Mentor-Disciple

"The role of the mentor is to point toward an ideal and the most effective means of its achievement, while the disciple strives to realize this ideal on an even greater scale than has been achieved by the mentor. The shared ideal, and the shared struggle to realize it, create a profound closeness in the lives of mentor and disciple--what Buddhism describes as the 'oneness' of mentor and disciple. This is the lifeblood of Buddhism."

In any field, a person who aids the development of another may be regarded as a mentor. In Buddhism, which is concerned with human happiness and development, the mentor-disciple relationship is fundamental. The foundation of the relationship between mentor and disciple in Buddhism is the shared pledge to work together for the happiness of people, to free them from suffering.

The Lotus Sutra, the Buddhist scripture that is the basis of Nichiren Buddhism, contains a vivid allegorical description of the moment when the Buddha's disciples make this pledge. The sutra describes how, during an occasion when Shakyamuni Buddha is preaching, the earth splits open and a multitude of resplendent bodhisattvas (individuals who have made compassionate action the foundation of their being) emerge. These so-called "Bodhisattvas of the Earth" are firmly resolved to continue to live out Shakyamuni's teachings after his passing, in the difficult and corrupted age to come. They vow to exert themselves to save people from suffering in this period of great social and spiritual turmoil, facing head-on whatever hardships they may encounter.

This grand, cinematic description portrays the profundity of the shared commitment of mentor and disciple to working for people's happiness throughout time. It is a metaphor for the transformation of the Buddha's disciples from passive recipients of the teachings to people committed to advancing on the path of compassionate action pioneered by the Buddha.

Defining a Path

Buddhism is a philosophy with the aim of empowering people. Its central premise is that each person has the innate capacity to triumph in any circumstances in which they find themselves, to surmount any source of suffering, transforming it into a source of growth and strength. It is a philosophy established on the conviction that there exist within the lives of each of us at each moment inexhaustible reserves of courage, wisdom, compassion and creative energy.

The mentor makes the disciple aware, and continues to remind him or her, of this profound potential, giving the disciple confidence in their own unrealized possibilities. It is the mentor's own life, at least as much as their teaching, that provides this inspiration. The abstract ideal of enlightenment is made tangible in the mentor's character and action.

The mentor's life is focused on the empowerment of others, modeling the fact that our own highest potential and happiness are realized through taking action for others. As SGI President Daisaku Ikeda writes, "The enlightenment and happiness of both self and others: A true mentor in Buddhism is one who enables us to remember this aspiration."

The path of developing one's own humanity that Buddhism maps out--the "path of enlightenment"--lies in the balance of having the courage to squarely confront one's own challenges, striving to grow and develop as a person, while taking action for the sake of others. At a crucial moment of indecision, thinking of a mentor's example can help one take a courageous step and break through one's limitations. The mentor's teachings and example help the disciple continue to progress on this difficult path of enlightenment--difficult because of the powerful countervailing tendencies of the human heart toward complacency, fear, arrogance and laziness. SGI President Ikeda comments: "A mentor helps you perceive your own weaknesses and confront them with courage."

That the mentor is a model of Buddhist practice does not mean that the disciple strives to imitate the mentor's persona, but rather to learn from the mentor's example, or way of life, and to bring that approach to life to bear on their own particular circumstances, expressed through the qualities of their own unique character. It is by internalizing the mentor's spirit in this way that the disciple grows and develops beyond their self-perceived limitations. The mentor-disciple relationship in Buddhism is a courageous path of self-discovery, not imitation or fawning.

In Buddhism, ultimate responsibility lies with the disciple. The mentor is always prepared to teach. The disciple must choose to seek and learn, and will develop to the extent that he or she works to absorb and take action on the basis of the mentor's teachings.

A Genuine Mentor

What criteria distinguish a genuine mentor in Buddhism? First is the fundamental orientation or motivation of the teacher--the ideal to which that person has dedicated their life. The highest, most noble ideal is the commitment to enable all people, without exception, to overcome suffering and become happy. Furthermore, a genuine teacher is one whose own efforts to seek truth and develop wisdom are continual throughout their lives. This attitude could be contrasted with that of a teacher who believes they have learned all they need to know and need only dispense their knowledge in a one-sided manner. That kind of teacher is also likely to try to boost their standing by obscuring the truth and turning knowledge into a privilege, rather than making it freely available to all.

