I have been asked to speak about the practice of Dharma in daily life. We need to know what we mean by Dharma. Dharma is a Sanskrit word that literally means "a preventive measure." It is something that we do in order to avoid problems. To have any interest in practicing the Dharma, we need to see that there are problems in life.

The principles of the Protestant ethic and its message that work is good played a role in helping capitalism gain a foothold at the start of this century. As the century ends, Richmond's message is that we should embrace Buddhist tenets to help transform free-market capitalism, "the most dominant system of human commerce," to include spiritual as well as material values. Richmond lauds the empowering aspects of capitalism and says the free-market system "brings out the best" in people. He acknowledges, however, that it sometimes also brings out the worst, but that Buddhism can help reconcile this contradiction.

Within the short time of our communication here, hundred of thousands of people are being born or are dying. These occurrences are so self-evident that we hardly take notice of them...

"Forgiveness is a form of realism. It doesn't deny, minimize, or justify what others have done to us or the pain that we have suffered. It encourages us to look squarely at those old wounds and see them for what they are. And it allows us to see how much energy we have wasted and how much we have damaged ourselves by not forgiving.

..the unwholesome deeds we have accumulated will remain behind. Even though many of our friends and enemies have died, the negative deeds we accumulated in relation to them will always abide in our minds as long as we do not adopt antidotes to purify and remove them. The disturbing emotions and the negative deeds they gave rise to will remain fresh in our minds until we purify them.

Once upon a time, there was a Sage. One day when his disciples gathered around him, he asked the question: “Why is it that when two people get angry with one another, they scream instead of calmly talking to each other?”

Brockton, MA (USA) -- Serenity may be closer than you think, but it takes a little discipline. A Buddhist monk offers suggestions on small ways you can change your life and find peace.

Summary: This teaching by the Dalai Lama, adapted from The Compassionate Life published in 2001, explains how the Buddhist teachings of mindfulness and compassion lead inevitably to feelings of self-confidence and kindness.

With the Jade Buddha now touring the world, many communities are now taking the time to reflect upon peace. However, such reflection requires us to systematically think about what peace means to each of us individually. How can we attain peace? Where can we find it? What are the steps to peace? The largest obstacle to peace is suffering - in particular the acknowledgement of suffering.

In dharma talks, the causes of suffering are often discussed, as is the cessation of suffering. I have been a Buddhist for about eighteen years, and while I feel I have an understanding and acceptance of the causes of personal suffering, I find it difficult to understand the causes of suffering when we suffer for others. Such suffering is not due to ignorance or attachment.