How’s it going everyone? I hope you’re all well 
I have a few reflections on this New moon in April of 2026.
The Dhamma (the practice) as a protector
I was remembering how last year (2025) was a challenging one for me.
I applied for 3 jobs in the organization I work for and have nothing to show for it. 
Needless to say, it was disheartening, my confidence was at an all time low.
However, I was looking at all the comings and goings, in terms of people joining the organization, people leaving, filling in vacant positions and vacating positions (It all seems a bit like a merry-go-around sometimes 
).
And I asked myself what is it that these people (who get hired) have that I don’t, and so I thought about all the things that I could work on, improve etc.
But then I asked, “Is there anything I have that they don’t?” At first it was framed in a sort of, ‘what are my skills, what am I good at?’ etc. (in a ‘worldly’ kind of way)
Then a really cool thought came up in a mind………. ‘I have the Dhamma to protect me’. I felt a whole lot better after that 
I recalled this verse from my (Amaravati) chanting book at home, some of which seems to be taken from Thag4.10
The Dhamma as uncorruptible
I also recall how, high standards are set in the world, whether in a job description or some sort of ‘ideal’ like a motto or mission statement within an organization, and all too often, you look at the people in charge, in leadership roles and you think, “There’s no way these people are living up to these standards”. And too often, things get changed and standards fall by the way side, and ultimately gets spoilt or corrupted. I recall this stock phrase from the suttas which describes different aspects of the Dhamma, as in AN8.39, referring to the five precepts as uncorruptible.
Finally, the Dhamma is superb (Varo).
Not sure how many laypeople here have chanting as part of their practice, I chant the Ratana sutta (in pali) once a week, usually on a Sunday morning. My trusty Amaravati chanting book has (like most chanting books I imagine?) the shorter, condensed version of the Ratana sutta. A few years ago, I read the whole of the (full version) Ratana sutta from Sutta Central, and I was struck by how many beautiful verses are omitted in the shorter one.
One particular verse I’m fond of is this one.
We are very fortunate indeed to have come across the Dhamma, it gives us a lens in which to view the world in a radically different way to what we were taught growing up, and by doing so, we don’t have to suffer as much as most do, who don’t have the good fortune of this most precious jewel.