Journal of the World of Happiness

A Book Review of The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life

2025-12-25T09:53:10+00:00

This article aims to provide an academic analysis and critical review of The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher?s Life by Parker J. Palmer. The book argues that effective teaching is not primarily derived from pedagogical techniques or instructional strategies, but rather from the teacher?s inner identity, integrity, and lived experience. This article employs content analysis to examine key themes presented in the text, including teacher identity, professional vulnerability, the culture of fear in educational institutions, and the significance of learning communities.

The findings indicate that Palmer conceptualizes teaching as a vocation that integrates professional practice with the spiritual and moral dimensions of the teacher?s inner life. This perspective offers an alternative framework for understanding teacher development, emphasizing holistic growth over technical competence alone. The book contributes significantly to educational discourse by encouraging reflective practice and reaffirming the humanistic foundation of teaching, making it highly relevant for educators and scholars concerned with teacher education and professional sustainability in contemporary contexts.

Book Review of History of the Lao People, Volume 2

2025-12-25T09:55:03+00:00

This article aims to critically examine the content, structure, and academic value of a historical work on the development of the Lao people (Volume II), which continues the discussion of Lao origins and early formation. The book explores the rise and prosperity of the Lan Xang Kingdom, the formation of religious and cultural identity, the decline and fragmentation of the kingdom, and the transformation of Lao society under French colonial rule, culminating in the establishment of the modern socialist state.

The findings indicate that the book presents a comprehensive narrative of Lao history from legendary origins to the modern era by integrating myths, chronicles, and archaeological evidence. It emphasizes the formation of national consciousness and cultural identity from an internal Lao perspective. Although certain sections rely more heavily on traditional narratives than on critical historical analysis, the book remains academically valuable as a resource on Lao history and culture and provides a useful framework for comparative studies in the Mekong subregion and the ASEAN context.

Book Review of Karma's Decree: A Mindfulness Guide

2025-12-22T04:55:57+00:00

This article aims to analyze the essence, key concepts, and academic value of the Buddhist text Kammalikhit: A Mindfulness Guide by Silapalo. The book presents the law of karma based on Buddhist teachings, emphasizing intention as the primary determinant of the moral quality of actions and their consequences. It highlights the significance of present actions in shaping one?s life path, while acknowledging the influence of past karma, and explains the causal relationship between actions and their outcomes in a systematic manner.

The analysis indicates that the book is distinguished by its concise, structured, and accessible presentation, making it suitable for general readers and beginners in Buddhist studies. Although it does not provide an in-depth philosophical discussion of advanced doctrines, it effectively functions as a moral and ethical educational resource and a practical mindfulness guide. The book contributes to promoting conscious living, non-negligence, and personal responsibility in accordance with core Buddhist principles, and thus holds academic value in terms of ethical application and spiritual development.

The Buddhist Councils of the Dhamma and Vinaya: Evolution and Authority in Interpretation

2025-12-21T07:57:04+00:00

This article examines the Buddhist Councils of the Dhamma and Vinaya as a crucial process for preserving, transmitting, and managing Buddhist knowledge over more than 2,500 years. The study focuses on the historical evolution of the councils from their inception following the Buddha?s parinirvana to their development within later and contemporary contexts. Employing historical and analytical perspectives, the article highlights the councils as institutional mechanisms that contributed to maintaining doctrinal continuity and coherence within Buddhism.

Furthermore, the article analyzes the role of authority in shaping the interpretation of the Dhamma and Vinaya, particularly through the influence of ecclesiastical institutions, political power, and socio-cultural contexts. The findings reveal that the Buddhist councils were not merely acts of textual compilation or purification, but dynamic and context-dependent processes shaped by power relations and historical circumstances. These processes played a significant role in guiding both the transformation and the continuity of Buddhism across different historical periods.

Lessons from Buddhist History : Buddhist Principles in the Modern World

2025-12-12T09:50:25+00:00

This article aims to examine lessons from Buddhist history and analyze the role of Buddhist principles in the context of the modern world, with particular emphasis on the adaptation of Buddhism to contemporary social, cultural, and spiritual changes. Using documentary analysis, the study explores the global dissemination of Buddhism, especially in Western societies, the transformation of monastic institutions in response to modern conditions, and the application of Buddhist principles to contemporary social issues such as human rights, environmental concerns, and mental health.

The findings indicate that Buddhism represents a flexible and universal system of thought that can be effectively applied to diverse social and cultural contexts without compromising its core teachings. Buddhist principles continue to serve as a significant moral and spiritual framework that enhances human well-being in the modern world and demonstrates Buddhism's enduring relevance as both an academic and practical paradigm.