Dharma Moments

249 Pages·2006·0.89 MB·English

by  Danai Chanchaochai

Advance praise for Dharma Moments
by Danai Chanchaochai
“If the Buddha gave advice in a newspaper column today, he
might sound like this book’s author. . . . His is a unique perspective,
blending Western-style corporate considerations with the outlook
of an Asian culture seasoned by a long history of Buddhist
thought and practice. Much has been written on Buddhism and
meditation, but the application of Buddism to the workplace is
less familiar and a welcome extension of morality and ethics to
daily life. . . . Anyone interested in practical, everyday dharma for
beginners can fi nd a lesson in this book.”
Publishers Weekly
“We all have ‘Dharma moments’ in our lives—times when our
choices can make or break our journey. This beautiful book
lovingly uses the teachings of Buddha to guide us through the
darker corridors of our lives.”
Dr. Stephen R. Covey, author, The 7 Habits of
Highly Effective People and The 8th Habit: From
Effectiveness to Greatness
“It is indeed heartening to see how even people caught up in
the swirl of business and modern city life can apply this age-old
wisdom imparted by the Buddha. It is like taking a cool shower
on a sultry day.”
Professor Richard Gombrich, Boden Professor of
Sanskrit Emeritus, Oxford University
Academic Director, Oxford Centre for Buddhist
Studies
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“Dharma Moments describes typical offi ce problems you
immediately recognize. Brilliant solutions are presented using
Buddhist concepts presented in a way that is acceptable to all
people regardless of their spiritual tradition.”
Laurens van den Muyzenberg, Management Consultant
Corporate Governance
“There’s so much in this well-written book about how we
can best conduct ourselves in life and at work that it could be
described as much as a personal guide or management text
book as about Buddhist teaching.”
Martin Brodie, Head of Communications—Asia,
Rolls-Royce Group plc.
“Reading this book will help you become more focused and
even more productive in your job—but it will also help you
become more peaceful, clear, and tranquil in the conduct of
your daily life.”
Dennis L. Wilcox, Ph.D, Professor of Public
Relations, School of Journalism & Mass
Communications, San Jose State University,
California
“Individuals trained in contemporary management theory in
Western culture will be struck by the correlation between the
teachings of the Buddha as exemplifi ed by Khun Danai and
‘cutting edge’ management theories practiced in the West.”
John R. McCarthy, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus,
Illinois State University
“It is easy to let the superfi cial and competitive nature of this
world take you over, especially in the workplace. This book
brings you peace, direction, order and makes you contemplate
what really matters—others and how they may need you.”
Kate Roberts, Founder of YouthAIDS
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Dharma Moments
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Dharma Moments
Danai Chanchaochai
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This edition fi rst published by Nicholas Brealey Publishing in 2006.

100 City Hall Plaza, Suite 501 3-5 Spafi eld Street, Clerkenwell
Boston, MA 02108 USA London, EC1R 4QB, UK
Tel: [phone] Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone] Fax: [phone]
www.nicholasbrealey.com www.nbrealey-books.com
© 2006 by Danai Chanchaochai
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced
in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the
publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical
articles or reviews.
Printed in the United States of America
10 09 08 07 06 1 2 3 4 5
ISBN-13: 978-1-85788-385-5
ISBN-10: 1-85788-385-3
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Danai Cˇhancˇhaocha¯i.
Dharma moments / Danai Chanchaochai.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-1-85788-385-5
ISBN-10: 1-85788-385-3
1. Religious life--Buddhism. 2. Interpersonal relations--Religious
aspects--Buddhism.
I. Title.
BQ5395.D36 2006
294.3’442--dc22
2005023559
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Introduction
S
hakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment and taught in
India over two thousand and fi ve hundred years ago, yet his
teaching remains refreshing and relevant today. No matter
who we are or where we live, we all want happiness and
dislike suffering. The Buddha counseled, therefore, that
we should help others as much as we can and even if
we cannot actually be of help, we should at least not do
anyone harm.
Part of Buddhist practice involves training our minds
through meditation. But if our training in calming our minds,
developing qualities like love, compassion, generosity and
patience, is to be effective, we must put them into practice
in day-to-day life. This book Dharma Moments contains
plentiful contemporary advice on how we can do that in
words that are easy to understand. The Buddha’s teachings
are both subtle and profound, but it is very important that
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they are made accessible in a way that people can actually
put them into effect and derive real benefi t from them. I
am sure this book will achieve this and that it will prove
helpful to general readers, especially those who have little
previous acquaintance with Buddhism, as well as dedicated
Buddhists who have little time to read and study more
widely, but are looking for something to inspire them here
and now.
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Contents
Foreword by Prapai Kraisornkovit
DHARMA TEACHINGS
The great awakening 3
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
It’s all in the mind 8
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Life’s simple beauties 12
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Idle curiosity 16
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A universal message 22
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Righteous roots 28
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The big picture 33
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A freed mind 39
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Blind faith 44
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Theory into practice 49
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Elusive search 56
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
DHARMA IN THE WORKPLACE
Shallow society 63
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Millionaires seldom smile 69
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dharma at work 74
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dealing with the dragons at work 80
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Maximum benefi ts 86
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The best policy 92
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Telling it as it is 96
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Personality counts 102
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The medium is the message 108
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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