Written by David Nichtern

The practice of meditation allows us to look directly at who we are. It has a kind of naive quality to it in that we don’t assume anything. Buddhist practice is...

Written by David Nichtern

Some say we human beings are the custodians of this planet Earth. Many ancient traditions, both Asian and European, have held the view that the role of the leader includes...

Written by David Nichtern

In Buddhism, there is a lot of discussion about cultivating mindfulness and awareness. In a nutshell, mindfulness is the ability to pay attention to something, to hold...

Written by David Nichtern

The practice of cultivating loving-kindness (maitri in Sanskrit and metta in Pali) is a Buddhist approach toward opening one’s heart to others. It is very ancient,...

Written by David Nichtern

When I met my teacher, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, in 1971, I felt an overwhelming sense of connection. At the time I was attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston,...

Written by David Nichtern

I don’t know about you, but I’m the kind of person who likes to go right to the source. So when it comes to studying Buddhism, I want to get right to it-...

People often perceive the goal of Buddhism as becoming thoughtless, detached, and retreating from the world. For many, these imagined requirements can represent an impossible sacrifice. For father...

Lately, I’ve been having an ongoing discussion with students regarding the Buddhist idea of karma. It’s a complex and multi-faceted subject.

I’ve found that using the analogy of a...

How Buddhist Teacher David Nichtern and Illustrator Andrew Archer Created a Contemporary Portrayal of the Classic Buddhist Painting

Often painted on the exterior of Buddhist temples, the Wheel of...