The CEO- Charles Takashi Watanabe
Charles Watanabe, a CEO of a global IT company was at the peak of his career. He was successful, wealthy but unhappy. Often he wonders if he was trap in a hamster wheel, where his success for material wealth deprives him of something missing in his live.
At a high point in his life, he attended a worldwide sales and marketing meeting in Prague, receiving sales awards for his team's performance while also setting higher targets for the following year. He took an unplanned path, walked through Charles Bridge and stumbled into a park during lunch, where he met a Monk... and the conversation started his discovery to finding his own happiness. |
Alex Butt could share his real-life experience as a Buddhist monk and incorporated his insight knowledge of Buddhism in an easy-to-read way. He used hot and trendy topics about life and revealed the truth that we never think about.
So for me, this is one of the books I hardly put it down until the end! This book is also a great reflection on world view of Theravada monks in Thailand which is so interesting to learn from. I read during the rescue mission of 13 wild boars of Tham Luang, Thailand, so I understand more how Buddhist teachings and meditation keep them survive gracefully. |
The Entrepreneur- Antonio Anger
Antonio is an entrepreneur and a self-made millionaire. That morning, he stumbled into Kampa Park by chance when he lost his way trying to find his hotel. That was his first day in Prague. He had come to meet five friends from the Young Presidents’ Organization at one of their quarterly gatherings which they call Forum Meetings. The YPO Network and Forum Meetings had helped Antonio tremendously in the past ten years. It served as his personal board of directors. He used these occasions as a platform to bounce ideas and share challenges while exploring how other entrepreneurs dealt with their obstacles. ....
... He added, “Hello, my name is Antonio Anger. I am an entrepreneur and businessman. I have been an entrepreneur since my college days. I came to Prague to refresh my mind, to find some inspiration, and also because I heard that it’s a beautiful city. It’s one of my bucket list places. Have you guys tried this Trdlo stuff? It’s amazing! If I could get hold of that recipe... I have written a business plan...” As Antonio scrambled to reveal his notes from the napkin...... |
Genuine and extremely easy to read book about a path to unconditional happiness.
Besides talking about the for pillars leading to happiness as well as many other useful exercises helping to bring more clarity and mindfulness to your life, the author also introduces you to Buddhism, an incredibly interesting life of Theravada monks and meditation. In a friendly and insightful way it uses storytelling and dialog to bring the reader from one page to another. Somehow you don't even notice when you open the last page of the book! |
The Tourist- Toby Tanner
A dance champion turned dance instructor constantly lived in delusion; Always trying to please everyone ended up not making anyone happy around him. His wife left him and children did not speak with him anymore. Desperate and depressed, he escaped from his life with a backpack and bought a one-way ticket to tour Europe.
“My name is Toby Tanner from Malaysia. I am just a tourist in Prague. I just got out of the mental hospital where I was dealing with my depression. I am also an alcoholic. I am a professional dance teacher and I have, err, no, I had my own dance studio. I don’t have it anymore—it’s a long story. Everyone wanted me to do so many things, but all I wanted was to dance and compete. They told me I should open a dance studio. So I opened a studio. Then they told me I should expand my business. Everyone had ideas for me to do so many things. But I didn’t really want to do it. I married my dance partner ten years ago. Eventually, even she got fed up with me because I only wanted to dance and compete. I didn’t like to run a business or teach beginners. I don’t mind teaching champions, but not beginner’s dance classes. Sigh! |
The Monk- Venerable Matt Somchai
Venerable Matt Somchai was a monk from Thailand. Since he was ordained ten years ago, he had taught meditation workshops extensively in Thailand to English-speaking international visitors at the monastery. This time, Monk Matt was invited to introduce the Middleway meditation method to a Czech meditation group. This was one of his international trips outside of the monastery. Matt spoke Czech because his father, a Thai national, was assigned to the Thai Trade Centre in Prague when Matt was growing up......
.... After a twenty-two-hour flight, even a monk’s mind was not immune to the toll of jet lag. Fortunately, the fond memories of his childhood occupied Monk Matt’s mind, which helped him to overcome the awareness of the time difference. His mother had passed away a year ago, and he thought of her a lot. As a monk, he learnt to rejoice for her peaceful transition to the hereafter, instead of being saddened by the loss of his mother. Monks also have emotions, desires, and feelings associated with past relationships. The difference was that monks trained their minds, every day and every minute, to dissociate from emotions, feelings, and attachment to material things. They did this by chanting sutras and meditating. Being a monk required continuous mental training and refinement of the Mind, which is also referred to as the Soul or the Spirit. To a Hindu or Buddhist monk, this Mind, Spirit, or Soul—whichever term was used—was essentially the same energy that exists beyond the physical human form, through countless cycles of rebirths. |
An unplanned meeting, seems coincidental, yet, nothing in this universe is coincidence. Their journey changed and re-converged for a bigger purpose.
|
"What is a simple life?" - Toby the tourist asked.
Monk: "A baby cries when she is hungry. Once she has her fill of milk, she goes to sleep. Is that a simple life or ignorant life? Life gets complicated when we grow up and start to acquire knowledge and accumulate material possessions.”
Order Book Now
Paperback Printed BookIf you like the smell of printed paper and holding a book in your hands, flipping through pages, and not worry about battery powered ebooks. This is for you! I made sure the font size is large enough to be comfortable for the eyes. Click here to order. Enjoy!
|
Audio BookI love listening to books while on the go. For the busy addicts to ear plugs, whether on the plane, or cycling, running or just exercising in the gym. The voice of Scott Pollak made these characters come to life. Listen to a sample here before buying. Click here to buy
|
eBookThose hundreds of books on a ebook reader are amazing for travelling and never losing a page. You could search with keywords and read in a darken room. Whether Kindle or Nook or just an iPad, eBook is available on iTune Store, Amazon and all other ebook sites online. Go click and download.
|
Praises from Readers
This is an inspired book, written very much from the perspective of a real practitioner and as such, filled with first-hand observations that are so relevant to our everyday lives. I am sure the reader will recognise much of him or herself in the personalities of the protagonists. I certainly did, perhaps not so much in any one individual, but in the fears, emotions and thoughts they all had. I recognised the paths they took as being very familiar, as being so human. So read this book, find out more about yourself and most importantly, learn how to see things more clearly. |
This book takes us on a journey to find ourselves, inner happiness, and the true meaning to life in a time when we are constantly seeking material success. The story highlights the importance of cleansing our negative emotions. Only then can we have clarity for ourselves and be able to do good for others. What’s behind you and what’s in front of you is nothing compared to the power inside you. |
As a former CEO and current entrepreneur, this book resonated with me at the deepest level. The author’s ability to understand the frustrations of modern life combined with his persuasive guidelines in our search for tranquillity and purpose makes for a compelling story — one which addresses the fundamental rather than superficial things that matter in our lives. |