The Diamond Cutter Workshop 1

I attended a diamond cutter workshop over the weekend. What is that? Some of you might be asking the same question as I did when I first heard about it. It's actually a workshop about the idea or concept of this book --> 
The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha on Strategies for Managing Your Business and Your Life

Initially I did not plan to attend the workshop as I thought it was another motivation kind of workshop and that I was a little busy lately. But Bro Lau from English section caught me on a Friday evening when we were doing reading club at KBS and highly encouraged me to go, saying that since I could understand English, I should not waste the opportunity. And after attending the workshop, I really thank him for 'persuading' me to go. Although I have not started on the six time book activity (which I will, starting tomorrow), I could feel that it's going to be a beneficial one if I put things into practice.

Some of the essence of wisdom that I managed to jot down:

• I'm a piece of the universe. Therefore, I also have the same qualities or potential of the universe.
• The original state of mind is pure consciousness. It is not bad & dark but good & bright. But we must be reminded that we are capable of doing evil too, but the best thing is we have a choice. When you are in a state of stillness or in your pure consciousness, it's like coming home to yourself. 
• Don't seek outside, be at peace with yourself. 
• To learn something, you first have to unlearn something.
• We are unhappy because we are disconnected from reality, chasing after ideas and things.
• Happiness is not about 'doing' but 'undoing'.
• A tiny mad idea is an eg of a thought virus that lead us to the path of self-destruction.
• To free yourself, you have to undo perceptual errors.
• If you have a problem, it means you are also part of the problem. Or else why is it that others do not have the same problem?
• It's not about not having a choice, but rather don't know how to choose or we are too afraid of choosing. We always tell ourselves, if I choose A, then the door to B will be closed & vice versa. But we ought to remember that making a choice will not lead us to death. If you've made a wrong or bad choice, all you have to do is to choose again. And a choice often leads to new windows. But if you do not make a choice, you will never go anywhere except for standing still at the same crossroad.
• When we think about ourselves, we are actually focusing only on the 'body'. We neglect the mind/ spiritual part. That's why we feel 'empty'. 
• When you talk to people, does it come from ego or out of compassion?
• What would 'love' do in this situation?
• If you look at a person without love in your heart, you are looking at a shell without recognising the spirit. 
• Don't seek love, remove barriers that stand against love, then love will come to you.
• Being religious doesn't mean that you are being spiritual.
• Do you embrace the religion out of 'fear' or 'love'?
• But it's the song, not the singer. Messages from the various traditions may be similar but we fight over who is the best singer. Thereby losing what is important and battling over what is really trivial.
• You attract what you resonate with.
• We hear but we don't listen.
• Silence and stillness can do more for you. 

to be continued...