The ultimate desire of a genuine mentor is to be surpassed by their disciples. This open-ended process of growth and succession is what allows a living tradition to develop and adapt to changing times. In the Lotus Sutra, it is signified by the fact that the Bodhisattvas of the Earth are even more splendid in appearance than their mentor, Shakyamuni.

Defining the respective functions of mentor and disciple, one could say that the role of the mentor is to point toward an ideal and the most effective means of its achievement, while the disciple strives to realize this ideal on an even greater scale than has been achieved by the mentor.

The shared ideal, and the shared struggle to realize it, create a profound closeness in the lives of mentor and disciple--what Buddhism describes as the "oneness" of mentor and disciple. This is the lifeblood of Buddhism and the means by which the aspiration to live a fully realized life and enable others to do the same is transmitted and developed from one generation to the next. In the absence of this shared commitment and the effort on the disciple's part to strive in the same spirit as the mentor, the mentor would simply become an object of veneration and Buddhism would lose its transformative power.

Growth and Continuity

The deep connection between mentor and disciple, and in particular the relationship between the Soka Gakkai's first three presidents, is what has sustained the development of the organization. Each successive president has expanded on the vision of his predecessor in painstakingly developing a movement able to reach out to, embrace and empower the greatest diversity of people. The current SGI president, Daisaku Ikeda (1928- ), worked closely with second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda (1900-58) in the post-World War II period to empower literally millions of Japanese people, enabling them to positively transform their circumstances. Toda himself had been imprisoned alongside his mentor, founding president Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (1871-1944), for refusing to compromise the integrity of the teachings of Buddhism under pressure from Japan's militarist government.

Ikeda has broadened and internationalized the vision of people's empowerment he inherited from these mentors, taking it beyond the scope of a religious movement and developing a global movement for the promotion of peace, culture and education.

Ikeda has described his actions as an effort to inspire others with a sense of the possibilities that one person can accomplish on the basis of the mentor-disciple spirit. He has frequently expressed his determination to open new avenues for engagement with social and global issues that can be fully developed by future generations. "The relationship between mentor and disciple," he writes, "can be likened to that between needle and thread. The mentor is the needle and the disciple is the thread. When sewing, the needle leads the way through the cloth, but in the end it is unnecessary, and it is the thread that remains and holds everything together."

The commitment to the happiness of all people is at the heart of Buddhism. But it is through the relationship of mentor and disciple, through life-to-life connections, one person's aspiration igniting another's, that this ideal is brought out of the realm of abstract theory and made a reality in people's lives.

Thank you mentor, I hope to be an earnest disciple to learn from you. NMHRK

[Courtesy January 2010 SGI Quarterly]

President Obama in Malaysia

Thank you US Embassy for the invitation to attend the Town Hall for Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) with President Barack Obama. I would like to share just a few general impressions of the event and President Obama's speech.

I felt so proud to witness the first American President since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966. YESEALI was held in Dewan Tun Canselor, University of Malaya at around 3.30 p.m. The security in the campus was very strict. The queue started around 11.00 a.m. in front of the Dewan Tun Canselor. 

Dewan Tun Canselor, University of Malaya

The participants that waited to enter the hall

The 10 flags in the hall represented the young leaders from the 10 ASEAN member countries to tackle what Southeast Asian youth have identified the greatest challenges i.e. civic engagement, education, economic development and environmental protection. 

OBAMA POWER! HAHA :D

The Town Hall session kicked start with Mr. Obama's greetings in Bahasa Malayu. He said that "Malaysia Boleh" was resemblance to "Yes We Can" throughout his presidency campaign. He emphasized the power of youth towards the nation building and transform the world into a better place. The vision of our world lies in the hands of the youths. Together, we can achieve just, prosperous and peace. 

Now I would like to share some highlight on President Obama's speech:-

1. Equality

"Malaysia won't succeed if non-Muslims don't have opportunity" the best quote of the day. He emphasized in the "togetherness" despite the races, religions, languages and differences. It is important to respect the diversity because it is the uniqueness of this nation. The diversity creates unique intersection of humanity. The equality of different background and ethnic groups is important to achieve a prosperous nation. He further expressed that we should appreciate our differences and background, it shouldn't be a reason to discriminate.

