddhist shrine in our room, we’d move to the kitchen where our Shinto shrine sat up high and pray for a good day ahead. This was my daily routine until I was about six years old.
...fu-zo-fu- ghenze- ko-. Ku-chu mu-shikimu-. Ju-so-gyo-shiki, mu-ghen, ni-ji-bi-de- shin, i-…
To me this was a riddle:
...wind elephant, wind, child tax-break. Dreaming mid-air of being colour blind. Baking soda, morale, no-limit, ni-ji-bi-de- [mysterious word], new frowning face…
It was an absolute shock when I first heard the English version: “No increasing, no decreasing... no eyes, no ears, no nose...” What?!
I had no idea, and I wonder how much Grandma knew as well. She’d insert word breaks whenever her breath ran out. The sutra is written and recited in the antiquated Japanese — she would have memorized it purely by the sound. The only word I got right was “air/sky/empty,” which appeared many times in the song.
My late Grandma, Chiyoko, would have learnt this chant through her diligent pilgrimages to many temples, regular visits to Mount Koya where many of our family members rest, and her encounters with the local Shingon temple priest. She recited the sutra every morning and every evening. This was her practice and way of life.
I’m grateful for the mysterious dharma seed she planted in me. It led me to the wonderful sangha at Lion’s Roar. It led me to meet the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, Pema Chödrön (both of whom remind me of my grandma), and many others — teachings like the three below, which each explore the wisdom of the Heart Sutra.
Gya-te-gya-te haragya-te hara-san-gya-te bowaji- sowaka- han-nya-shin-gyo-
I’ll always remember how she used to sing and smile.
—Megumi Yoshida, art director, Lion’s Roar magazine
How Jon Kabat-Zinn Brings Mindfulness to Life
I have always admired Jon Kabat-Zinn for his historic role in founding the mainstream mindfulness movement. Jon and I haven’t spent a lot of time together over the years, but I think we’ve both felt a bond of friendship as dharma brothers. But until now I had never experienced him as a teacher.
I have met many of the leading dharma teachers of our time. It’s probably the greatest benefit of my role as editor-in-chief of Lion’s Roar. Now, after my series of three in-depth conversations with him premiering next week, I feel Jon Kabat-Zinn is one of those great teachers.
As I am sure you will be, I was moved and inspired by the depth of his wisdom. By his profound and all-encompassing understanding of mindfulness that went far beyond the way I had thought about it. By his heartfelt dedication to the message that mindfulness — defined not merely as a helpful meditation practice but as a profound and transformative way of being and living — is the best way to benefit our lives and others, and perhaps the best hope for this troubled world.
As I listened to his wise teachings about the joyful, nondual nature of mindfulness — he talked about falling in love with the present moment — I was inspired to hope that I could bring this realization into my own practice and life. If you sign up for this free video series, I know you will be too.
You will also hear the fascinating story of Jon’s personal journey that led to the creation of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, which is recognized as the starting place of the mainstream or secular mindfulness movement. You will learn how he combined his personal understanding of the dharma with strategic brilliance to launch a new and genuine meditative tradition born on American soil and brilliantly designed for the modern world. I hope that “The Complete Path of Mindfulness” presented in the current issue of Lion’s Roar will make a contribution to this historic movement, which as I express in my editorial in the issue, may be the best way to bring the wisdom, methods, and benefit of dharma to as many people as possible.
Lion’s Roar is very pleased to offer you these three inspiring dialogues with Jon Kabat-Zinn free of charge. All you have to do is register hereto receive each of the three videos delivered to your inbox, beginning on September 20th. For a taste of how good they are — of what a great teacher Jon is — below are highlights from each of our three conversations.
—Melvin McLeod, Editor-in-Chief, Lion’s Roar
https://www.lionsroar.com/break-the-chains-of-thought/?utm_source=Lion%27s+Roar+Newsletter&utm_campaign=6c05ac6a44-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_05_15_03_13_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-070340879e-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&goal=0_1988ee44b2-6c05ac6a44-27337720&mc_cid=6c05ac6a44&mc_eid=89d42a0840
Musical Meditations
I happen to be a musician in my spare time, so take what I’m about to say with a grain of salt. But of all art forms, there’s something especially sacred — even Buddhist — to me about music.
