Diary 5: What Are You Doing Beside Your Work?

This question was posed to me by a female colleague this afternoon (12 January 2010).

Well, I am spending much of my free time in helping others to reclaim their health naturally. This is my life-long committed project.

For this reason, I write health books, deliver free health talks and extend free consultation to people who wish to live a happy life the natural way.

On 9 January 2010 (Saturday), on invitation by a colleague, I drove about 2 hours 45 minutes from Selayang to Alokarama Asahan in Johor to join two activities at the meditation/retreat centre. The centre has been in operation since 2004 and yet this is the first time I had a chance to visit the place. The impression gathered on the place was, this is a heaven on earth.

There was a small group of 8 persons at the centre on that day. After doing some work at the Herbs Garden, we performed the dana to the motivated and committed Sister Sumangala.

My main purpose at the centre was to deliver a talk entitled “Your food, your health and global warming”. It is my hope that Alokarama will pick up some points and start practising them. What else can the centre do? My colleague asked me to provide some feedbacks. Here they are.

Firstly, Alokarama may wish to initiate a small project on organic vegetable farming. This could be the source of vegetable for visitors coming to the centre in the future.

Secondly, the volunteers preparing food at the centre need to know more about food and its impacts on the health of people staying there. If they serve health food, it would certainly be a meritorious act. For example, I sincerely hope that no more artificial salt and white sugar is used for preparing food and drink.

Thirdly, they should be enough fruit sources at the centre. Papayas ripened on trees and matured coconuts are excellent fruit sources for the visitors. Not to forget the herbs from the Herbs Garden. Use them. They need not buy fruits such as water melons.

Fourthly, I like to suggest the devotees to serve health food to the sangha community. We should take care of our health and the health of others doing excellent work in society.

Fifthly, the centre may wish to have more consultation with the local Malay and Chinese communities. Religious practices are sometimes sensitive in Malaysia. If the local Malay community has better understanding on the role of the centre, it helps to promote goodwill. Besides, the centre needs to garner more support from the nearby local Chinese so that facilities at the centre can be better utilised. By engaging the local communities, the Herbs Garden for example will be better managed and utilized. They may even start cultivating organic vegetables there.

These are some food for thought. I hope those with open mind can rethink how the centre is managed for the benefit of all beings.