These type of retreats are very popular in Sydney (sorry my experience is only in Sydney as i have lived 40 years there). I attend a regular monthly get together in the Buddhist Library where we talk about living our life as a Buddhist and we solve problems the 'Buddhist' way and they talk about their experience during the retreat.

I have never attended retreats as i practice on my own mostly - there are so many in Sydney (Blue Mountain) and they are very popular with a lot of Sydneysiders because they find this a good way to de-stress from work life. I used to meditate a lot and now generally find myself to be a very calm person (due to my higher level of mindfulness) - i used to get upset and irritated quite easily before i learnt Buddhism.

Buddhism has changed me and my life completely and i wish to wish this good karma (to have been able to cross the path) will remain with you.

Religions around the world has its purpose - as long as it makes a person happier and wiser then it is a good religion.

Not all people are suited to one religion and depending on one's mentality and personality, one religion may be more suited to that person than another.

As for myself, i am a person who likes to question things rather than rely on supernatural forces to guide me. I like to question things and always ask 'why?'. I always remember 25 May 2000 as the day when i read one of Dalai Lama's books (Ancient Wisdom, Modern World) and that book changed my life altogether. After that, i bought every book that i could find in any bookshop that was written by Dalai Lama. I was so crazy about Buddhism!! In early 2004, someone introduced me to Theravada and slowly i moved across. I was so crazy about meditation i was meditating 10 hours a day everyday (i had a very cushy job at Sydney Uni with my own room so i was meditating even at work). My level of mindfulness is quite strong due to a long period (about 15 years) of constant meditation (mainly vipasanna meditation).

I think i have written enough about my path and hopefully you will benefit (like i have) on your path to nibbana.

Yes - Buddhism was my life then. I also attended a lot of Dharma talks and attended a lot of talks from quite a few Ajahns (from Thailand). My book collection on Buddhism was so extensive and i had to donate them all to the Buddhist Library (Church Street, Camperdown Sydney) when i came back to KL.

I was so keen on meditating and my level of mindfulness now is quite strong - in my daily life my level of awareness is quite strong and it also contributes to my good memory.

I am the youngest in my family and my parents spoilt me badly - i was given everything in life. My parents even bought me a unit to live in when i was studying in Uni (Sydney) in a good suburb so i never really had to struggle much in life. That unit is worth worth twice my Bangsar Baru house (Sydney properties are very expensive) which i also inherited. Imagine my ego before i learnt Buddhism (super big) because life has been so smooth for me. I had a very good career at Sydney Uni (job for life) with a very good package (i finished off on a lecturer's pay) after working 31 (continuous) years and had a very good payout (a golden handshake) when i left. My payout is very close to a million ringgit because i had a lot of unused long service leave (more than one year) and annual leave. I felt something was missing in my life even though life has been very rosy for me. I found that something after i read that Dalai Lama book in May 2000. Nowadays i am a lot more humble in life and wiser so for me Buddhism has been my saviour - i think without Buddhism my life would have been very miserable.

I am a follower of Ajahn Chah's teaching. At one stage, i was so keen on reading the nikayas. I bought quite a few volumes and spent quite a few years reading them over and over again. The teachings are so profound and i have benefitted so much from it. I have been very lucky throughout my whole life - sometimes i attribute my success to Buddhism. Without it, i would have been lost.

People around me told me that i changed a lot after i started reading Buddhist books in 2000. I used to get irritated (even though externally i was calm but internally there was a volcano brewing). Nowadays i am quite mindful in daily life and any events that irritate me tend not to exist for long ( i am very good at letting go).

Money solves a lot of problems which may be the reason why i don't have much problems other than those problems that money cannot solve. With those problems that money cannot solve, i can see the impermanence in everything. I have undergone death meditation for quite a long period of time and now view my death as quite a natural path of existance. I love going to cemetaries because i know i will end up there one day so i don't have much attachment to life.

Death meditation is commonly used by monks in Thailand. It is to get you ready for death so when seath happens, you are ready for it. A lot of monks in Thailand and Burma meditate in cemetaries so wherever they look, they are confronted with death. After a while practising death meditation, you will look at death as very 'normal' and you will not fear death. I always dream about myself on my deathbed (the last few minutes of my life) - this is very common for people who thinks about death all the time (due to the death meditation training). It doesn't mean you are going to kill yourself or have the intention to kill yourself (as in suicide) BUT it just means you are ready for death anytime. It just makes a person see reality and understand the meaning of what life is all about. In other words, this is emptiness (or some call it void) which Buddhist realise upon gaining enlightenment.

May Buddhism bring you happiness in life.

I know a master but not in temple. Tamboon also based on how much you wanna give. Will pm you his info if you want.

Buddhism is just a way of life… a philosophy…?