No, HOL is an independent platform that respects and welcomes perspectives from various Buddhist traditions, including Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna. Our focus is on practical wisdom that can be applied in everyday life.

Yes! We welcome contributions from writers who can share practical Buddhist wisdom in a relatable way. Articles should be clear, engaging, and free from overly academic or dogmatic tones. If you’re interested, reach out to us with your idea. 

At Handful of Leaves (HOL), we approach content with a deep respect for Buddhist values, ensuring alignment with the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path while also embracing the spirit of ehi-passiko (come and see for yourself)—encouraging inquiry, open inquiry, personal reflection, and diverse perspectives, rather than dictating right or wrong.

While traditional Buddhist settings may avoid topics like sex, drugs, LGBTQ+, crypto, and other complex modern issues, HOL believes that Buddhism is meant to be lived—not just studied in isolation. Our goal is not to dictate right or wrong but to present diverse perspectives that invite readers to reflect and engage with wisdom in a way that supports the practice of awakening.

To ensure accuracy, integrity, and inclusivity, we:

• Consult a trusted pool of Buddhist leaders—both lay and monastic—across different traditions, as well as representatives from relevant groups, to ensure a fair and balanced approach on highly controversial topics or those requiring great care.
• Curate content that inspires rather than prescribes, avoiding dogma or rigid interpretations while staying grounded in fundamental Buddhist teachings.
• Refrain from endorsing any political, sectarian, or divisive narratives to keep HOL a space for harmony, learning, and thoughtful discussion.
• Provide a platform for multiple perspectives—ensuring that the conversation remains open-ended, allowing readers to form their own views rather than imposing a singular truth.

We recognize the limitations of our understanding and acknowledge that, despite our best efforts, we may still overlook certain details. We welcome readers to reach out and share their insights if they believe any corrections or additional perspectives are needed.

We avoid content that promotes exclusivity, political agendas, or sectarian disputes. Our goal is to create an open, welcoming space for learning and reflection.

If your initiative aligns with the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path—and provides meaningful benefit to the community, we’re happy to explore ways to feature it.

However, we do not accept self-promotional content that prioritises personal or organisational gain over community well-being. Additionally, we do not list organisations involved in political disputes, sectarian conflicts, or activities that create division within the Buddhist community or with other faith groups. 

At HOL, we aim to keep most of our content and resources free so that Buddhist wisdom remains accessible to as many people as possible. However, to sustain and grow our platform, some initiatives may come with a price tag.

Here’s why we may charge for certain things:

• Covering Operational Costs – While HOL is volunteer-driven, we still have expenses such as website maintenance, content production, and administrative needs.

• Supporting Quality Offerings – Some collaborations or special projects may require professional services, venue bookings, or facilitation fees.

• Fair Compensation (Right Livelihood) – In the future, we hope to hire a small team to work full-time on HOL, ensuring they are fairly supported while dedicating themselves to this mission.

It is our principle to not commercialise the Dhamma. Hence, we are careful about what we place a price tag on and strive to balance sustainability with our mission of sharing the Dhamma openly. 

To keep the majority of our content free, we are exploring ways to generate revenue, including:

• Sponsored articles (these will be clearly labeled as such)

• Commercial listings in our event directory

If you believe in our mission and would like to support HOL, we welcome sponsors and partners to be part of this journey. Your contributions help us continue providing quality content while keeping Buddhist wisdom accessible to all.