It’s got something to do with the way music manipulates time, each note highlighting the present moment as it moves steadily through the environment of past and future. Electronic composer Éliane Radigue compares that environment to a river, through which her slowly evolving tones meander, always different, always the same.
Immersion in an awareness of that river can lead to a loss of ego, because ego is built on past and future narratives. Jazz legend John Coltrane believed that in seeing through those false narratives, musicians can give “the best of what we are.” On A Love Supreme, his watershed reimagining of modal jazz, he managed to achieve that aspiration for 33 minutes and 2 seconds.
A particular kind of music, often called “minimalism,” seeks to disrupt our normal way of listening, intentionally producing these transcendent moments. Though it’s debatable whether Coltrane could be lumped under that umbrella, Philip Glass is essentially a spokesperson for the genre. I remember being excited as a teenager by this sentence from his own liner notes to Music in 12 Parts:
“[W]hen it becomes apparent that nothing ‘happens’ in the usual sense… [listeners] can perhaps discover another mode of listening — one in which neither memory nor anticipation… have a place in sustaining the texture, quality, or reality of the musical experience.”
That sounds a lot like what Laurie Anderson has jokingly called “difficult listening.” And in fact, Glass admits that this kind of music can be more of a challenge to its audience than to its performers. But make no mistake, this music is made for an audience, as he himself argues.
All three of the musicians featured here consider(ed) themselves deliverers of liberation from ego, transmitting dharma/grace/awareness received directly, through their very performance, to any audience brave enough to listen. In that way, they are all bodhisattvas.
—Andrew Glencross, associate art director, Lion’s Roar magazine
https://www.lionsroar.com/jack-kornfield-metta-loving-kindness-meditation/?utm_source=Lion%27s+Roar+Newsletter&utm_campaign=9801855634-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_05_15_03_13_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-070340879e-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&goal=0_1988ee44b2-9801855634-27337720&mc_cid=9801855634&mc_eid=89d42a0840
A Universal Language
Recently, I reconnected with an old friend I hadn't seen in a few months. As we caught up on each other’s lives, our conversation shifted to meditation and Buddhism. My friend, a native Spanish speaker, isn’t Buddhist and had never practiced meditation before, so I paused to consider how to respond.
I wanted to give her an answer she could relate to — something that wouldn't feel intimidating or push her away from the idea of meditating. We talked about meditation in Spanish, exploring different practices that I thought might resonate with her.
That night, during my own practice, I found myself reflecting on how meditation speaks a universal language, one that doesn’t rely on words, but on experience, and even the most basic techniques offer immense value. As a long-time Vajrayana practitioner, my practice primarily involves mantra recitation and visualization, but I’ve found great value in bringing it back to the basics from time to time.
In this spirit, we’re sharing three different meditation practices, each with something valuable to offer to both beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. As part of
Lion’s Roar’s Spanish-language translation project, El Camino del Buda, these practices are available in both English and Spanish. We invite you to explore them, knowing their benefits are great no matter where you are on your path.
—Mariana Restrepo, Deputy Editor, Buddhadharma
Follow El Camino del Buda on Facebook and Instagramto stay connected with new translations and original Spanish content. (Sigue a El Camino del Buda on Facebook & Instagram para estar al día con nuestro contenido en español.)
https://www.lionsroar.com/es/?utm_source=Lion%27s+Roar+Newsletter&utm_campaign=6a39f2afce-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_05_18_03_04_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-e9963221fa-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&goal=0_1988ee44b2-6a39f2afce-27337720&mc_cid=6a39f2afce&mc_eid=89d42a0840
https://www.lionsroar.com/podcast/how-to-overcome-othering-and-the-root-of-conflict-with-tara-brach/?utm_source=Lion%27s+Roar+Newsletter&utm_campaign=3b7deeea26-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_05_15_03_13_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-070340879e-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&goal=0_1988ee44b2-3b7deeea26-27337720&mc_cid=3b7deeea26&mc_eid=89d42a0840
3 Small But Powerful Mindfulness Practices from Thich Nhat Hanh
It’s no surprise that we often feel overwhelmed by life’s demands – long to-do lists, worry for the future, concerns for ourselves and our loved ones. Most of the time, there is no answer, no amount of planning we can do to solve these issues. When we feel the deep heaviness of overwhelm in our lives, often all we can do is turn to our attention. As poet Mary Oliver writes, “Attention is the beginning of devotion.” By tuning into small moments of mindfulness, we learn to anchor ourselves in the present.
