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Optimistic Wisdom

by Srisuda Dhamwichukorn

160 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-1193; ISBN 1-4120-0825-5; US$19.99, C$26.00, EUR16.90, £11.71

Written in a modern, simple style, this guide to living peacefully offers rest and reflection in a troubled ocean. A beautiful book filled with positive energy and optimistic values.

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpts      catalogue info

About the Book Wisdom requires clear vision-the ability to see the things that matter, to pass over the things that don't, and the discernment to know the difference. In a fast-paced world, wisdom is also sometimes not equated with optimism. But is this pessimism about the future wise? Not according to the new book, Optimistic Wisdom: Living in Peace without Worry, by Dr. Srisuda Dhamwichukorn. The waves of wisdom that travel from East to West have a peaceful swell; the ocean of Pacific is peaceful. The tradition of wisdom taught from the Far East has much to do with discernment. While Western traditions often examine one's place in the world by looking outside first, the Eastern traditions teach the opposite: look first inside, then prepare for whatever adventures the outside may offer. Dr. Dhamwichukorn hints at this complementary view of the two traditions, along with the places where they peacefully interact. A native of Thailand, she grew up in a land of contrasts: sprawling, urban Bangkok has its islands of peace, the havens of shelter from worry that have traditionally housed the most clear-eyed of monks and buddhas. So how do these teachings find wisdom without worry? A fundamental tenet that often raises questions is the realization that life is suffering. If the future is a path away from worry and towards peace, then many teachers have taught what amounts to a startling starting point. As Dr. Dhamwichukorn writes in easily understandable affirmations, the first shore relieving this ocean of suffering is the knowledge that the path exists in the first place. The path, the discipline, the peaceful mind-these are the refuges of those free from worry. Therein lies the excitement of peace: freedom. Even as adventures present what may appear to be evidence of selfishness, a shortage of love and compassion, and the unforgiving failure to forget those things that don't matter, the freedom of peace persists. That is this book's discerning quality-to balance selfishness with sharing, to meet hate with love, to find peace without worry. Written in a modern, but simple style, the beautiful book Optimistic Wisdom: Living in Peace Without Worry offers rest and reflection in a troubled ocean. This is a guide filled with optimism. The author, having flown across the Pacific from Thailand to America, refreshingly describes why that ocean between East and West is named for peace itself. Reviewed by David Noever Dr. David Noever serves as the executive vice-president and chief technology officer and is responsible for overall development and implementation of the Mobular Technologies' technology. Dr. Noever received his Ph.D. from Oxford University, as a Rhodes Scholar, in theoretical physics and B.Sc. from Princeton University, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He was named 1998 Discover Magazine's "Inventor of the Year," for novel development of computational biology software and internet-search robots, culminating in co-founding the startup company cited by Nature Biotechnology[v. 15, October 1997, p. 1035] as first in its technology class. He has authored more than 80 scientific research articles and book chapters. He also received the Silver Medal of the Royal Society, London, UK and is a former Chevron Scholar, San Francisco. ___________________________________________ OTHER READER COMMENTS "I really like the good peaceful energy that the book spreads. As soon as I opened the book, I felt its peaceful energy spreading A book that spreads positive vibrations Hope it could help to develop peace in the whole world. My best regards," By Carlotta Segre, UN-Geneva "Today, when many values are relative and vague,Optimistic Wisdom gives a thoughtful, universal guide to discerning good from evil. Although I liked many things about the book, two ideas especially caught my eye. The idea in chapter 7 that respect for any life breeds respect for all life. This says it all with regard to the controversy about abortion. Also I liked, 'The more you give the more you get. The more you chase, the more you worry.' How true, how true." By Robert Wenc "I just finished the book you wrote. It is a collection of optimistic wisdoms. Everything you said is so true, yet it is difficult for a person to calm himself down to practise. However, when I read your book, I feel peace in my heart and I can have a good dream." By Stephen Song "I think it is great. I have been reading it at night to relax. The cartoons are great. The writing is clear and the message calming." By Paul Ripple "I have enjoyed it and it has helped me to re-look at all the good in life and the people around me." By Jane Johnson "Dear Dr. Hong P'Noo gave The Optimistic Wisdom to me on 08/10/03, at that time I think it has very beautiful cover. I had chance to read on Monday afternoon, you know it is unbelievable, I could not close the book until I finished it. Anyway, I would like to thanks for writing the good book like this, and I am looking forward to see your future book soon. Finally, I would like to rejoice your merit . Sincerely yours," Anongnuj Choungrangsee "Pearls of wisdom." By Mitchell Fait "A handy book of encouragement that can be practically applied to everyday life." By Michele Shaw "Inspiring little book useful in developing the inner peace necessary to become a positive force in modern society." By Ruthann Sudman "This is a book that once read will spark conversation about peace." By Michele Shaw "Words of wisdom from a generous author who sincerely wants to make the world a better place for all." By Jennifer Marie Osterhage "As a Notre Dame student who plunges headfirst into the individualistic atmosphere of one of the most competitive college campuses in the country, I am admittedly goal-oriented. I know what I want and I am not afraid to take risks to achieve it. However, when this ambitious pursuit borders onto narrow-minded selfishness, I sometimes need to be reminded to slow down and make room for peace of mind-the central message of Dr. Srisuda Dhamwichukorn's new book, Optimistic Wisdom: Living In Peace Without Worry. A native of Thailand, Dr. Dhamwichukorn introduces her collection of straightforward, encouraging affirmations with two calming statements: "The more you give, the more you get" and "The more you chase, the more you worry." As a chronic go-getter and compulsive chaser, these thoughts not only offer a respite from the stresses that come with such unending pursuit, but also provide an appealing simplicity. The optimism with which Dr. Dhamwichukorn relates her thoughts is at once soothing and welcoming. The book is inviting, inclusive; it does not condemn certain cultures or religions for being less peaceful than others. Rather, it presents a refreshingly clear picture of the goodness, purity, and responsibility that all humans possess-as well as reminders about the distractions that lure us astray from the path to peace. From avoiding pride for oneself to embracing respect for parents, spouses, teachers, and friends, Dr. Dhamwichukorn's wisdom is remarkably insightful and gently instructive. In fact, her peaceful perspective is contagious-when reading this work, worries begin to feel like a waste of time, and taking life one day at a time begins to sound pretty appealing. After a true taste of it, peace of mind becomes tempting as the false friendships, damaging drug- and alcohol-abusive activities, and artificial relationships that Dr. Dhamwichukorn cautions us against-and for a college student consumed by the chase, this dose of peace becomes twice as addictive. By Claire Stevens Heininger

