A Fraction of My Buddhist Journey

My extended family was primordially Taoist and we weren't Buddhists to begin with. In the year 1994 when I was 13 years old, my eldest aunt died of liver cancer and there was a sudden change of beliefs from Taoism to Buddhism. That was when I started learning more about Buddhism through watching Buddhist cartoons and comics. My relatives brought me to attend Buddhist talks and workshops of all denominations: Vajrayana, Mahayana, Theravada, you name it I've attended it.

When I was 18 years old, I became a serious science student and I wanted to know how Buddhism related to modern science. I found books which taught me about the sciences that revolved around Buddhism, and that was when I was heartened enough to label myself a Buddhist. However, in the year 2003 I found myself sandwiched between Buddhism and a Christian girlfriend at university. I asked myself what I wanted in life, and I told myself that I'd be happy as long as we were able to graduate and I wanted to seek triple gem refuge and the training precepts. True enough, I was dumped by my girlfriend who chose a Christian boyfriend instead of me, and I was heartbroken. Buddhism supported me through the troughs of life, giving me hope and something higher to live for.

As I started working life in the year 2006, I was inspired by Ajahn Brahmavamso and Ajahn Chah as their teachings invited me to seek inner happiness and higher blisses in life. I was impressed by the Theravada Buddhist teachings and I truly believed that I could find joy in the here and now as long as I practised the Noble Eightfold Path. In the year 2007, I attended my first Basic Buddhism Course as taught by a Brother Vajiro Richard Chia in Singapore, and that was when I built my fundamentals of Buddhist learning. Around the same time, I took time off from work to stay in the Thai forest monasteries, living simply and going on almsrounds with the Theravada monks. It was a beautiful experience. Even though I decided against renounciation, I was delighted enough to decide that I would die as a Buddhist this life.

I came home to Singapore, and all these years I have remained a Buddhist. I gained nothing in life, but I did find a sublime sense of appreciation, gratitude and thankfulness in my practice. I count my blessings that I have a good standard of living here in Singapore, and I continue my Buddhist journey of self-awareness and self discovery. It's been a magical journey.