Dear Class
Flowing along with the ripples of 2006, 2007 has been an important year of transformation during which my life has gone through a few months of chaos that led to a period of spiritual and emotional cocooning and finally opened a new chapter in life.
In January, I spent ten unforgettable days in Malaysia on a Dhamma Tour with my Zen Master - Venerable Sampanno - who is a Malaysian Chinese from Ipoh, Perak. Ven Sampanno spent one and a half day showing me around the lovely Ipoh before we took off for 7 towns in the Pahang province where he was to give Dhamma talks at 7 buddhist centres organized by the respective local Chinese communities. There were five of us on the tour, Geok Ann was our driver from Cameron Highland, Tracy Leung - a nurse from HK, Chin-Ying - a high school graduate from Kuala Lumpur, the Zen Master and myself.
We were able to do sight seeing and to do whatever we wanted in the morning and early afternoon. We would arrive at a new town every day in late afternoon, the local buddhist community would usually take us out to the "Kopi Tiam" for coffee and snacks. Dhamma talk would start at around 7:00 pm. After the talk, desserts and snacks would be served at the buddhist centre of which were heartfully prepared and brought in by the local aunties and moms. The buddhist communites were all very warm, solid and friendly in a nice old fashion way. .
I served as a photogrpaher during the tour and taped all the talks and took several hundred pictures. Malaysia is a gorgeous country, and where we went, there was zero pollution. I am very much looking forward to retiring in Malaysia. They have excellent produce, beautiful nature, simple friendly people and a genuinely laid back attitude towards life. That's why Malaysia is among the top 20 happiest countries in the world.
I closed down the JUNI B2C website on 30 April. I had decided that I should sell the company and get a job. Since end of August, I have been working as Personal Assistant to the General Manager of DEHRES Limited, a diamond wholesaler and luxury jewellery manufacturer, a family business owned by an Israeli family. It's managed by the father (MD) and eldest son (GM).
They are very intelligent, professional, decent and honest businessmen. I have a lot of respect for both of them and for the company. The diamond business is much more complex than I had imagined. There is a lot to keep my curiosity going in the next few years. My current role is serving as an editor for their company and departmental handbooks and am also working on a new company catalogue. Thankfully, I am enjoying my professional life without being the BOSS.
My solo life has been very dramatic but calm this year. Buddhist philosophy and practice have really changed the way I see and experience life or should I say changed the way how I should not see and experience life would be more appropriate. Dispellilng preconceptions has been a real challenge.
For at least six months, I was totally submerged into the books and Zen teachings by Ajahn Chah, one of the greatest Thai Zen Masters. I was also inspired by Ajahn Brahmavamso (British monk who studied Theoretical Physics at Cambridge University) at a one-day retreat during which he made us laugh with joy all day long while we were learning Vipassana meditation from him. Ajahn Brahm has to be one of the happiest monks alive. Well cultivated monks can be some of the most fascinating people on earth when they don't smell. (Lama monks sometimes smell.) They have an aura that radiates because they are so at ease with the universe and their minds are so liberated that the energy is contagious and all embracing without words... They just ARE, and they just have to BE... It's amazing.
Nowadays, I take pleasure in attending buddhist retreat and meditation workshop whenever I could with visiting Zen Masters from all over the world. Apart from work, I enjoy being alone most of the time. I like reading, doing nothing at the Kowloon Park, talking with my Zen Master, seeing my very few girlfriends and old buddies, taking long baths, going to movies and bumming around the city by myself.
Most of all, I enjoy meditation, Chinese Kung Fu tea and seeing the moon twice a month on the 15th & 16th of the lunar calendar. The only thing that's missing is having a few buddies to drink Chinese Kung Fu tea with. For that matter, I really miss my friends in Hualien and Ven Sampanno.
In the past year, life has really simplified itself, and at this rate, it will probably only grow simpler and simpler. Fairly soon, I won't have anything new to report to you all. In that case, no news will be good news! ...Till next year...
Wishing you all a New Year of enriching moments!
Warmest Regards
Sherry
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