If you think that being a Buddhist is all about passive meditation and not about taking action - please listen to Venerable Karma Lekshe Tsomo. She will not say this, but I will, she is a role model for compassionate Buddhist social action.

So when she says that the way we live sets the stage for the way we die, she is not just preaching. When we discussed how to come to terms with death, how to accept death, how to prepare for our own deaths, her message was strong, clear, and consistent:

1) We don't know when, but we do know that we will die. If you accept this your life will be more peaceful, and you can get on with finding your way to make a difference in this world.

2) Unwholesome actions set the stage for unhappiness. If you lead an ethical life, your future will shape up nicely.

3) We cannot predict our rebirth, but we can seek to live a peaceful life which helps lead to a peaceful death,

4) Your Buddhist practice, with meditation, and compassionate action, prepares you to handle difficulties and to become a resource for others.

And stay with us until the end, because during the last ten minutes of our discussion, she will give you two separate calls to action. Both of which will bring more peace to your life.