If we take care of the individuals well being in society, it directly reflects on the society's welfare. If an individual is trained to gain peace both mentally and physically, it does protect peace inwardly and outwardly. The Buddha makes out that our hope of salvation lies in the regeneration of our nature. We may all attain happiness and serenity if we build up our character and strengthen our moral fibre. We may make the circumstances of life as perfect as possible and it is our duty to do so; yet mans worst enemy is himself. He is the best friend to himself. He cannot be happy if his mind and heart are not right. The momentous words of the Buddha is the quiet and uncontending, but unshakable doctrine, in order to avert illness or danger, to ward off the influence of malignant beings, to obtain protection and deliverance from evil and to promote health, prosperity, welfare and well being. The selected discourses for recital are known as paritta suttas, discourses for protection. But they are not raksana mantras or protective incantations/spells as in Vedic religions, nor are they magical rites. Besides there is no superpower as God Almighty unseen is to be invoked except ones own introspection and mental strength or power that helps to restore harmony and peace in and around. This path leads one straight home, into mans very heart by ones own sacca kirya.

Pratityasamutpada: Dependent Origination, Kalpakam Sankarnarayan, Parineeta Deshpande (Editors), Hardcover, 179 pages, $30.00

Dr. (Mrs.) Kalpakam Sankarnarayan is the Director, K.J. Somaiya Centre of Buddhist Studies, Mumbai, India. Recepient of Japan Foundation Fellowship for Researchers and Scholars, and later Visiting Professor at the International Research Centre for Japanese Studies, Kyoto, Japan, her research papers have been published in journals in India and abroad.