Spirituality
As Election Day approaches, many of us are getting caught in political conversations that make our cheeks burn and our temples throb. While feeling righteous and angry can maybe feel good in the short term, it can do lasting damage to our minds, bodies, and...
‘Each of the myriad things has its merit, expressed according to function and place.’ Sandōkai
‘May all beings caught up in confusion realise that straightforward action leads to liberation directly.’ Everyday Buddhism
‘Not understanding the way before your eyes, how do you know the path you walk?’ Sandōkai
With this issue celebrating Buddhists of Asian descent, I’m reminded of Aaron J. Lee, known for his blog Angry Asian Buddhist. He wrote his blog from 2007 to 2017 under the pen name “arunlikhati.” He died of cancer in 2018, at age thirty-four. His archives describe...
Once upon a time, when the world was still enchanted, wild beasts were central to human development. The terror and awe that our ancestors experienced in the wilderness gave rise to language, religion, invention, and storytelling. In that indigenous, animistic world...
When I found out my father was suing me in the Australian Supreme Court, I blacked out and my hair turned grey overnight. In the following adrenaline-filled days, I armored myself with evidence for the case. My late aunt Theresa, one of my father’s thirty-two...
In the middle of the Pacific, 2,500 miles away from the nearest continent, lies a chain of islands called Hawaii. The weather is mild and sunny with trade winds that often keep the humidity in check. Fragrant flowers and salty sea air embrace you. Colors are vivid;...
In Meditation for Modern Madness (Wisdom Publications), the Seventh Dzogchen Rinpoche, Jigme Losel Wangpo, offers teachings that he feels have all too often been confined to Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. He brings the wisdom of Dzogchen into contemporary lay life by...
I meditated for lottery numbers. I sat the way I had been instructed to at temple—legs crossed, back straight. If I couldn’t keep my back straight then I flattened myself against a wall, aligning the top of my head down the length of my spine. I inhaled three seconds,...