As the king of the Dhamma, the Buddha takes up the task of promoting the true good, welfare, and happiness of the world. He does so by teaching the people of the world how to live in accordance with the Dhamma and behave in such a way that they can attain realization of the same liberating, Dhamma that he realized through his enlightenment. The Pāli commentaries demonstrate the broad scope of the Dhamma by distinguishing three types of benefit that the Buddha’s teaching is intended to promote, graded hierarchically according to their relative merit: Welfare and happiness directly visible in this present life (diṭṭha-dhamma-hitasukha), attained by fulfilling one’s moral commitments and social responsibilities; Welfare and happiness pertaining to the next life (samparāyika-hitasukha), attained by engaging in meritorious deeds; .  The ultimate good or supreme goal (paramattha), Nibbāna, final release from the cycle of rebirths, attained by developing the Noble Eightfold Path.

Agitation and turmoil afflict human life not only at the personal and private level, but also in our social interactions. From the most ancient times, our world has always been one of violent confrontations and conflict. The names, places, and instruments of destruction may change, but the forces behind them, the motivations, the expressions of greed and hate, remain fairly constant. The Nikāyas testify that the Buddha was intensely aware of this dimension of the human condition. Although his teaching, with its stress on ethical self-discipline and mental self-cultivation, aims primarily at personal enlightenment and liberation, the Buddha also sought to offer people a refuge from the violence and injustice that rack human lives in such cruel ways. This is apparent in his emphasis on loving-kindness and compassion; on harmlessness in action and gentleness in speech; and on the peaceful resolution of disputes.

"Inconceivable is the beginning,  disciples, of this faring on. The earliest point is not revealed of the running on, the faring on, of beings, cloaked in ignorance, tied by cravingSAṀYUTTA NIKĀYA

The open fields of Thuy Bang village offer a refreshing change from the busy traffic and the crowds of tourists one can find just 7 kilometres north of the village in the city of Hue in Central Vietnam. Up a little side road lined with huge shady trees you can find the Duc Son Pagoda. Inside the compound stands a sprawling Bodhi tree, which provides shade and a cool place for a break in the summer heat. It was at the foot of this tree that head nun Thich Nu Minh Tu found baby Tranh, wrapped in a blanket, cold and hungry. Barely two weeks old, the chances of baby Tranh surviving were low. But Thich Nu Minh Tu did not give up. Today, the sight of Thanh sleeping soundly in her crib warms the heart. Nursed by the nuns’ tender care and love, Thanh is now a healthy 3 month old baby.

Feb 08 -- THUA THIEN - HUE (VNS)  — Thousands of people gathered yesterday at Huong Van Zen Monastery in central Thua Thien - Hue Province to pray to King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308) for peace and prosperity.

December 04-- Measures to turn the sacred Buddhist historical site of Yen Tu in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh into a centre of Buddhism – Truc Lam sect were proposed at a seminar on December 2.

November 25-- HA NOI (VNS) — Viet Nam will host the 2014 United Nations Day of Vesak (Buddha's Birthday, Enlightenment and Passing Away) and an international Buddhism conference at Bai Dinh Temple in the northern province of Ninh Binh from 7-11 May 2014.

Today, my talk is especially addressed to the sick and old persons. The reason for this talk is that there was a Buddhist layperson who came and asked if I could give a small Dharma talk to his parents who were old and dying – and because he wanted his parents to be alert, clear-minded when the time came. I sympathized with him and also in order to help the sick, old persons during this critical time, we are giving you today’s talk.

VIETNAM - Yen Tu Mountain’s beauty is in the harmony between imposing mounts and ancient pagodas and temples lurking under pine forests and bamboo clusters, making tourists relax after trekking sloping roads.