The late teacher of mindfulness, Thich Nhat Hanh, wrote about how these small moments allow us to check in and find peace in our lives. The simple act of pouring tea or taking a walk turns into meditation when we bring them our full attention. As we focus on the present moment, we can touch real life through our tea or the footfall of each step. This Weekend Reader offers three small practices from Thich Nhat Hanh for cultivating mindfulness and aliveness as we confront daily uncertainties. May they bring you a moment of presence this weekend — no matter how small.
Taking A Walk
Pouring Tea
Lighting Incense
—Martine Panzica, Assistant Digital Editor, Lion’s Roar
https://www.lionsroar.com/the-great-perfection-of-creativity/?utm_source=Lion%27s+Roar+Newsletter&utm_campaign=8351994f43-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_05_15_03_13_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-070340879e-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&goal=0_1988ee44b2-8351994f43-27337720&mc_cid=8351994f43&mc_eid=89d42a0840
How to Meditate
In an interview with Lion’s Roar, Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned teacher of mindfulness, praised the benefits of meditation. “The practice of meditation helps us to release the tension — within the body, within the mind, within the emotions — so that healing can take place,” he said.
And yet we can still find it difficult to prioritize meditation. Perhaps we think we don’t have the time, even though a simple meditation practice can be done in as little as one minute. Maybe we feel we don’t have the necessary “props,” even though all we need is our breath and a place to sit. We might also worry that our mind is so busy that the practice won’t work, but meditation is just that: a practice. The truth is, you can’t fail at it.
Whether you’re an experienced meditator struggling to keep up with your practice, a beginner finding it hard to stay on track, or you’ve never meditated before, our “How to Meditate” page should give you just the inspiration you need. There you can learn how to meditate, practice along with guided audio, understand the benefits of meditation, and have your questions about cultivating a consistent practice answered.
You’ll find our page below, along with a teaching from Pema Chödrön on how meditation makes us better people, and a guided video breath meditation practice. We hope these resources help you along your journey.
—Lilly Greenblatt, Digital Editor, Lion’s Roar
https://www.lionsroar.com/this-is-the-buddhas-love/?utm_source=Lion%27s+Roar+Newsletter&utm_campaign=6ee39b49f5-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_05_18_03_04_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-e9963221fa-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&goal=0_1988ee44b2-6ee39b49f5-27337720&mc_cid=6ee39b49f5&mc_eid=89d42a0840
https://www.lionsroar.com/5-practices-for-nurturing-happiness/?utm_source=Lion%27s+Roar+Newsletter&utm_campaign=3f0f64e5a1-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_05_15_03_13_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-070340879e-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&goal=0_1988ee44b2-3f0f64e5a1-27337720&mc_cid=3f0f64e5a1&mc_eid=89d42a0840
5 Practices for Nurturing Happiness
Traveler’s Mind
I recently flew to Scotland to embark on a literary pilgrimage. Despite my chronic travel bug, it was my first time venturing beyond North America since the pandemic began.
During orientation at the program I was attending in Edinburgh, we were each asked what drew us there. I was excited about the program’s theme and faculty, but my response was more about wanting an excuse to travel, explaining how this trip was an effort to reconnect to my pre-2020 self. I was surprised to discover how much this sentiment resonated with my peers; we were collectively in a phase of recovery and reconnection.
Of course, this yearning isn’t exclusive to the COVID era. I recently stumbled across a Georgia O’Keeffe quote extracted from a 1933 letter: “I have done nothing all summer but wait for myself to be myself again.” But it’s made me reflect on the transformative powers of travel and how it helps us tap into our truest selves. Being in foreign environments — and therefore out of our routines — often propels us to be fully present. Unburdened by our typical daily duties, we easily slip into a sense of wonder and appreciation for our surroundings. The experience of being a foreigner in a new environment also fosters feelings of surrender, humility, reflection, compassion, and respect.
At the same time, I’m fully aware that the ability to travel is a privilege. What’s more, I’m realizing that the therapeutic and spiritual perks associated with travel aren’t geoblocked. Similar feelings of joy, awe, introspection, and openness can be accessed while staying put — traveling just facilitates them.
