I seem to be having a strange problem. But really, this problem has been there all along, only aggravated by the expansion in my jobscope, which made me busier. What is this problem? Because I do Dharma work, I’m particular about not spending work hours dwelling on even the littlest of non-work matters. Since I started my vocation in 1997, I had always been a largely silent worker, making little small talk or private chats with visitors and even colleagues, because, at the back of my mind is always this thought… My work is funded by donors of the ten directions, which is why I have to do my best to share the Dharma with beings of the ten directions (on and offline), and not spend work-time doing non-Dharma stuff instead. As time goes by, colleagues increasingly leave me out of chit-chat. The impression might be that I’m an anti-social loner better left alone? But I’m really just a misunderstood workaholic. 🙁
Recently, a colleague attended a Dharma discussion I was presenting at Awareness Place. (Yes, this is part of my work.) At the end of it, she exclaimed surprise that I was ‘so passionate’ in teaching, that it contrasts a lot with my persona in our office where I do research and writing. I think this sums up the irony – Strangers whom I have never met before (at Dharma sessions) know me and my passion more than colleagues whom I meet much more often. I’m more expressively interactive with the first than the latter. Hell, I even crack jokes and guffaw away with the audience. Another Dharma friend also expressed shock at my contrasting personas, saying I usually seem mild-mannered, but become ‘dragon-like’ when sharing the Dharma. (I figure that’s a compliment?)
I used to wonder which is the real me but have since decided that neither are, because there is no one ‘me’ anyway. Still, with strangers, I’m indeed much more comfortable with ‘Dharma talk’ than small talk. But I do see this as a serious problem – because if I’m truly skilful, I should be able to use small talk in any situation to lead up with ease to ‘Dharma talk’. The problem arose from having overly segregated small talk from ‘Dharma talk’. To fare better at Bodhisattva practice, I ought to more diligently connect with others beyond Dharma discussions (on and offline). It’ll be a struggle, I know, due to habitual forces. I remember a secondary school yearbook labelling me ‘a man of few words’. Am I really one? Just look at the number of words in this blog! And wait till you see me sharing Dharma live. :-]
In fact, you are a very lucky rare few. You are a layperson yet you can immerse so much in Dharma and able to share it.
Your moonpointer, is just like TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design), they exemplifies the spirit of the conceptual age: Share, give it away, make it easy, as more people know your idea, the more powerful it becomes.
I have never attended any of your Dharma Talks. In the past, I had planned to attend your talks with my boy, so he can know a little bit more about Buddhism and learn different presentation skill. It was either topics not of our interest or can’t make it, maybe in future …
Being a ‘Trainer’ before and ‘tortured’ by students who were old enough to be my mother, they shaped me to have high expectation in talks :p I kind of agreed with Ben Zanders’ idea on presentation.
“… when you are asked to share your expertise with a group who are on the whole not specialists in your field, you have to think very hard what is important (for them) and what is not (again, for them). It is easier just to do the same presentation you always do, but it is not about impressing people with the depths of your knowledge, it’s about sharing or teaching something of lasting value.â€
Someone told me your talks are very interesting, I think I should attend at least one of them (most likely on those that held during school holidays, if any …) … 🙂
Am quite demanding about how I share the Dharma actually. I either end up thinking I did only quite okay for a Dharma discussion, or blame myself thereafter for not doing better. 8/ That’s the problem with being perfectionistic, but it does keep me on my toes, and urge me to do better.
See ya when I see ya! You can consider coming for the less interesting topics too… cos I struggle to make the Dharma interesting under all circumstances!
Already ‘met’ you and your son helping Yeow for the VSS exhibition during Vesak at kmspks! 😀 I was in charge of the Buddhist vegetarianism section. (TED is much more informative than Mptr! Though not exclusively focused on the Dharma.)
OMG! I been “spy†yet don’t know. Real blur! No wonder, on that day, I felt been “watch†or “assessâ€, my 6th sense quite strong sometimes … I don’t even know how you look like, never mind …
I strongly feel that you have the knowledge, abilities and capacities to spread Dharma far … the world need more people like you …
One day your moonpointer will be like TED. 🙂
There are many good books out there, if we read carefully, Dharma is embedded in there … a good way to reach out far … So, there are many possible ways to venture into …
No la… I didn’t spy. I just took a few glances. By the way, your boy helped me a little too with arranging chairs for the pro-vege video screening near the Buddhism section!