2. Perseverance

The problem that most of the youth facing today is being "impatience". Impatience is usually defined as irritation with anything that causes delay. It is a strength to change something but sometimes, we can be disappointed if change doesn't happen immediately. He pointed out the need to persevere and do not give up easily in whatever field that we are doing. I appreciate his encouragement because I face the same problem as well. I always look forward to achieve result immediately without realizing the importance of strong foundation. Daisaku Ikeda once said "What is easily done can be easily undone. To move steadily forward on one's chosen path, step after step, whether or not others are watching; to meet difficulties with the steady, relentless strength ceaselessly flowing water-such firmness of purpose, such integrity and perseverance builds a foundation that can be never compromised." Never give up. 

3. Money

Mr. President said if we want to start a business, we should be really excited about the product and it shouldn't just about how much money we can make. For example Bill Gates who started Microsoft are really interested in what they do and they really think that it can make a difference in people. He said "I think the most important thing for me was when I started thinking more about other people and how I could have impact in my larger society and community, and wasn't just thinking about myself." That's when your dreams can really come true, if we think about others, our world gets bigger. (Y)

4. Time

Mr. President discourage us to spend every minute of every day working (yayyy!) It is because we have to enjoy life. But it is also important to spend time wisely because most of us have spent awful lot of time on watching TV or playing games. When we add it up, we could have spent more time in learning a new language or other meaningful things. Remember time losses can never be redeemed, we must use time as a tool.

5. Family 

Spend more time with family because in the end, the family is such an important part of our life! He warned those who have not called their parents lately to care about their family. Malchor Lim once said, you must make an effort to appreciate what you have, who loves you and who cares for you, because you will never know how much they mean to you until the day they are no longer beside you. Spend lots of quality time with the people you love, someday you will either regret not doing so or you will be glad for what you did. 

Many people are saying that it was wasted opportunity because the participants had threw weak questions. In my opinion this talk is rather personal one for us to know how a president think. He might be dealing with political and global issues everyday but the answer by Obama to those simple questions really inspired me. Please be informed that the participants is formed from high school students until graduated youths. It is not fair to generalize everyone as there were only a few people randomly selected to ask. I had prepared so many questions in hand but I was not being selected to to share my questions and thoughts with Mr. President. (face problem maybe?) I hope to see him in the near future to have a greater discussions with him :)

Anyway, I SHAKE HANDS with Obama today!! 

(p/s: Please don't ever touch my hand because I am not going to wash it for the next 3 days haha!)

Sources: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/04/27/remarks-president-obama-young-southeast-asian-leaders-initiative-town-ha

Let it go

The snow glows white on the mountain tonight

Not a footprint to be seen.

A kingdom of isolation,

and it looks like I'm the Queen

The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside

Couldn't keep it in;

Heaven knows I've tried

Don't let them in,

don't let them see

Be the good girl you always have to be

Conceal, don't feel,

don't let them know

Well now they know

Let it go, let it go

Can't hold it back anymore

Let it go, let it go

Turn away and slam the door

I don't care

what they're going to say

Let the storm rage on.

The cold never bothered me anyway

It's funny how some distance

Makes everything seem small

And the fears that once controlled me

Can't get to me at all

It's time to see what I can do

To test the limits and break through

No right, no wrong, no rules for me,

I'm free!

Let it go, let it go

I am one with the wind and sky

Let it go, let it go

You'll never see me cry

Here I stand

And here I'll stay

Let the storm rage on

My power flurries through the air into the ground

My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around

And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast

I'm never going back, the past is in the past

Let it go, let it go

And I'll rise like the break of dawn

Let it go, let it go

That perfect girl is gone

Here I stand

In the light of day

Let the storm rage on

The cold never bothered me anyway!

Sometimes we judge ourselves pretty harshly. We blame myself for things we have no control over. We criticize and treating ourselves far worse than we would ever treat anyone else. It's easy to hold ourselves to high standards, and get disappoint if we fail to meet them. 

