A friend once asked me, “Are you an artist if no one sees it?” The question landed like a koan—sharp, simple, unsettling. It was one of those questions you don’t so much answer as live with, letting it trail through your days like a shadow or a companion—or, as the...

Int  It was Sept 11, 2017 when Lion’s Roar posted the following essay, which ends with the words: As Buddhists in the U.S., I think that if we knew our own history better — that is, the history of Buddhism in the U.S. — we would understand that the ICE raids (which...

In Buddhism, love is not just an emotion. It’s a way of being, an experience of openness, kindness, and presence. Love gives us strength. It nourishes our happiness and protects our sanity. When our hearts are filled with love, we are deeply peaceful, happy, and...

For the first two decades of my life, you could have told me a chaplain was a type of boat, a cozy shirt, or someone’s favorite meal, and I would have believed you. In retrospect, this seems perfectly sensible. English is my father’s third language (mine as well,...

My eighty-year-old mother has lung cancer and congestive heart failure. After the cancer diagnosis, there followed numerous visits to the hospital. She cried each time, imploring me to let her stay home. I didn’t listen. Determined to fix her, we pushed through what...