Thank you for your encouragement on my Dharma efforts. I would want to make mptr and TDE like TED.com and beyond too. Hmmm… would need lots of effort and help. Yes, many many ways to share the Dharma… I’m somewhat looking at the possibility of iPhone applications too.
Your vege blog is amazing too! Everyone! Take a look at http://crystalbyblog.blogspot.com ! 😀
😀
Just knew about the chair story from my boy. 😀
After volunteering, the first thing I feedback to VSS was how amazing the ‘non-living’ – your side’s video, it attached so many people and they are sitting there watching it (even if they are not, they are listening to it).
They don’t just come to sit and rest, because I noticed, when the video stop, people go off. When it re-started, people come back again. But giving the public a cosy place to rest their leg, isn’t such a bad idea, especially those senior citizens who might have weak leg.
You succeeded. You know how difficult is to get people to visit such exhibition but your side have such a big crowd there and it attached even more crowd – people like to be together.
Hope this year, more can have the chance to watch it.
Not sure whether the below is of any input to spreading of good Dharma …
Case 1
One day, a radio program by Billy Wang (a Christan) interviewed a Taiwanese Buddhist Monk (Fa Shi). It was a very short interview but it caught my attention – why is a devoted Christian interviewing a Buddhist Monk. It was rare, you see. After listening to the Monk talking on the show, I was very curious to find out about him and his teaching.
I have a habit of popping into Awareness Place if I’m nearby, so that day I was in Awareness Place and spot a Free CD and the name ring a bell – the Taiwanese Monk! And the staff at Awareness Place, told me I can take one. And then, from that CD, it leads me to listen to a few more of his free CDs
Case 2
You know Paul Muenzen (the free CD on The Important of Finding our True Nature). Paul Muenzen was featured in Mindyourbody. It caught my attention, was what on earth a Monk interview appearring in a Health Section! So I read, was impressed and it mentioned the book he wrote – From Harvard To Hwa Gye Sah Temple, that sold one million.
So, I made a trip to Awareness Place, hoping to buy this book (no such book in Eng). Sad. Then I spotted another book near “The Mirror of Zen†with very loud title – ‘Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung’. Again, it stole my attention and the layout was very pleasant to read, I bought it. Then, it leads me to want to find out more, so I took the free CD – Finding Happiness and listen and I wanted more of his talks …
I also got the free CD – The Important of Finding our True Nature.
Good reviews or interviews with good content not from mainstream, will lead to people’s curiosity, wanting to know more and wanting to find out more (maybe), and leads to more and more …
Thanks Crystal! After reading your comments, I searched for “Paul Muenzen” to know more about him and found this series of talks he gave on Diamond Sutra:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_f9864bdbM&feature=related
Very interesting explaination given by him!
Hmm, alright to reveal who is the Taiwanese monk Billy interviewed?
Thank you!!!
Thanks for sharing this link, I never know this. I watched it, very interesting, going to add to my blog’s post.
Lesson learnt, by sharing, we also gain.
The Taiwanese Monk is 海涛法师. I listened to one of his free VCD Dhamara Talk, picked one point that make sense to me and put it into action. At the end of 4 years (of doing that not easy task, which needs lots of determination and some compassion), I finally understand something very important in life which is very helpful to me.
I knew one Buddhist who would not missed any Dharma Talks, rushed from one Dharma Talks to one. At the end, got so exhausted, disappointed, frustrated and unfilled. The reason I gathered is, what was heard was never put into actions, so it is not learning at all and changing for the better.
But to put into action, one must be realistic, not all things will have immediate result. There is a need to do some reflection too.
In fact, I think whether a person is Buddhist or non-Buddhist, listening to Dharma Talks (think it as a free self improvement course) especially the Q&A section is very useful.
Why? you get to know what is really happening in this world and the solutions given by the wise on how to deal with it, you also get to widen your horizon by listening to the story that Monk talked and explained. You don’t need to fully agreed, you can reflect on it to find the answer … etc
In times of similar happenings, these solutions sleeping in the subconscious will become a “life jacketâ€, where you can grab on to help yourself or others in the dark deep ocean. Recently had a chat on this topic with another person and both of us felt the same.
Or such little inspiring stories with some modification to the setting, can be a topic for small talks etc.
So, I really hope that there would be more Dharma Talks of different nature make it known to the public (non-Buddhist)and make these talks into more free VCD or combine more talks into 1 disc, for those who can’t make it to the talks.
For those, who can listen to it again during “depressed or sad” time, so there are ways out for them and see the light.
Let us help to plant more such positive seeds in this universe, to create the new (right) conditions for Buddhism to reach far …