Perhaps the key to silencing the enemy is accepting all of ourselves including both darkness and light within us, the learning to create a higher ratio of self-diminishing thoughts. Maybe the goal shouldn't be always high but to recognize when we start being self-critical so that we can shift our thoughts more quickly and effectively with each internal struggle.

Despite the criticisms, ignorance, disappointments and emo, please do not give up to try again and again. I am trying to focus on progress, not perfection - to forgive myself when I have gotten negative, let it go let it go, and then start anew right where I stand.

"Don't be too hard on yourself, there are plenty of people willing to do that for you. Love yourself and be proud of everything that you do. Even mistakes mean you are trying. When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you"

Take a stop, find a reason to be happy, be yourself, tomorrow is a better day :)


Reference: Tinybuddha.com

  

中肯

人脉的意义不在于你认识谁，而在于你能吸引谁，（靠权力、威慑去推动谁这不算人脉）能吸引谁根本在于能给对方提供什么价值。

这种价值并非只是很肮脏龌龊的那种相互勾结利用的商业价值，任何情感价值，娱乐价值，信用价值，学术价值，都可以。


不管是否内向，当你能够提供的价值足够高，自然会吸引到别人，性格内向的人给别人提供娱乐价值自然比较困难，但是并非没有可能拥有其他的用武之地，性格有些确实是天生的，强改不来的。

METICULOUS

2014 kick off with a great lesson.

Reflected on how I worked in my very first month, I did mistakes in my borang 1-5, screw sq,hs,cs,ke work, transcribing problems etc. The one and only reason that caused the problem is nobody else but myself.

I remember how my mum scolded me of not closing my closet most of the time, criticized the disorder manner of my clothes, never put back the things that I took from etc. I told myself I don't want to waste my time in these tiny mini little things that affect my more important things. Eventually the "cincai" habit (simply do) have became my bad habit that have an adverse impact in my pieces of work done.

The METICULOUS needed to be trained in my daily life. For instance, if I am going to mop a floor in my condo, I could just cincai run a mop over the floor without paying extra attention to it as long as I mop it. Previously, I used to think that "ceh, don't waste my time doing those preparations, it's just a floor anyway". However, there are so many skills required to mop it properly. I definitely need to wear my specs (in order to see the floor clearly), then I need to move all of the furniture and other items on the floor. After putting the right mixture of the chemicals in the bucket, I also need to ensure the mop head is clean without much water on it. I can now start going from left to right or vice versa. After that I have to make sure that the chemical residue free from the bucket and the floor. The floor not only looks better and cleaner by using the right method and proper portion of the chemical, it will be will be germ-free too! No one might notice the difference but it doesn't change the fact that the floor is not the cleanest unless I put a meticulous effort in mopping the floor.

But look at a larger picture, apply the same technique to life and work. The best example in pupillage is to do transcribing. One can choose to do it with cincai attitude or to do it wholeheartedly. Doing transcribing might be time consuming but these are all the valuable practices to become a more meticulous and careful person.  We all make mistakes but efforts can be done to minimize the mistakes. Also, nobody is perfect but I strive to do the absolute best that I can. 

"Being a pupil is not an excuse to make mistakes, we need to treat EVERY single piece of work equally and take it very carefully" 

The question now is HOW CAN I BE METICULOUS?

Patience is one of the key factor. Many instances the work can't be done properly because I lost patience at the end. So practicing patience in even the smallest thing in my self.

Discipline and perseverance is another challenges that I am trying to encounter. Do the best piece of work disregard of whether the work was given by other pupils, secretary, associates or even partner. With the meticulous habit, I believe that it will prevent any bigger problems that cause more work in the long run.

Looking at my favourite Lamborghini, every bolt, inch of piping, machine in the engine were meticulously designed to ensure the car doesn't fall apart when I am driving in highway. Similarly, I want to be more and more meticulous in whatever undertakings in the present and future to ensure my bright future *wink*

I feel thankful for the all the constructive criticisms that inspired me to do my human revolution. 

p/s: I shall continue exercise more and more to keep myself energetic! I believe that meticulous can only be achieved when I have the strong mental and physical condition to face any challenge in my life.

ALL THE BEST!!!

I believe my great things are coming real soon! 

