New to Buddhism?

Get a short overview and practical advice.
Essentials
Honesty, Trust and Friendship
The 14th Dalai Lama
Friendship comes from sincere concern for the happiness of others.
Compassion as a Source of Happiness
The 14th Dalai Lama
Genuine happiness and satisfaction come from within, from compassion and human affection.
What Are the Four Noble Truths?
Dr. Alexander Berzin, Matt Lindén
The basic framework for the Buddhist teachings.

Seeking a Deeper Understanding?

Learn more about Tibetan Buddhism.
Tibetan Buddhism
Advice for Taking a Tantric Initiation
Dr. Alexander Berzin
The mechanism for how receiving an initiation prepares us for successful tantra practice.
What Is a Disturbing Emotion?
Dr. Alexander Berzin
Disturbing emotions are those that make us lose peace of mind and self-control.
What Is Mahamudra?
Dr. Alexander Berzin
An introduction to the practice of mahamudra in the Gelug and Karma Kagyu traditions.

Want to Go Further?

Explore more Buddhist topics in greater detail.
Advanced Studies
Details of Ways of Knowing: 1 Validly Knowable Phenomena
Geshe Sonam Rinchen, Dr. Alexander Berzin
Existent phenomena are defined as what is validly knowable. In the Sautrantika system, existent phenomena are divided into nonstatic objective entities and static metaphysical ones.
Details of Ways of Knowing: 13 Listening, Thinking and Meditating
Geshe Sonam Rinchen, Dr. Alexander Berzin
What has been listened to, what has been thought about and what has been meditated upon are types of conceptual cognition.
Islam and Buddhism on Overcoming Self-Centeredness and Developing Love
Dr. Alexander Berzin
An in-depth presentation of the self, self-centeredness and love in Islam, based on the “Quran,” and in Buddhism, based on the Mahayana teachings.

Interviews

Read interviews with some of the world’s most esteemed Buddhist spiritual teachers and with scholars from various related disciplines.

Interview with Geshe Dorji Damdul

Document
Interview with Dr. Andrey Terentyev
Matt Lindén
Dr. Andrey Terentyev shares insights on the survival of Buddhism in Soviet Russia, the unique spiritual practices of the regions of Buryatia, Kalmykia, and Tuva, and the revival of Buddhist teachings across Russia today.
Document
Interview with the Nechung Oracle
Matt Lindén
Venerable Thupten Ngodup discusses the role of Dharma protectors in Buddhism, his experiences of going into trance, and the history of Nechung and Mongolia.

Latest Content

Keep up to date with our most recent additions.
Read more
Letter to a Friend – Section 8: Death & the Precious Human Rebirth
Dr. Alexander Berzin
Letter to a Friend – Section 7: Emptiness of the Self & the Aggregates
Dr. Alexander Berzin
Letter to a Friend – Section 6: The Disadvantages of Samsara
Dr. Alexander Berzin
Top