Exposure to and immersion in different cultures is wonderful, but traveling is sometimes more about a state of mind than the destination. For this Weekend Reader, I’ve chosen three pieces that may not feel immediately related, but I believe are synergistic. Editor-in-chief Melvin McLeod’s interview with Pico Iyer highlights the joys of travel. Meanwhile, Mark Coleman explores how the natural world offers an opportunity to wake up, and Santiago Santai Jiménez reveals how groundlessness and letting go are key to nurturing a beginner’s mind — something akin to a traveler’s eyes.
Knowing that different routes can lead to the same place, the latter two pieces suggest how we might evoke some delights and insights that Iyer speaks of no matter where we are. Bon voyage!
— Sandi Rankaduwa, Assistant Editor, Lion’s Roar
5 Keys to Complete Mindfulness | Lion’s Roar (lionsroar.com)
https://www.lionsroar.com/5-keys-to-complete-mindfulness/?utm_source=Lion%27s+Roar+Newsletter&utm_campaign=ea6f24c931-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_05_15_03_13_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-070340879e-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&goal=0_1988ee44b2-ea6f24c931-27337720&mc_cid=ea6f24c931&mc_eid=89d42a0840
Beach Reading
I love summer, I really do. With its bright, long days and welcoming weather, my world opens up to endless possibilities. The extended daylight hours allow more time for activities and get-togethers. Weekends become packed with barbecues, road trips, and outdoor adventures. However, around the middle of the season, my tank becomes empty, and I find myself losing steam trying to pack it all in.
To prioritize rest in these wonderfully busy months, I always set a lofty reading goal. When the nice weather hits, I tend to shy away from more dense, academic material and gravitate towards the light, inspiring, and heartfelt. I want to read short, devourable stories — as many as possible. “Beach reads,” if you will.
Reading fiction, no matter the genre, can be a lesson in deep compassion. While these stories may be products of imagination, their characters and the narratives they live out can hold invaluable teachings that exemplify the principles we aspire to nurture in Buddhist practice. The three pieces below highlight the value in fiction and the impact it can have on our spiritual journey.
May they inspire you to embrace the joy of reading this summer, and do some beachside contemplation of your own.
—Martine Panzica, Assistant Digital Editor, Lion’s Roar
https://www.lionsroar.com/the-complete-path-of-mindfulness/?utm_source=Lion%27s+Roar+Newsletter&utm_campaign=b9610cbc89-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_05_15_03_13_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-070340879e-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&goal=0_1988ee44b2-b9610cbc89-27337720&mc_cid=b9610cbc89&mc_eid=89d42a0840
Deepen Your Understanding of Buddhism
After twenty-two years in print, Buddhadharma — published by Lion’s Roar to share dharma teachings, practice instructions, and community news germane to all Buddhists — now has a fully revamped, beautified, and reorganized website. Our mission is to make Buddhadharma the #1 place where committed Buddhists can deepen their practice and study.
The quality content Buddhadharma readers have learned to rely upon is all there, with helpful new articles and videos being added regularly. The site is also easier to navigate, with four main areas meant to help you deepen your dharma understanding:
Practice — Dharma teachers’ instructions and advice for undertaking meditation and ritual.
Philosophy — In-depth teachings on the “whys” behind what Buddhists do.
Traditions — Drill down to the teachings of a specific Buddhist school, or enhance your understanding of how different traditions reinforce (or differ from) one another.
Sangha — What’s exciting or important in news and discussion from Buddhist communities? You’ll find it here.
And then there’s our new special section of Deep Dives offering multiple teachings and points of view on subjects of interest or concern to Buddhists. Our current featured Deep Dive, in recognition of his birthday, is titled “Buddhist Teachings of the Dalai Lama.” Check it out here. And dharma-book lovers shouldn’t miss Buddhadharma’s ongoing book coverage, featuring Constance Kassor’s reviews of new titles, as well as excerpts of them all so you can get a taste of them yourself. You’ll find them right on the Buddhadharma homepage.
Whether you’ve been practicing for two years or twenty (or fifty!), the new Buddhadharma is made, truly, for you. Enjoy this sampling, then come have a visit.
Thank you for your practice,
— Rod Meade Sperry & Mariana Restrepo, the Buddhadharma editorial team