NMHRK

Minions Spirit

How's pupillage have been treating you? Besides research, opinion writing, V-notes, DD, translation and reports, we are doing a lots of transcribing.

Transcribing is a process to put the entire court proceedings into a written form. Often time the court proceedings took more than 10 hours on case to case basis. So transcribing has been occupied most of our nights and weekends.

The hours and days in transcribing, compiling and editing can really kill my patience. However, we are still doing it to help out our friends as a team. It can't be done without the corporation of everyone. Subsequently, I realized that a well functioning team can make work a joy! I was truly amazed by the "Minion spirits" portrayed by my peers. With their energetic demeanor, lively, cooperative and voluntarism, what is not to love about my job?

One cannot achieve great accomplishments without first undergoing the tedious work.I am all ready to embrace and challenges or work that will be given by anyone!

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU, MY BEST MENTOR. *pray very hard*

NMHRK

Face to face dialogue

Lesson of the week:-

Nothing can reply the value of face-to-face dialogue. An author of body language James Borg says that human communication consists of 93% body language and para linguistic cues, while only 7% consists of words. Here are just some of the manage advantages of face-to face dialogue. It is definitely useful for me who is still trying to improve my writing skills in English.

Effectiveness: To get things done as soon as possible. When an issue requires a decision, you are able to reach a consensus quickly. One simple 5 minutes conversation could eliminate 15 emails.

Non-verbal communication: Someone who is frequently checking their watch would tell you easily that it's time to wrap things up. Conversely if the other are smiling and nodding with you, you know that they are agree with you. 

Misunderstanding: How many times a massage or email have been misunderstood or perceived by another party? Face to face meetings will definitely minimize the risk of miscommunication.

Personal touch: There is a feeling of community because we are able to interact with one another. A bond has been built quickly that sets the foundation for trust.

In short, although face to face dialogue are the preferred method of communication, the other forms of communication allows us to save time and boost up productivity without restricted by locality in the age of technology .So, lets trying to get rid of instant messages, e-mail, whatsapp and social media if possible. Let's meet up and talk :D

Sources: http://www.starmedical.co.uk, http://bluejeans.com/, 

What pain do you want to sustain?

This is a inspiring article from Mark Manson at huffingtonpost

Everybody wants what feels good. Everyone wants to live a care-free, happy and easy life, to fall in love and have amazing sex and relationships, to look perfect and make money and be popular and well-respected and admired and a total baller to the point that people part like the Red Sea when you walk into the room.

Everybody wants that -- it's easy to want that.

If I ask you, "What do you want out of life?" and you say something like, "I want to be happy and have a great family and a job I like," it's so ubiquitous that it doesn't even mean anything.

Everyone wants that. So what's the point?

What's more interesting to me is what pain do you want? What are you willing to struggle for? Because that seems to be a greater determinant of how our lives end up.

Everybody wants to have an amazing job and financial independence -- but not everyone is willing to suffer through 60-hour work weeks, long commutes, obnoxious paperwork, to navigate arbitrary corporate hierarchies and the blasé confines of an infinite cubicle hell. People want to be rich without the risk, with the delayed gratification necessary to accumulate wealth.

Everybody wants to have great sex and an awesome relationship -- but not everyone is willing to go through the tough communication, the awkward silences, the hurt feelings and the emotional psychodrama to get there. And so they settle. They settle and wonder "What if?" for years and years and until the question morphs from "What if?" into "What for?" And when the lawyers go home and the alimony check is in the mail they say, "What was it all for?" If not for their lowered standards and expectations for themselves 20 years prior, then what for?

Because happiness requires struggle. You can only avoid pain for so long before it comes roaring back to life.

At the core of all human behavior, the good feelings we all want are more or less the same. Therefore what we get out of life is not determined by the good feelings we desire but by what bad feelings we're willing to sustain.

"Nothing good in life comes easy," we've been told that a hundred times before. The good things in life we accomplish are defined by where we enjoy the suffering, where we enjoy the struggle.

People want an amazing physique. But you don't end up with one unless you legitimately love the pain and physical stress that comes with living inside a gym for hour upon hour, unless you love calculating and calibrating the food you eat, planning your life out in tiny plate-sized portions.