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About the Author Dr. Srisuda Dhamwichukorn (Crystal Moon) is an environmental biotechnologist who has been interested in meditation since she was five years old. She has applied the benefits of meditation to her studies, career, and problems in life with kindness and optimism. Dr. Dhamwichukorn and over a million friends who have attended meditation at the Dhammakaya Foundation around the world have shown that meditation is the most beneficial, yet least expensive method, for gaining true peace and happiness in life. The world can be at peace through inner peace or meditation. In the scientific world, Dr. Dhamwichukorn has been involved in using and developing cutting edge technologies such as bioinformatics and genomics for her environmental improvement research. However, philosophical teachings from her teachers and the great benefits of meditation have inspired and given her faith that genuine world peace can become a reality with the peace of each individual stable, bright, and pure mind. She is determined to share the teachings and the optimistic wisdom with everyone because building on each other increases the peaceful strength of humanity.

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Sample Excerpts

Introduction (Wisdom from Death)

A year ago, I was asked by Prabhavanaviriyakhun, the Vice President of the Dhammakaya Foundation, to write a book about his teachings on how to create a peaceful world. I was glad to be asked to write this book. However, I was not fully aware of its importance or how my hidden talent for writing (which he believes I have) might be useful to others. Consequently, I worked toward its completion slowly. That was until the day I heard from my family in Thailand that my mother was in the hospital because of a cerebral hemorrhage. Her doctor at the hospital told us that since the hemorrhage was in the middle of her brain, they could not perform surgery. We could only prepare ourselves for her passing. I was, at least, pleased to hear that she was happy, reminiscing about doing good deeds with her good friends (at the Dhammakaya foundation at the Ratchaburi-province branch), just before she fainted. Her good friends took her to the hospital. She was in no pain. She smiled with the happiness of thinking about doing good deeds, even while she was unconscious.

