I began my Buddhist journey more than 20 years ago, as a university student at Nanyang Technological University. I joined the campus Buddhist Society and volunteered in the logistics team — nothing fancy, just showing up, helping with retreats and events, moving chairs, and arranging cushions.
I didn’t realise it then, but this simple service was the start of something much deeper. Over the years, I’ve moved between temples, teachers, and traditions — sometimes by choice, often because impermanence chose for me. Teachers passed on. Organisations changed. Communities evolved. At times, I was left wandering — not because I lacked faith, but because I lacked a fixed home.
I’ve come to accept this nomadic path as part of the Dharma. The Buddha himself moved from place to place, meeting people where they were. What matters is not the label of your temple, but the sincerity of your training.
I now consider Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery my spiritual anchor. I’ve taken refuge in the Triple Gem and committed to the Five Precepts. I don’t claim to be advanced in practice — I’m just an ordinary layperson trying to live with a little less greed, anger, and confusion.
My path has never been straight, but it keeps me grounded. It teaches me to:
- Respect the silence behind words
- Accept death and impermanence as teachers
- Let go of clinging to community, titles, or outcomes
- Take moral responsibility even when no one is watching
Buddhism, for me, isn’t about projecting purity or gaining status. It’s about quietly showing up — for my life, for others, and for the present moment.
To those who’ve walked winding roads, spiritual or otherwise: may you be free from regret. May you honour your journey, even if it doesn’t fit a brochure.