Renowned Theravada teacher Ajahn Brahm will come to Hong Kong for a comprehensive teaching tour in March. In a nod to our increasingly troubled and turbulent times, the abbot of Bodhinyana Monastery in Serpentine, Western Australia, has titled this tour: "When the going gets tough, the wise become kind." His tour is organized by the Bodhinyana Foundation, co-organized by the Center for Buddhist Studies (CBS) at the University of Hong Kong (HKU).*
He will give four public events. Two of them are free public lectures: one on March 3 at the University of Hong Kong (“When the going gets tough, the wise get kind”) and another lecture on March 6 at the Chinese University from Hong Kong (“Practicing Kindness on Campus”). It will hold a Kindness Day and Mindfulness Day at the University of Hong Kong on March 5 and 6 respectively, both of which are ticketed. Finally, he will host a four-day meditation retreat March 7-10 at Courtyard by Marriot.
Ajahn Brahm has spoken and written extensively about his idea of “kindness,” which is an amalgamation of the words “mindfulness” and “kind.” Kindness is less a new concept than a reminder that developing mindfulness must be accompanied by a friendly and forgiving attitude toward oneself and others. True happiness and liberation is not simply about meditating and cultivating awareness of how things are, but about seeking to heal where the heart has been wounded and being aware of it in a warm, approachable way. and tender. Most importantly, kindness is a practice that should be turned inward, just like mindfulness, except that self-compassion is generated when one directs love and forgiveness toward oneself.
Ajahn Brahm was born in London in 1951 and initially became interested in science, having graduated from Cambridge with first class honors in theoretical physics. His life and vocation changed forever once he became a disciple of the late meditation master Ajahn Chah, setting him on the path of a Theravada monk for more than five decades. He remains a highly sought-after speaker who has been invited to lecture at Google and Facebook headquarters, as well as at the United Nations.
He is also the author of numerous international bestsellers which have been translated into many different languages, including: Open the door to your heart; Mindfulness, happiness and beyond; The art of disappearing; GOOD? Bad? Who knows?; Kindness; and Bear Awareness.
Interested participants can use the QR codes to download registration forms or click directly on the links to show their support for Ajahn Brahm.
Online registration
Public Speech: “When the going gets tough, the wise get kind”
Kindness Day: “When the going gets tough, the wise become kind”
Mindfulness day at HKUCBH
CUHK Public Lecture: “Practicing Kindness on Campus”
4-Day Meditation Retreat: “When the going gets tough, the wise become kind”
* Supporting organizations include: Boudhistdoor Ltd., the Hong Kong Society of Dharma Supporters, the DH Chen Foundation, the Alumni Association of the Center for Buddhist Studies of the University of Hong Kong, the Buddhist Philosophy Bookstore and the Hong Kong Theravada Meditation Society.
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