Dharma Magazines
Someone asked me why I wouldn't subscribe to Tricycle magazine. Bottom-line, they are first and foremost journalists, not practitioners. Their refuge is provocative news, not benefit. Sometimes they publish stuff that, on my humble distorted afflictive emotion filtered view, violates precepts. Even so, sometimes there's good things there too.
Dharma Magazines are kind of the core of the Buddhist North-American Spiritual Supermarket. Samsara-dharma, political agitation in a bad sense, some sensationalism. It is both good and bad that it is not connected to any Dharma center, and sometimes the denunciations are valid. But there's also lots of empty polemics, things prepared to stir afflictive emotions, etc. Of course, also lots of good things.
Shambhala Sun would be my choice of "dharma magazine". Even though it is too far from perfect. I would stick with oral teachings, and good well recommended Dharma Books in second place.
The Distortions We Bring To The Study of Buddhism
This excellent article was originally published in the September 1997 edition of Shambhala Sun Magazine. Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse calls on Westerners to…
The Making of Buddhist Modernism
A great deal of Buddhist literature and scholarly writing about Buddhism of the past 150 years reflects, and indeed constructs, a historically unique modern Buddhism, even while purporting to represent ancient tradition, timeless teaching, or the “essentials” of Buddhism.
The Dharma of Westworld
Reincarnation, no-self, and other Buddhist lessons from the popular HBO series. Have you been watching the first season of Westworld? Meditation teacher Jay Michaelson writes that the HBO show is "one of the most fascinating ruminations on the dharma" he's seen in American popular culture. // Well... I don't think so... but anyway, here's the link.
The Future of Buddhism: Challenges and Opportunities in Modern Society
In March 2018, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche gave teachings to the Rigpa Sangha in Berlin, London and Paris. These teachings are wonderful in any context, explain the Vajrayana practice of guru yoga in depth, and deal directly with the subject at hand.