If the Buddha gave advice in a newspaper column today, he might sound like this book's author, a Thai business executive and syndicated columnist whose work appears in the English-language Bangkok Post
. 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. The book groups short daily reflections on dharma, or teachings, relating them to workplace situations and daily life events. Much has been written on Buddhism and meditation, but the application of Buddhism to the workplace —the idea that right speech and right action should underlie corporate governance, for example—is less familiar and a welcome extension of morality and ethics to daily life. The author's chatty, storytelling tone makes the moral of his tales go down easily, but the book's wisdom may seem obvious to some who find the little stories mere truisms. Others may appreciate the freshness of the Buddhist answers, such as using loving-kindness as an antidote to jealousy. Anyone interested in practical, everyday dharma for beginners can find a lesson in this book. (Jan. 9)
