01.31.2025 Three Juicy Words   On behalf of everyone at Lion’s Roar, I want to introduce you today to a new resource that we’re sure will be helpful to you as you continue to explore Buddhist meditation and teachings with us. It’s called Buddhism A-Z, and is an in-depth glossary that explicates key Buddhist terms, concepts, and traditions. Written in plain language, it’s perfect for beginners and committed dharma practitioners alike. We at Lion’s Roar and Buddhadharma are fortunate to work on all manner of projects meant to help introduce folks to the dharma and then continue to nourish their understanding and practice. Buddhism A-Z has been particularly exciting to work on, as it synthesizes the knowledge of our entire editorial pool and the wisdom of countless dharma teachings published over our nearly five decades. From “Buddhist basics” like the Eightfold Path or the Four Noble Truths to how Buddhism helps us relate to life’s challenges (aging, grief, loneliness) to dharma-specific terms from Abihidharma to Zen, this glossary is meant to be a resource you can rely on and return to again and again. As an introduction to Buddhism A-Z, today’s Weekend Reader points to glossary entries for three particularly juicy Buddhist words whose meanings have become somewhat fuzzy as they’ve found their way into popular culture. How do they square with your understanding of them? There are, of course, plenty more juicy Buddhist words where these came from. And more to come in the days ahead, as we add to the glossary and roll out more tools to help you on your path. Thanks as always for reading, and for your practice and support. —Rod Meade Sperry, Editor, Buddhadharma Karma In Buddhism, karma is a kind of natural law, like gravity, that explains the causes and effects of what we think, say, or do. In the broader culture, karma has come to signify a sort of cosmic justice or retribution: someone does something “bad” and then karma “comes back around” and punishes them, maybe even in an ironic way. But its true meaning is both more complicated, and simpler, than that. Read the full Buddhism A-Z entry for “karma” for more context and detail, here. ADVERTISEMENT Guru A guru is a Buddhist teacher or mentor who is dedicated to helping all beings attain enlightenment and is adept at helping students realize their true nature. “Guru” is often used as a catch-all term for a teacher or leader with extreme expertise and/or infallible spiritual authority. But what does it really mean? Read the full Buddhism A-Z entry for “Guru” for more context and detail, here. Zen   Zen is the Japanese name of a meditation-focused Buddhist school that originated in China and later spread through East Asia and the West. What’s become a sort of marketing shorthand for “chill” is best understood, in a nutshell, as the Japanese name of a meditation-focused Buddhist school that originated in China and later spread through East Asia and the West. Read the full Buddhism A-Z entry for “Zen” for more context and detail, here.