What does it mean to cultivate dhamma?

The aim is simple, the task is clear. Cultivate those qualities that end and eradicate suffering and stress. Plant sweet seeds and sweetness grows. Plant bitter seeds and bitterness grows. We all have this ability, because we all may choose. Just as we have the ability to worry and fear, we also have the ability to release ourselves from pain. This is not available through mere abstraction of thought, or through philosophy, argument or conjecture, or through technical or material accomplishment. If this were so, the members of Mensa would be gods, or astronomers able to look back to the beginnings of the universe, would all be enlightened beings, or the top 200 on the rich list would be free from worry about their wealth. What is required is specialisation in the one subject all beings agree on, namely how to meet stress and suffering and the pain and distress of existence. The dhamma is the highest degree course available. Entry to this unit of study requires no test scores, no IQ test, no particular qualification except the willingness to look at reality as it is, not as it is dreamt or imagined, or hoped for. The point of this study is not merely to look, to speculate, to take up a conflicting position, but to analyse fully, and having grasped the arising of phenomena and the passing away of phenomena, to finally discern for oneself: "This stress is not me, this stress is not mine, this stress is not what I am." Having reached this point one can then decide, free from stress:"Now I plant sweet seeds, not bitter ones." This is cultivation of dhamma. To help understand how dhamma works to relieve stressful situations,click on the video series below.(The rest of the series is on YouTube.) Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda is an excellent speaker. His discourse is like a tonic for the heart. Of course, one can say: Why not? The subject is so clear. Saddhu, saddhu, saddhu!