Love Emerges in the Face of Disaster

In the face of challenges like the coronavirus crisis, says Rodney Smith, we must remain vulnerable and tender toward our grief and surrender to love.

What If Our Ordinary Experience Is All That Matters?

Stephen Batchelor poses the classical Zen question, “What is this?” The answer, he says, is right in front of us.

Women in Buddhism: Profiles, Conversations, and Teachings

For International Women's Day, here's a collection of our best teachings from, profiles on, and conversations with women in Buddhism.

Does My Dog Have Buddhanature?

Remembering her beloved childhood pet, Andrea Miller ponders one of Zen’s most famous questions.

Stan Goldberg gains sobering insights into death and his own insecurities during a retreat with Ribur Rinpoche.

Are You Ready for Death?

What we see as the worst crisis of our lives is actually a wonderful opportunity to discover enlightened mind, says The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche.

Black Buddha figurine on green leaf

Becoming Truly Alive

We live a kind of artificial life, says Thich Nhat Hanh, lost in worries and anger. Our practice is to wake up and live each moment fully.

What vows do Buddhists take and why?

In Buddhism, a vow is like a compass, but there are many different kinds of vows that Buddhists can take.

Swimming Upstream

Chinese legend has it that if a carp swims up a waterfall, it transforms into a dragon. Be like that carp, says Koshin Paley Ellison. Throw your whole self into waking up.

Commentary: Let’s Envision a Buddhist Political Philosophy

Randee says it's time to define Buddhist political philosophy. He proposes four core components for a political philosophy informed by the dharma.

The Invisible Majority

The vast majority of American Buddhists are of Asian heritage, yet they are too often ignored, mispresented, and even looked down upon. Chenxing Han offers four ways we can start to heal the great divide in American Buddhism.

The Natural World as a Powerful Teacher

Elizabeth Monson invites us to consider how the natural world can do far more than provide us with a peaceful environment for meditation.

16th century sculpture of the eleven headed acalokiteshvara

Bodhichitta: The Excellence of Awakened Heart

The mind of enlightenment, bodhichitta, is always available, in pain as well as in joy. Pema Chödrön lays out how to cultivate this soft spot of bravery.

A Cat by Any Other Name

When Sarah Chauncey drops the label “cat,” she sees her pet clearly for the very first time.

Us Too

Buddhist teacher Trudy Goodman looks at the history and harm of sexual misconduct by Buddhist teachers, and what we can do to stop it.

Becoming a Buddha: Lessons from Little Girls

Buddhist scholar Stephanie Balkwill examines the historical arguments around the question: "Can women attain buddhahood in a female form?"

Buddhism’s Next 40 Years: The Importance of Diversity

In the second issue in our 40th anniversary series, Melvin McLeod looks at the importance of diversity in the development of modern Buddhism.

Free from the Burden of Holding On

What do you cling to? Let it go, says Ajahn Jayasaro, and you’ll discover something profound.

The Path We Walk as Women

In the commentary to the Fall 2019 special women’s issue of Buddhadharma, Jan Willis reminds us of the powerful role of women in Buddhism, historically and today.

The Sakyadhita Movement

Judith Hertog profiles the Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women, which has been leading the way for gender equality in Buddhism for more than thirty years.

How AI Really Threatens Us

Artificial intelligence doesn’t need a mind of its own to threaten our freedom. All it needs are flawed human minds behind it. That’s why ethical standards are so important, says AI scientist and Buddhist teacher Nikki Mirghafori.