At first, I was very sad. It was too sudden for me to accept, and I could not eat or leave my house. Then the words of Khun Yay Maha Rattana Upasika Chandra Khon-nok-yung (founder of Wat Pra Dhammakaya) came to me. I heard, at her cremation ceremony on February 3, 2002, that she taught, "When you have problems, you are sad, or you cannot think of any good things, you need to practice meditation. That will help you to think correctly." I began to practice meditation to avoid being devastated by the bad news, and the wisdom came to me. Then I realized more about death. When we die, we cannot take any money, fame, or property with us - only goodness or evil. I had heard those words over and over from my teachers, Khun Yay Chandra and both Luang Pors (Phrarajabhavanavisudhi, the president and Phrabhavanaviriyakhun, the vice president of the Dhammakaya Foundation). My mother had contributed many good things to many communities in the Ratchaburi province of Thailand where she lived. Her friends and acquaintances from the Dhammakaya Foundation in Ratchaburi prayed for her. I believe that she has gone to heaven, a better place than our polluted and struggling world.

I was still sad. I feel that being sad is normal for human beings when loved ones around us pass away. I had to tell myself that I must continue to live and do good things, so that even though she is no longer here on earth, she can always be proud of me. Writing a good or an inspirational book is one of the good deeds that I should be able to do. I have decided to spend more time writing about Prabhavanaviriyakhun's helpful inspirational teachings. These teachings helped me in bringing closure to my grief as well. As a scientist, I am concerned with concrete terms. I hoped writing about philosophical teaching or stories (which are abstract) would not be more difficult than writing scientific matters.

After reading many of Luang Por Datta's (Prabhavanaviriyakhun) books, I realized that making people aware of the benefits of doing good deeds and behaving well in our society is also a part of how to create a peaceful world. World peace must not stop with each individual mind. If you wish for a world without strife, you must first start with yourself. Then consider your family and friends and finally all others that might have a chance to read this book. I gained the knowledge of how to create a peaceful world from Luang Por Datta's teachings as expressed in his Thai books Manual for Our Country's Crisis Recovery and Economy in Buddhism's Style. This knowledge includes information gained from his advice and that of the other great teachers at the Dhammakaya Foundation.

I hope the Dhamma, or teaching words, in this book will inspire others to do more good deeds and help us all to create our own peaceful minds and world.

Finally, I would like to dedicate the goodness that may happen from this book to my mother, my father, my aunt, my sisters, and all my great teachers and friends.

