Hi Zefan, I've appreciated being able to follow you on your journey since reading about your experience on the Camino, with my personal experience of having taken intentional time away from my corporate career too. Thank you for the thoughtful reflections and perspectives you've shared in this essay, and your invitation to us to do the same.
While studying yoga philosophy during my time out from work in 2022, I spent more time than I had until that point contemplating the significance of impermanence and attachment. One of the most significant attachments I've practised releasing so far is the attachment I had to my former professional identity as a signifier of my personal worth and value.
Similarly to you, I've also grown to question societal structures and institutions that inadvertently develop to take on a logic of their own, which more often than not are enforced at the expense of recognizing individual autonomy and inherent value without discrimination. I've found it most helpful for me to think about Buddhism as a personal philosophy and life practice from which we are free to discern and take only what resonates and supports us, as you've mentioned too. Lots more to continue reflecting on - thank you for writing and sharing!
Hi Suyin, I so appreciate how deeply you’ve been able to interact with my journey here! It’s amazing you were able to reflect on all of this during your career break. I’ve had so much time to think about these ideas too, and am apprehensive about how I’ll continue developing them as I re-enter my “old life.” If you end up exploring some of the ideas I would love to read them - let me know!
I’m happy I finally got to read this, thank you so much for including my essay! You’re actually living the coolest life right now, and I appreciate you letting us witness it. Hope you and the fam are hanging in there okay ❤️
Isn't a lot of "old things" and still a lot of modern ones are dominated by men. I wonder when will we ever see the change to this. I relate to some of your experiences here. Somehow, your story reminds me of my meditation retreat in a Thai temple. Time to finally write on that soon!
Totally agree — and actually, I think Buddhism is moving towards the right direction faster than others (the Dalai Lama said when he dies, he will come back as a woman) but for a religion that I often put on a pedestal, seeing men still abusing power like always was a shock!
I hope you write shout your time at a Thai temple - I can’t wait to read it!
Hi Zefan, I've appreciated being able to follow you on your journey since reading about your experience on the Camino, with my personal experience of having taken intentional time away from my corporate career too. Thank you for the thoughtful reflections and perspectives you've shared in this essay, and your invitation to us to do the same.
While studying yoga philosophy during my time out from work in 2022, I spent more time than I had until that point contemplating the significance of impermanence and attachment. One of the most significant attachments I've practised releasing so far is the attachment I had to my former professional identity as a signifier of my personal worth and value.
Similarly to you, I've also grown to question societal structures and institutions that inadvertently develop to take on a logic of their own, which more often than not are enforced at the expense of recognizing individual autonomy and inherent value without discrimination. I've found it most helpful for me to think about Buddhism as a personal philosophy and life practice from which we are free to discern and take only what resonates and supports us, as you've mentioned too. Lots more to continue reflecting on - thank you for writing and sharing!
Hi Suyin, I so appreciate how deeply you’ve been able to interact with my journey here! It’s amazing you were able to reflect on all of this during your career break. I’ve had so much time to think about these ideas too, and am apprehensive about how I’ll continue developing them as I re-enter my “old life.” If you end up exploring some of the ideas I would love to read them - let me know!
I’m happy I finally got to read this, thank you so much for including my essay! You’re actually living the coolest life right now, and I appreciate you letting us witness it. Hope you and the fam are hanging in there okay ❤️
I appreciate this, Alex 🧡
Thank you for taking time to share this beautiful journey!
I'll be reflecting on my attachments in the coming days 😬
Thank you for sitting with it Jamal, I hope you’re able to watch them more 🧡
This was beautiful <3
Appreciate you reading!
Isn't a lot of "old things" and still a lot of modern ones are dominated by men. I wonder when will we ever see the change to this. I relate to some of your experiences here. Somehow, your story reminds me of my meditation retreat in a Thai temple. Time to finally write on that soon!
Totally agree — and actually, I think Buddhism is moving towards the right direction faster than others (the Dalai Lama said when he dies, he will come back as a woman) but for a religion that I often put on a pedestal, seeing men still abusing power like always was a shock!
I hope you write shout your time at a Thai temple - I can’t wait to read it!