Category: Dharma & Society
Commentary: Why I’m Not Attending Conferences in the USA
After the Muslim ban was instituted, Buddhist scholar and priest Jeff Wilson vowed to renounce his attendance at conferences in the USA. As a society, he says, it is imperative that we stop hiding behind borders.
The Hungry Ghosts of “Mad Men”
The characters in "Mad Men" are like hungry ghosts, says Rod Meade Sperry, endlessly consuming liquor, drugs — and each other.
How Personal Grief Connects Us to Shared Compassion
Laura Johnson’s eight-month-old cat died as the 2018 California wildfires destroyed nearby homes. She reflects on how her deeply personal loss opened her heart to society's shared humanity.
What Happens When a Government Loses Its Compassion?
Without compassion, everyone is worse off. Zen teacher Roshi Joan Halifax comments on the Trump administration's family separation policy.
What’s the connection between Buddhism and ethnic cleansing in Myanmar?
How have Buddhists become implicated in one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world? Randy Rosenthal looks through history to understand how a religion of peace has become a justification for violence.
6 Buddhist Leaders Reflect on the US Midterms and What Comes Next
Six Buddhist teachers interpret the outcomes of Tuesday's election through the lens of Buddhist wisdom.
What Would Mindful Politics Look Like?
Lion's Roar editor-in-chief Melvin McLeod introduces "Mindful Politics," a collection of teachings and commentary speaking to our troubled times.
The Scorpion Gesture bridges past and the future at the Rubin Museum
The interactive exhibition, based on the Buddhist figures Padmasambhava and Maitreya, takes traditional Buddhist imagery in radical new directions.
Buddhist leaders pen open letter encouraging Americans to vote
The letter urges Buddhists across America to "express your commitment and respect for the innate dignity and worth of all" by voting in the midterm elections on November 6.
Watch: Black & Buddhist in America
Fourteen leading Buddhist teachers of black African descent gathered on Sunday for a conversation about dharma and what it means to be a black Buddhist in America today.
Black & Buddhist in America
15 leading African American Buddhist teachers will hold public dialogue in New York City.
Our Opportunity to Include All Genders in Buddhist Communities
As a trans practitioner, Ray Buckner has struggled to find a sense of belonging in Buddhist spaces. They offer suggestions for how we can better support sangha members of all genders.
Gretel Ehrlich: Struck by Nature
“Cover yourself with the living world. It becomes part of your love life.” Gretel Ehrlich writes about nature with passion and awareness, but twice her love affair with nature turned deadly. Stephen Foehr talks to the author of A Match to the Heart.
Loving-kindness for Litterbugs
Armed with a trash picker and a garbage bag, Lina Blanchet finds an unusual opportunity to discover the sacred nature of life, in all of its guises.
Why Is Rebecca Solnit Hopeful?
Writer and activist Rebecca Solnit tells the truth about misogyny, injustice, and environmental destruction, along with the hope found in uncertainty.
Do You Know Your True Face?
Lama Rod Owens says we need to look honestly at who we are, in all our complexity. This is especially vital for those who teach the dharma.
This Land is Pure Land: The Buddhist Churches of America
Lindsay Kyte traces the history of the Buddhist Churches of America — and the Japanese immigrant experience in America — through four generations of one family.
Advice From a Queer Sangha Leader
“We are all spokes on a wheel. Can you have respect for another spoke?” Hal Atwood talks to Against the Stream's queer sangha leader, Steve Levitt.
Philip Glass, Wayne Shorter to receive Kennedy Center Honors
“Right here in this group of five, you have the whole picture," said Glass of this year's group of honorees.
10,000 Buddhas and Counting
Inspired by ancient Buddhist artwork on cave walls, Amanda Giacomini set out on a mission to paint 10,000 Buddhas all over America. Lilly Greenblatt tells her story.