Crystal Moon

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION (WISDOM FROM DEATH)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PREFACE
1. THE PEACEFUL MIND--BEGINNING OF THE PEACEFUL WORLD
2. THE PEACEFUL MIND BEGINS FROM BEING GOOD
3. BEING GOOD AND BEING RESPONSIBLE
4. QUALIFICATIONS OF GOOD PERSONS
5. RESPONSIBILITY? WHY DO I HAVE TO HAVE IT?
6. TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR OURSELVES
7. KILLING, IS IT NECESSARY?
8. STEALING, IS IT NECESSARY?
9. COMMITTING ADULTERY, DO WE NEED TO DO IT?
10. LYING, DO WE NEED TO DO IT?
11. BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR OTHERS IN SOCIETY
12. PARTIALITY BECAUSE OF LOVE
13. PREFERENCE BECAUSE OF HATE
14. PREJUDICE BECAUSE OF IGNORANCE
15. PREFERENCE BECAUSE OF FEAR
16. BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ETHICAL ECONOMY
17. DRINKING ALCOHOL, DO WE NEED IT?
18. ROAMING THE STREETS AT NIGHT, DO WE NEED IT?
19. SEEING BAD TELEVISION SHOWS AND MOVIES, DO WE NEED THEM?
20. GAMBLING, DO WE NEED IT?
21. ASSOCIATING WITH BAD FRIENDS
22. RELUCTANCE TO WORK FOR A LIVING
23. BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
24. LOOKING FOR A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD
25. EATING WELL
26. LOOKING FOR GOOD NEIGHBORS
27. LOOKING FOR GOOD TEACHINGS
28. TRAINING OURSELVES TO DO MORE AND MORE ACTS OF GOODNESS
29. DISTRIBUTING KNOWLEDGE TO OTHERS
30. MAKING CHOICES TO COOPERATE, EMPLOY, OR COORDINATE WITH OTHERS FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, MANAGEMENT, ETC.
31. THE EASIEST CAUSE OF RUIN IS FOLLOWING FALSE FRIENDS
32. FALSE FRIENDSHIP 1: A SELFISH PERSON
33. FALSE FRIENDSHIP 2: THE MAN OF EMPTY PROMISES
34. FALSE FRIENDSHIP 3: THE FLATTERER
35. FALSE FRIENDSHIP 4: THE ONE WHO LEADS YOU DOWN THE ROAD TO RUIN
36. THE BEST CATALYST OF CREATION IS GOOD FRIENDS
37. LOOKING FOR A HELPFUL FRIEND
38. LOOKING FOR A CONSTANT FRIEND
39. LOOKING FOR A FRIEND OF WISE COUNSEL
40. LOOKING FOR A SYMPATHETIC FRIEND
41. OUR RELATIONSHIPS: SIX DIRECTIONS
42. A CHILD SHOULD MINISTER TO HIS PARENTS
43. PARENTS SHOULD CHERISH CHILDREN
44. A STUDENT SHOULD MINISTER TO HIS TEACHERS
45. TEACHERS SHOULD MAKE SURE...
46. A HUSBAND SHOULD CHERISH HIS WIFE
47. A WIFE SHOULD CHERISH HER HUSBAND
48. A PERSON SHOULD CHERISH HIS FRIENDS
49. GOOD FRIENDS SHOULD...
50. AN EMPLOYER SHOULD CHERISH HIS OR HER EMPLOYEES
51. EMPLOYEES AND SERVANTS SHOULD SERVE THEIR EMPLOYERS
52. A PERSON SHOULD SERVE HIS OR HER SPIRITUAL MENTORS
53. SPIRITUAL MENTORS SHOULD...
54. MAKING THINGS PRACTICAL
55. HOW DO WE PRACTICE RESPONSIBILITY?
56. HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL PERMANENTLY
57. GOAL IN THIS LIFE
58. HAVE GOOD JOBS AND KEEP DOING GOOD WORK
59. KNOW HOW TO SAVE TO SAVE YOUR LIFE
60. HAVING A GOOD NETWORK
61. KNOWING HOW TO SPEND MONEY IN YOUR POCKET
62. GOAL IN THE NEXT LIFE
63. WE NEED GOOD FAITH
64. CONTROLLING YOURSELF FROM DOING BAD 65. BEING HAPPY TO GIVE AND FORGIVE
66. STOP LEARNING, START DYING, INCREASING YOUR WISDOM
67. CONCLUSION OF LIVING IN PEACE WITHOUT WORRY
SUMMARY AND INTEGRATION OF ALL LEVELS OF THE TEACHINGS FROM LUANG POR DATTA TO GAIN AN OVERALL CONCEPT OF UNDERSTANDING OF LIVING IN PEACE WITHOUT WORRY
PEOPLE WHO SPECIAL SUPPORT AND REJOICE IN THE MERIT OF THIS BOOK PRODUCTION FUTURE BOOKS BASED ON THE TEACHING FROM LUANG POR DATTA TO GAIN FURTHER INSIGHT, WISDOM, AND THOUGHT

12. Partiality Because of Love

When we love or feel satisfied by someone, we usually do or give something to that person that they may not deserve. We may not give things to some people that we do not love or unfairly love less. The unloved ones may deserve better. If we love our daughter more than our son, then our daughter may receive mostly compliments and our son receives mostly blames. Sometimes we take sides with our children even when they do something wrong. The long-term effect of that is bad because the children will become spoiled.

