Our Mission

Lion’s Roar is an independent
non-profit foundation whose mission is to communicate Buddhist wisdom and practices in order to benefit people’s lives and our society, and to support the development of Buddhism in the modern world.

Our Mission

Lion’s Roar is an independent non-profit foundation whose mission is to communicate Buddhist wisdom and practices in order to benefit people’s lives and our society, and to support the development of Buddhism in the modern world.

About Lion’s Roar

Mission-driven and community-supported, the Lion’s Roar Foundation provides Buddhist teachings, news, and perspectives so that the understanding and practice of Buddhism flourishes in today’s world, and that its timeless wisdom is accessible to all. 

We do this by providing as many entry points as we can: our print and digital publications, our website, video, social media, live events, practice retreats, and more. We try to bring dharma to people right where they are, knowing what a difference it can make in their lives.

Benefit to individuals

The activity of Lion’s Roar supports everyone from the absolute beginner to the committed Buddhist. In Lion’s Roar magazine, the best of Buddhist thinking is applied to the personal needs and concerns of people of all ages and backgrounds, shining a light, too, on the broader culture and zeitgeist. In Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Quarterly, we publish teachings that help deepen the committed Buddhist’s path. And on LionsRoar.com we publish selected material from both magazines, as well as a steady stream of up-to-the-moment news and digital exclusives. 

Benefit to society

We extend the Buddhist voice into the mainstream, providing a helpful perspective to citizens of all faiths (and the increasing numbers who do not follow a particular tradition). By bringing Buddhist wisdom to bear on current events—and, of course, perennial human concerns—our work helps point a way forward for us all, Buddhist or not, toward a society that prizes, cultivates, and can uphold universal values like compassion, generosity, wisdom, and peace.

Support for the development of Buddhism in the modern world

Sharing community developments, outlining obstacles, challenges, best practices, and opportunities for Buddhist individuals and institutions, and offering education and discourse about how the Buddhist view may be of benefit to all beings, Lion’s Roar initiatives illuminate and ensure Buddhism’s relevance.

Lion’s Roar began forty years ago as the Vajradhatu Sun, the newspaper of the Buddhist community now known as Shambhala, founded by the late Tibetan teacher Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Rebranded as the Shambhala Sun in 1992, the magazine moved beyond its community roots to offer a wide range of Buddhist voices to a much broader, pan-Buddhist audience and became the largest-circulation Buddhist publication in the English language. In 2006, the Shambhala Sun gained operational independence, retaining only modest legal and financial ties to the Shambhala organization, from which it licensed the Shambhala Sun name. In 2016, the foundation’s name was changed to Lion’s Roar to better reflect its mission to serve all Buddhist traditions. At that time, Lion’s Roar became a fully independent non-profit foundation.

Today, Lion’s Roar is recognized as the leading voice of Buddhism in North American society. Our editorial content is celebrated for its wide range of outstanding Buddhist teachings, the high quality of its writing, and the beauty of its art and design. Lion’s Roar magazine is a multiple Utne Reader Award winner.

How we make a difference

We represent the full diversity of Buddhism in the modern world. Since its arrival in North America, Buddhism has been beautifully varied in its practice and practitioners. We’re committed to celebrating the richness inherent in that diversity.
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Through structured guides and courses, we deliver strong educational material that helps ground our audience in practice and study.
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We offer opportunities for connection and ongoing education to tens of thousands of meditators who tell us that they are “going it alone” outside of any formal community of practitioners—and a broader experience of Buddhism to those whose experience has been defined by a particular tradition.
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We support a deepening of practice traditions in the West, through our content and in conversations we host on social media or at Lion’s Roar events and retreats.
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Recognizing the broad disparity of wealth in the world, we offer thousands of teachings, practical guides, and inspirational stories free of charge—so that the opportunity to benefit from the dharma is as broadly available as possible.
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If you share our vision, you can help our mission. Here’s how.

You can subscribe or make a gift subscription to Lion’s Roar magazine or our journal, Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Quarterly, shop in our Lion’s Roar online store, or register for one of our Lion’s Roar online courses.

You can also support our non-profit mission by donating directly to Lion’s Roar. We want to keep LionsRoar.com available to everyone, providing a supportive, inspiring community that anyone can access, from curious beginners to committed practitioners. You can help.

If you value Lion’s Roar, you know we have something precious to share with the world. By donating to Lion’s Roar, you join your resources with ours in pursuit of sharing Buddhist wisdom and supporting practitioners—and the dharma—worldwide.

Your donation is very much appreciated.

DONATE to
Lion’s Roar

Thank you for your generosity.

“Lion’s Roar has blessed us with the words of the wisest teachers, the flowering of creative art, and the spirit of dharma in its ancient depths and new Western forms.”
—Jack Kornfield

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I find Lion’s Roar magazine the most interesting compilation of simple gifts of elucidation!”
—J. Burden

“This is a love letter: My husband and I have been subscribing to Lion’s Roar magazine since its early beginnings in the 1980’s… With the current political climate and the depressing daily current events, your articles on compassion and kindness serve as a well needed antidote of medicine for my heart and mind. Thank you so much!“
—Katie B., Vermont

“Lion’s Roar—wisdom and ethical journalism for our times. Thank you!”
C. Siebert 

“Keep up your good work. Your team enables this traveler to grow and learn.”
—Annette H., California

Why “Lion’s Roar”?

Our name is taken from a quote attributed to the Buddha: “The proclamation of the truth of the dharma is as fearless as a lion’s roar.” In this context “Lion’s Roar” expresses the fearlessness and confidence needed to present the profound truths of dharma, by way of any and all skillful means.

Who we are

EDITORIAL

Melvin McLeod

President & Editor-In-Chief

Andrea Miller

Editor, Lion’s Roar magazine

Rod Meade Sperry

Editor, Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Guide & Lion’s Roar Special Editions

Lilly Greenblatt

Digital Editor

Ross Nervig

Associate Editor

Pamela Ayo Yetunde

Associate Editor

Noel Alumit

Associate Editor

Mariana Restrepo

Associate Editor

Mihiri Tillakaratne

Associate Editor

Megumi Yoshida

Art Director, Lion’s Roar magazine

Andrew Glencross

Deputy Art Director, Lion’s Roar magazine & Production Coordinator

Seth Levinson

Art Director, 
Buddhadharma  

Sandra Hannebohm

Audio/Video Producer

Martine Panzica

Digital Editorial Assistant

Publishing

Ben Moore

Publisher

Dan Scott

Associate Publisher, Consumer Marketing

Beth Wallace

Associate Publisher, Finance & Operations

Cindy Littlefair

Operations & Human Resources

Bakes Mitchell

Development & Partnerships

Sharon Davis

Account Representative

Hannah Maier

Partnerships Coordinator

Alexandra Stewart

Marketing Coordinator

Pam Pedersen

Digital Designer

Adele Brake

Customer Service

Don Connors

Acting Controller

Matt MacLeod

Accounting & Administration

Matt Benning

Audience Development & SEO Specialist

Chris Pacheco

Content Marketing Editor

Board

Our volunteer board of directors includes teachers and community leaders from the Zen, Theravada/Insight, and Vajrayana traditions and supports our vision of inclusivity and diversity of voices.

Charles G. Lief, Chair

Myokei Caine-Barrett, Shonin

Trudy Goodman

Rev. Doyeon Park

Melvin McLeod

Ben Moore

Peace Twesigye

Dan Zigmond

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