A conversation with the son of Lama Pema Lapchen Rinpoche, holder of the lineage of Nyingma master Guru Chowang
family
Who is Abandoning Who? Love and Expectations in “Harry & Meghan” and the Buddha’s Story
“Harry & Meghan” tells not only the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s story of separation from the Windsors, but also reveals tensions inherent in the family ideal, which the Buddha himself could not live up to
Bringing Compassion to Those That Need It Most: A Domestic Violence Worker Brings Buddhist Ideas to Survivors of Family and Sexual Violence
Australia-based DV worker Lynda Rushton shares how Buddhism brings a unique dimension to working with women living with domestic and partner abuse
Nurturing Narratives
Not long after the death of my grandfather (爷爷/爺爺), my family resumed its familiar tradition. When both my grandparents were alive, my parents, my sister and me would be regularly treated to dinner at their home, where we’d enjoy the familial and communal experience of eating together and watching television. The stark difference now was […]
Keep Smiling
I’ll never forget the smile of my grandmother (po po/婆婆). Her soft, inviting grin greeted me every time I visited her with my parents and sister. Po Po always seemed excited to see us, but she expressed her excitement with a modesty that few people could perceive or appreciate outside of the family. Her excitement […]
Mafan
Mafan. 麻烦 or 麻煩 in Simplified and Traditional Chinese, respectively. Meaning: trouble; troublesome; a bother, a thorn in one’s side. Mafanwas one of the first Chinese words I learned as a child. My grandmother (maa maa / 嫲嫲 / nai nai / 奶奶) would utter the word several times throughout the day when I stayed […]
Displaced Dharma: Ukraine’s Crisis of Refugee Children
There are few experiences more distressing and traumatizing than being forced to leave home, and to flee somewhere, anywhere, that may offer physical safety from war. The endless calculations involved are exhausting: whether it is worth putting loved ones in further danger, fears of if the journey can be endured, and the sense of uncertainty […]
Have You Been There Before?
When my mother or grandfather (爷爷/爺爺) needed a break from cooking in the kitchen, my family would eat out at fast food restaurants when I was a child. McDonalds and Subway were popular options, and KFC was a favorite of my grandparents for many years. But there were times when we’d opt for a casual […]
Wild Turkey
My father was one who best understood the shy verse of sawdust and steel.When he did speak, after aged bourbon by the charred pepper glow of campfire, his words would bring dryness to the dark, the way engine-oiled machine parts are ordered and arranged under the tongue. I listened. More than he knew. I saw how his words had shapes, how some of them circled through the air, […]