When we work in the same places as our relatives, close friends, and significant others, we may give them things that they do not deserve. This is a form of corruption beginning from our mind. If most people in society behaved with partiality, it would cause corruption in that society. If we thought of everyone in our organization or society as our relatives, we would then treat each of them equally like family. The partiality due to love would be reduced. When we do not have biases our minds and moods are more focused and stable.

I do believe that everybody has one(s) that he or she can love, fall in love, and truly love. Do you believe that love makes people blind? I think falling in love probably is the strongest cause of complete blindness.

Have you ever felt that when you (fall in) love with someone, anything or everything that she or he does tends to be right or all right?

Once my mother told me that when a man falls in love with a woman, if the woman passes gases, he still can say that those are good smells. You may feel funny and may think that my motherÕs analogy is outrageous. But I think you will agree with her.

Therefore, I agree that love makes people blind. However, the ability to truly love others makes us try to understand the ways those people truly are. And pure love makes us unconditionally and unexpectedly give our love, understanding, and everything that we can give to others solely for the sake of goodness.

47. A Wife Should Cherish Her Husband

Meanwhile, the wife should:

1. Keep the family in order;
2. Be hospitable and helpful to her husband's friends and relatives;
3. Be faithful to him;
4. Take good care of his possessions;
5. Be conscientious (never lazy) in all her duties;

A wife should keep in mind that a husband wants support. Similar to her own needs for support, a wife needs to do these things because of the same reasons in the previous chapter. These also are parts of love that they should give and share without conditions. Spouses need to encourage and nurture each otherâs lives to make their lives thrive. Both the husband and wife should be submissive to each other. Any arguments or disagreements may cause damage or violence in the family.

Perhaps, we can choose the right person for us by thinking carefully and thoroughly before we will make a decision to marry him or her. So we will not have to be sorry that our singlelives contain much more freedom, peace, and joy. Khun Yai Chandra said "Being single is like a free bird. There is no cage to limit life's freedom. A free bird can fly wherever and whenever it wants without worry. A free bird is not necessarily lonely and does not have to be alone. It also does not mean that a free bird will not have other birds to take care of or taking care of it. It also does not mean that the birds which have baby bird(s) will be taken care by their baby birds when they grow up. (If the parent birds are not lucky and have not been good examples or good role models for them to look up to.)"

There was a friend who told me a story about a girl who walked into a flower garden. The girl tried to choose a perfect flower for her. During the walk, she thought, "This flower is beautiful, but it is smelly. That flower is beautiful, but its petals are hard. Those ones look pretty, but they wilt quickly. These flowers are so pretty, have a nice smell, and last long, but there is too much pollen that spills everywhere." She walked until the end of the garden and could not find the flower that was both good and right (basically perfect) for her. Moreover, the people who walked after her to the garden picked all the good flowers. And there was no good flower left that the girl could go back to pick. The friend said, "The girl is like a woman who always thinks carefully and thoroughly in order to choose the right guy." "There will be no good guy left," she said.

However, I told her that I would rather have none of the flowers than picking a flower without extreme and thorough contemplation. This is because I do not want to take the wrong flower that will upset my allergies. And the flower that makes you become allergic later is more tormenting than the one that you are allergic to at first exposure, because your immunity may be diminished or dismissed over the long period of time that you are exposed. Then you may not be well prepared, as you did not know that you would become allergic to it.

Anyway, for the people who have chosen marriage, and you are allergic or become allergic later, I think you still have to make the best out of it. It is not nice to just pick the flower and then throw it away when you are sick of it. However, if your life is endangered because of it, I suggest that you run away from it or throw it away with kindness. (Sometimes, you have to run for your life.) If you choose to throw it away, you do not have to step on it or jump on it with your madness. Be kind and be forgiving to anyone with whom you connect and even with the ones with whom you have been hurtfully or wrongly connected. Kindness and forgiveness never make anyone hurtful or permanently painful, especially for the one who knows how to contain them or know how to give and forgive.

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Catalogue Information

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