new for book lovers

• Can sex be a compassionate activity?

Teacher Lodro Rinzler thinks so. What about you? Read this excerpt from his new book, The Buddha Walks Into A Bar: A Guide to Life for a New Generation.

• Good Failure

You may fail to change the system, but consider it a good failure if you've made life a little better. Activist Courtney E. Martin on reclaiming failure as the mark of a dream worth having.

• Living Proof

Does meditation work? The first place to look for the answer is in our own lives. Margot Sammurtok talks to Isabel Adon (left) and three others who say the practice has made all the difference.

• Taking the Measure of Mind

At the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds, prominent neuroscientist Richie Davidson (left) and his team try to see how far our minds can go and how meditation helps. Barry Boyce reports.

making peace — in our cities and our lives

The Dalai Lama has inspired a new generation of urban activists. In Oakland and Newark, they're making a real difference.

• How urban living can open our hearts

Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche on city living and the many opportunities to practice kindness that it offers us.

learn more with shambhala sun spotlight pages

• Chögyam Trungpa Teachings from the pioneering Tibetan Buddhist teacher — his finest from our magazine.	• Buddhism and Psychology Featuring pieces by John Welwood, Jack Kornfield, Tara Bennett-Goleman, and more.

• Browse all Spotlights Explore meditation, mindfulness, yoga, and more with the best from our archives. You'll find helpful instruction, inspiration, and much more.

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buddhadharma: the practitioner's quarterly