Melvin McLeod

On Monday I was honored to attend a gathering to mourn the passing and celebrate the life of a great American bodhisattva. Robert Thurman died on June 16 at his home in Woodstock, New York at the age of 84. He was probably the preeminent American Buddhist of our time—scholar, translator, Buddhist teacher, close friend of the Dalai Lama, key supporter of the Tibetan people.

We all want to lead happy, loving, and meaningful lives in a peaceful and caring world. Yet too often we don’t get the kind of life and world we long for. We suffer in different ways, in mind and in body, and can’t find the happiness we deserve. The world is far from perfect, full of conflict, greed, and selfishness. Does it have to be this way? The answer is no. When we understand mindfulness as a complete path of life, it gives us the tools we need to create the kind of life and world we want.

Zen If you think Buddhism is free of the religious nationalism and violent extremism that plague other religions, think again, says author Sonia Faleiro in this conversation with Editor-at-Large Melvin McLeod. The post The Shadow Side of Buddhism appeared first... Jun 2, 2026 - 01:15 20 Melvin McLeod: Tell us about writing your new book The Robe and the Sword: How Buddhist Extremism Is Shaping Modern Asia. Sonia Faleiro: It’s based on two years of research.