Karma?

This was the clearest explanation of Karma I had read, It is from the first Buddhist publication I had purchased, the book is The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying This book changed my thinking forever.

What Does Karma Mean?
In simple terms, what does karma mean? It means that whatever we do, with our body, speech, or mind, will have a corresponding result. Each action, even the smallest, is pregnant with its consequences. It is said by the masters that even a little poison can cause death, and even a little seed can become a huge tree. And as Buddha said: "Do not overlook negative actions merely because they are small; however small a spark may be, it can burn down a haystack as big as a mountain." Similarly he said: "Do not overlook tiny good actions, thinking they are of no benefit; even tiny drops of water in the end will fill a huge vessel." Karma does not decay like external things, or ever become inoperative. It cannot be destroyed "by time, fire, or water." Its power will never disappear, until it is ripened. - Sogyal Rinpoche,
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying and included in Everyday Mind, a Tricycle book edited by Jean Smith

The Dow Jones Dharma Index

Socially responsible investing. Dow Jones has linked up with Dharma India Index,featuring stocks compliant with the code of moral conduct according to Hinduism, teachings of the Buddha and which also incorporate principles of the Sikh and Jain religious tenets - together, ways of life with billions of followers in Asia and forming nearly 20% of the human race.
The DJ Dharma Index aims to meet the needs of socially aware investors seeking to avoid companies with harmful practices, services or products. Environmental screening in the DJ Dharma Index will consider corporate performance on emissions, climate change and carbon footprint analysis, oil and chemical spills, waste management and recycling. Corporate governance filtering will involve labor relations and disputes and discrimination allegations, human-rights violations, working conditions and wages.

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Buddhist monks in Japan using new means to reconnect youth

The Guardian reports the some Buddhist monks are visiting bars in Japan to reach out to young people.

Being served sake by a priest is just one of the novel ways in which sceptical Japanese are being encouraged to get in touch with their spiritual roots. Baijozan Komyoji temple in Tokyo has opened an outdoor cafe in front of its main hall, and in Kyoto, Zendoji temple operates a beauty salon. At Club Chippie, a jazz lounge in Tokyo, the saxophone makes way for Sanskrit once a month as three shaven-headed monks wearing robes chant sutras and encourage bemused customers to join in.