People want to start their own business or become financially independent. But you don't end up a successful entrepreneur unless you find a way to love the risk, the uncertainty, the repeated failures, and working insane hours on something you have no idea whether will be successful or not. Some people are wired for that sort of pain, and those are the ones who succeed.

People want a boyfriend or girlfriend. But you don't end up attracting amazing people without loving the emotional turbulence that comes with weathering rejections, building the sexual tension that never gets released, and staring blankly at a phone that never rings. It's part of the game of love. You can't win if you don't play.

What determines your success is "What pain do you want to sustain?"

I wrote in an article last week that I've always loved the idea of being a surfer, yet I've never made consistent effort to surf regularly. Truth is: I don't enjoy the pain that comes with paddling until my arms go numb and having water shot up my nose repeatedly. It's not for me. The cost outweighs the benefit. And that's fine.

On the other hand, I am willing to live out of a suitcase for months on end, to stammer around in a foreign language for hours with people who speak no English to try and buy a cell phone, to get lost in new cities over and over and over again. Because that's the sort of pain and stress I enjoy sustaining. That's where my passion lies, not just in the pleasures, but in the stress and pain.

There's a lot of self development advice out there that says, "You've just got to want it enough!"

That's only partly true. Everybody wants something. And everybody wants something badly enough. They just aren't being honest with themselves about what they actually want that bad.

If you want the benefits of something in life, you have to also want the costs. If you want the six pack, you have to want the sweat, the soreness, the early mornings, and the hunger pangs. If you want the yacht, you have to also want the late nights, the risky business moves, and the possibility of pissing off a person or ten.

If you find yourself wanting something month after month, year after year, yet nothing happens and you never come any closer to it, then maybe what you actually want is a fantasy, an idealization, an image and a false promise. Maybe you don't actually want it at all.

So I ask you, "How are you willing to suffer?"

Because you have to choose something. You can't have a pain-free life. It can't all be roses and unicorns.

Choose how you are willing to suffer.

Because that's the hard question that matters. Pleasure is an easy question. And pretty much all of us have the same answer.

The more interesting question is the pain. What is the pain that you want to sustain?

Because that answer will actually get you somewhere. It's the question that can change your life. It's what makes me me and you you. It's what defines us and separates us and ultimately brings us together.

So what's it going to be?

I always anticipate a great environment for pupillage with great bunch of friends by meeting a great master that give me great work. *wake up please* Reality are so much different than my imagination. I couldn't stand the culture of transcribing that have not much advantage to the pupils in the firm. Everyone else seems like obedient to accept it.

I ponder. I think I should have accept it as my challenge in part of my training process. Everyone have to undergo this period as we are still a newbie. I think it is part and parcel of the pain that we are going to handle.

I WANT TO CREATE MY AMAAAZING PUPILLAGE EXPERIENCE! 

212

2.12 is a prosperous day for me! It's not only my first anniversary after I enshrined Gohonzon, it is also my first day of pupillage! I believe it's a gift from Gohonzon. :)

Muhammad Ali Jinnah once said:" I do not believe in taking the right decision, I take a decision and make it right." Similarly, instead of wishing and hoping to get a good master or gain the best knowledge, I want to create positive values and greatest memories in my 9 months of pupillage! Therefore, I have listed 9 resolutions in my pupillage.

1. Passion

I still remember vividly where I can't answer the interviewer's question in relation to my future. Although it is important to live at the present, I want to discover my passion and focus in a specific area that I love. Passion energizes me to get up each morning and help me to find direction in my life and career. 

2. Healthy 

This seems like a must-have list in each and every of my resolution. I believe nothing can be done without mentally and physically health. Equipped with best facilities in my condominium, I must hit the gym/swimming pool/badminton court/futsal/squash more often! Also, I wish to get my golf handicap. Most importantly, I must achieve my goal-weight of 52kg. I can do it!

3. Friends

I want to be surrounded and associated with like-minded and passionate friends that can inspire me to do better. Let's try the law of attractions yayy!

4. Attitude 

A positive attitude causes a chain of reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it sparks extraordinary results. Be humble and kind to people. I am thinking of sharing positive messages with random strangers. HAHAHHA. Always treat everyone as you would want them to treat you. Be confident and fearless.  

