How Buddhism First Carried Sugar from India to China (and Back Again)
Before the story of its violent colonial legacy began, the sweetener had its earliest origins in the dharma.
History
Standing Together
A scholar reimagines the first Buddhist women’s request for ordination
When the Knives Are Out
The story of a nun who responded to rage with equanimity
Strawberries and the Ethic of Appreciation
A well-known Buddhist story, and its contemporary interpretations, reveal the evolving tension between ascetic detachment and compassionate engagement—and where meditation fits in.
Why Does the Buddha Smile?
Scholar David Fiordalis unpacks the meaning behind the Buddha’s wondrous smile.
The Rebel Nun and Her Extra-Large Begging Bowl
The Buddha’s response to one nun’s controversial actions illustrates a middle way between condemnation and neglect.
The Woman Who Married the Buddha
Scholar Vanessa R. Sasson tells the often overlooked story of Yasodhara
Through Grief to Freedom: The Story of Krsha Gautami
The staggering losses of a nun whose tale appears in the Kshudrakavastu illuminates the power of shared suffering.
Uncovering the Mythical Buddha
A professor of Japanese religion discusses what manga and myth can teach us about the creativity of the Buddhist tradition.
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