Obstacles to the path
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From other traditions
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Discovery and Refuge
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Meditation
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Establishing A Practice
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Fruit of Practice
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Practitioners
David M on Vajrayana Buddhism: Finding Freedom Through Curiosity, Death, and Direct Experience
David M's Buddhist journey is driven by an enduring curiosity about the nature of reality. Drawn to Vajrayana Buddhism for its direct and experiential approach, he explores how practices such as Ngöndro, contemplation of death, and devotion transform everyday life. Through reflections on reincarnation, identity, family, and the role of authentic teachers, David shares how Buddhism has become a living framework for cultivating wisdom, compassion, and freedom from fixed views. Rather than seeking certainty, he embraces practice as a lifelong process of inquiry, discovering that true liberation begins with giving ourselves permission to see beyond who we think we are.
Liz | From Fashion to Dharma: Building Samaya Through Tibetan Buddhist Practice
Liz's journey into Tibetan Buddhism began during one of the most difficult periods of her life, when illness, heartbreak, and personal loss led her to seek a deeper understanding of suffering and impermanence. Today, she integrates the Yuthok Nyingthig lineage, Sowa Rigpa (Traditional Tibetan Medicine), Tibetan yoga, and Ngöndro practice into every aspect of her life—including her meditation cushion company, Samaya. Drawing from her background in fashion design, Liz transformed a simple desire for a beautiful meditation cushion into a mission-driven business rooted in ethics, compassion, and authentic practice. In this interview, she shares how Vajrayana Buddhism, Tibetan medicine, and Guru Yoga helped heal trauma, cultivate self-worth, and redefine success as an expression of bodhicitta. Her story explores the intersection of spirituality, creativity, entrepreneurship, and healing, offering a deeply personal look at living the Dharma beyond the meditation cushion.
Colleen’s Buddhist Journey: Finding Meaning Through Impermanence, Death, and Midlife Awakening
Colleen's Buddhist journey began not in youth, but during a season of profound life transition. Raised in a Catholic family and later building a successful career in art museums, she found herself searching for something deeper after the loss of her parents, the independence of her children, and a growing awareness of impermanence. What began as a curiosity about meditation gradually evolved into a transformative Buddhist practice that reshaped how she understands death, rebirth, compassion, and everyday life. Through honest reflection, Colleen explores the shift from intellectual understanding to lived experience, discovering that Buddhism is less about finding certainty and more about learning to meet life's inevitable changes with wisdom and openness. Her story offers an insightful perspective for anyone navigating grief, midlife transformation, or a sincere search for meaning beyond achievement.
James : Finding Freedom Through Won Buddhism
Raised in East Los Angeles within a Catholic family, James spent years searching for a spiritual path that embraced both his identity and his longing for freedom from suffering. As a Chicano educator and queer Buddhist, he found that home in Won Buddhism, where mindfulness became a way of living rather than something confined to the meditation cushion. Today, James integrates Buddhist practice into public education, leadership, and everyday relationships, demonstrating how presence, compassion, and mindful action can transform both personal and professional life. His story offers a compelling example of modern Buddhist practice rooted in authenticity, resilience, and service.
Gina: Zen Practice, Lineage, and Service in New Orleans
Gina Barnes is a Zen Buddhist monk, teacher, and longtime practitioner based in New Orleans. Raised in the South, her spiritual path was shaped by Methodist roots, Southern values, music, Bikram yoga, and a lifelong search for deeper meaning. She discovered Zen practice in 2016 and was drawn to its disciplined approach, authentic lineage, and emphasis on bringing the Dharma into everyday life. Through zazen meditation and service to the Sangha, Gina has learned that spiritual freedom does not come from avoiding responsibility or endlessly chasing new experiences. It develops through consistency, humility, and the courage to remain present with uncertainty. Her practice has also helped her navigate family hardship, leadership challenges, and the pressures faced by younger generations in an age of overwhelming choice. For Gina, Zen is ultimately a practice of service: “You don’t come to zazen for yourself. You come here for other people.”
Lennell on Won Buddhism, Psychology, and the Path to Self-Transformation
How does Buddhist practice transform the mind beyond intellectual understanding? Psychologist and professor Lennell Dade shares how her journey through multiple spiritual traditions led her to Won Buddhism, where meditation became a lived path of self-knowledge, compassion, and inner transformation. Her story explores the intersection of psychology, African philosophy, and Buddhist practice, offering a compelling perspective on awakening through everyday life.