5. Opportunites

Challenges are opportunities. There is no adversity that I cannot transform based on the Buddhist principle of "changing poison into medicine." Challenges keep a fire in my belly and my passion high. I am not going to let myself stressed out. When I feel that rush of stress, I am going to sit back and put my hands behind my head and stretch out my legs. Be prepared to receive my "crazy notes" or "love letters" to distress lol 

6. Reading

This is one of my weakness that I am trying to overcome. I must read newspaper/e-news everyday.

7. Financial 

Make money in Riggit and spend in Ruppiah and I want for nothing. I truly understand pupillage can't really earn much money but I believe that the knowledge is my greatest treasure that I will gain. It is important to have my financial planning to ensure my monthly expenses are bare minimum. You guys can still date me for lunch/dinner because I have budget for it ;d Hopefully I can get myself a Swiss automatic watch after the 9 months!

8. Blog

A minimum of 9 posts per month. I want to polish my English and share my interesting pupillage experiences with you all :)))

9. Kosen rufu

I want to contribute to my life and share it with others. One of the best ways to share passion with friends, family and colleagues is through face-to-face dialogue. That is why I much value in gatherings and soka activities. I believe it will help me to discover and reaffirm my passsion, resulting in an incredibly amazing and productive months in my pupillage. 

I foresee the traffic congestion in my near future. It will my best opportunity to chant :) Chant a minimum 30 minutes for the luck, faith, wisdom and happiness for all.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.

wishlist

Dear Santa,

My one and only wishlist - to get a Swiss automatic watch

1

2

3

4.

5.

Which one do you prefer? I really like 1,4,5. Those sexy babe are driving me nuts! Please come to me one day?

X

Interview Tips for Chambering Student

Congratulations on the completion of your legal education. Kudos for your accomplishment in reaching this wonderful milestone! I am sure most of the graduates are gearing up for their chambering/pupillage. Here are some interview tips to help you during your chambering interview. Also refer to my previous post.

We all know preparation is the key to success at any interview. Please bear in mind that the legal market is very competitive. If you are being contacted for an interview, it means that you are a potential chambering student (or also known as "chambee"). You need to do some homework if you want to get the job.

Before the Interview

• Please ensure that you know your resume well. Be honest in your CV and do not exaggerate about what you have done. 
• Read some developments in regards to legal scene or current issues.
• Equipped yourself with basic legal principles (Contract Law, Company Law, Land Law, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, your favourite subject depending on your desire firm)
• Research on the firm and review the job description. You wouldn't want to go to a conveyancing firm if you want to be a litigator in the future.

During the Interview

• Plan to arrive the firm 30 minutes as oppose to LeeShih's suggestion before the interview. It is because you need to fill up your particulars that has already shown in your CV .Some firms require you to do some personality test such as Zul Rafique, Raja Darryl & Loh etc. Some other firms have aptitude test for the candidates such as Rahmat Lim & Partners, Zaid Ibrahim & Co, Naqiz & Partners, Cheah Teh & Su, Wong & Partners etc. Some firm even need to do presentation-Kadir Andri & Partners. 
• Dress well. A smart casual will do. Avoid bright or flashy colours to project an image of professionalism. A decent light make up would be sufficient for female candidate.
• Start your interview by greeting the interviewer with a smile :)
• Maintain eye contact with interviewers at all times.
• Please prepare "tell me about yourself" This classic question seems very easy yet very important to leave a good impression.
• Ask your interviewer questions because it demonstrate your passion for the job opportunity. However, try to avoid the money related question because you roughly know about the market price. The employer will tell you the allowances in advance if they plan to hire you. In KL, the chambering remuneration package is ranging from 1k-3.5k. Bigger firms usually offer higher allowances. 

After the interview

• Thank the interviewer for their time. Also not forgetting the receptionist or whoever who have assisted you.
• Send them a thank you note!
• Follow up your application status

Conclusion

I understand that some big firms prefer overseas graduate. But please do not hesitate to try out even you are a local graduates like I do. Never put yourself in the position of regretting what you did not try. Quit worrying about how everything is going to turn out and make the best in your interview regardless of your background. 

