For 2018 Dharma Drum Mountain has chosen “peace and freedom from troubles” as the theme of the year. The abbot president of DDM urges people to cultivate a harmonious heart at peace, with happiness in mind free from troubles. In hoping for a peaceful and happy new year, let us all learn to fulfill our duties and take responsibility, then all tasks, big or small, are good tasks; if we can cultivate merit and wisdom, then all practices, major or minor, are Buddhist practices; if we can take up and let go freely, then all happenings, serious or insignificant, are essentially nothing at all. We should again start from the mind to practice the Dharma, in order to gradually realize the true meaning of peace and freedom from troubles.