Also, be confident in yourself! Stay true to yourself throughout your application process. Always follow your heart and inner voice when making decision. Nothing can be accomplished if you allow yourself to be swayed by others saying.

Even you have failed in your first few interviews, please do not discourage and keep going on. Daisaku Ikeda once said: "Do you give up the struggle to overcome your own limitations on the first attempt, or do you keep on with it, trying a second time, third time and continuing on in the challenge for the rest of your life. That's the only difference between the genius and the ordinary person."  DON'T GIVE UP. The best has yet to come.

I am starting my chambering next month! Psyched myself up with full of hope, I can't wait to see what beckons. No stress no fun! I really look forward to meet my mentor who is able to unlock my potential. NMHRK!

Do your absolute best in your pupillage

GOOD LUCK!

x

Sources: LoyarBurok, e-lawyer, jobsdb, friends

change for the better

Very often I have a lots to tell but somehow they have just left untold. Sometimes I am just being secretive to tell anything because I don't want to let many people know what's going on in my life. I like to keep things to only a small circle of people due to the possible danger in the new media. I don't feel like I could write truthfully on this blog for a long time, but I am trying to think a direction for this blog because I don't want to abandon my old good friend-my blog. 

My dearest readers might have some idea what is going on. I reckon most of the people thought I am going to JB but I have changed my mind two days before I commence my pupillage in JB. Things happened that is out of my control. Marilyn Monroe once said:

"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they are right. Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."

Psyched myself up with full of hope and spirits, waiting to start a new life, waiting to see what beckons. I am excited about pupillage, and yet apprehensive as usual. The work, stress, possibility of growing fat :p 

Everything is a vibration:-everything you see, everything you feel and everything you think. Things happened to match what you habitually think. If you are worried, you attract more things that are worrisome. If you are appreciative, you attract more things to appreciate. 

November has been an unpredictable month that is full of excitements. I have learnt how to give myself a second options. Most importantly to follow my heart. 

Keep believing Nam Myoho Renge Kyo 

人一定要旅行！

19歲讀大學，問你理想是什麼，你說環遊世界；
23歲讀完大學，你說實習後成為律師再去；
25歲工作穩定，你說買了房子後再說；
30歲有車有房，你說等結婚帶另一半一起去；
33歲有了小孩，你說小孩大一點一起去；
40歲孩子大了，你說養好了老人再去；
結果最後你哪裡都沒有去。。。

旅行，就是離開生活熟悉的地方然後不一樣的歸來。
旅行，就是重新回到出發點然後認識它。
旅行，就是在地圖的一點留下自己的腳印。
旅行，就是體驗不同的地理文化。

所以我們不要偷懶，一定要旅行！一個人見識很重要，見識多了，自然會視野寬廣，然而影響你對很多事情的看法。旅行讓人更有自信，不會在物質世界裡迷失方向。

人生其實就是一場旅行，而旅行就是體會不同的人生。對每一個人說生命就是一場盛大的旅行，而日子就是你經過的每一站風景。然而美景不僅僅是目的地，而是深深的感受沿途的那些人和發生在這片土地的點點滴滴。

真正的旅行是一種生活態度，不在乎目的地和長短，離開熟悉的環境去探索陌生的風景，體會一種從未有過的人生。你不知道明天會遇見誰因為一切都是未知數。

旅行能帶人們回歸真正的自然，找回自己忽略的東西，體會永恆的意義，學會感恩，在靈魂之中發掘真正的自己，豐富自己的人生！旅行不但是在眼裡，更是在心底。如果某天在一個陌生的地方，不必知道自己何去何從，就欣賞這一站的風景而留下感動和美麗。

每一個人心中都有座山，總想翻越這座山去看看世界。但是爬到山頂卻發現還有更多更高更遠的山。我們翻越一座座山後，讓自己走更遠。這就是我們心的旅程讓自己聽見內心的聲音。

旅行是一段時間和空間的改變，無論改變多麼大你都會回到現實。不需要一直留戀過去，放膽去創造未來的美麗旅程！因為旅行最重要的不是結果，而是放下一切去感受當下的過程。

想去的地方就一個人出發吧。哪怕只是搭一般未知去向的巴士也是探索星球呀！