Handful of Leaves | Mindfulness & Buddhism in Everyday Life

Death is something many of us avoid talking about. But what happens when someone we love suddenly faces the possibility of leaving us?

In this heartfelt conversation, You Shan shares her personal experiences of losing her paternal grandmother and facing the unexpected hospitalization of her grandfather. Despite practising the Dhamma, she discovers that understanding impermanence intellectually doesn't necessarily mean we're emotionally prepared for it.

Together with Heng Xuan, they explore how Buddhist teachings can help us navigate grief, separation, and the uncertainty of life.

From the five frequent recollections to the practice of death contemplation, this episode offers a gentle reminder that we cannot control when separation happens, but we can learn to face it with greater awareness, acceptance, and compassion.

📄 Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-76

⏱Timestamps:

(00:00) – The shocking reality of losing someone you love

(00:14) – Why is death so difficult to talk about?

(00:39) – The first encounter with losing a loved one

(01:48) – When a grandfather suddenly suffers a stroke

(02:35) – Why does losing someone become harder as we grow older?

(03:05) – A Buddhist perspective on life, death and impermanence

(03:29) – You may not be able to cure them, but you can care for them

(04:15) – Understanding impermanence vs. actually facing it

(04:41) – A simple practice to prepare for the loss of loved ones

(05:06) – The Buddha's five frequent recollections explained

(05:43) – You don't have to suppress grief to practise Buddhism

(06:01) – Impermanence exists beyond death: Work, relationships and health

(06:39) – How the Dhamma becomes your surfboard through life's ups and downs

(06:55) – Why being young and healthy can be an illusion

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong, Dennis Lee, Kayliam, Darren

🙏 Sponsor us:⁠ https://handfulofleaves.life/support/⁠

🎬 Editor: Bryan Toh

✍️ Transcribers: Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Ng Yah Tyng

🎨 Visuals & Sound: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

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She raised her son while trying not to drown — fighting teachers, fighting her husband, fighting to keep her family afloat, and never once seeming happy. Years later, both mother and son would leave their old lives behind and ordain. In this raw conversation, Phra Anand traces his mother's journey from a decade of failed meditation teachers to the one who finally taught her wisdom before technique — and how watching her transform set him on the same path.In this episode:- Growing up in a "perfect" outside family that was a volcano inside the house- Why kids who are obsessed with their friends are often just avoiding an unhappy home- The rock-in-the-mouth story: why anger "tricks" never actually fix anger- The teaching that changed everything — "there's no finish line except in fixing yourself"- How his mother's transformation put both of them on the path to ordination- Learning that everyone has the right to their own choices — and their own consequences---About the Teacher 🧘 Phra Anandapanyo (Anandapanyo Bhikkhu)Anandapanyo Bhikkhu was born and raised in San Francisco to a Thai immigrant family, fluent in both Thai and English from childhood. Before ordaining, he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from UC Santa Barbara and later pursued a Master's degree at San Francisco State University while helping run the family business.For ten years as a layperson, starting in 1999, he trained directly under Ācariya Thoon Khippapañño and one of Thoon's most devoted students — Mae Chee Yo, who is also his own mother. He ordained on May 20, 2009 at Wat San Fran Dhammaram, becoming the temple's first monk fluent enough in English to teach comfortably in both languages.He's since become known for delivering sermons and teachings that move fluidly between English and Thai, and — alongside his sister, Neecha Thian-Ngern — was personally entrusted by Ācariya Thoon to translate and spread his teachings to a wider audience. He is the author of Right Start, Right Finish.📄 Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-75⏱Timestamps:(0:00) – Why arguments happen: one perspective vs. the full context(0:45) – "My mum brought me up while she was fighting"(1:31) – The AP calculus story: fighting the school system(2:37) – "She messed me up" — mistaking superhuman for normal(3:36) – The outside world's "perfect family"(4:30) – A hot house: why the kids kept leaving(5:33) – Planning to move away — until something changed(6:17) – The home shrine and midnight Dharma sessions(8:07) – Ten years of meditation, but "nobody changed"(8:57) – His father's intervention: one more teacher to try(9:43) – The "rocks in your mouth" anger story(10:44) – A teacher who taught wisdom, not technique(12:35) – "There's no finish line — except in the Dhamma"(13:30) – The Thai-writing board: seeing his father's side(16:49) – Everyone's entitled to their choices, and the consequences#HandfulOfLeaves #Buddhism #Meditation #Mindfulness #Forgiveness #FamilyTrauma #BuddhistTeachings #Dhamma #AjahnPranjana #InnerPeaceResources:https://watsanfran.orgSpecial thanks to our sponsors:Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong, Dennis Lee, Kayliam, Darren🙏 Sponsor us:⁠⁠ https://handfulofleaves.life/support/⁠⁠

🎬 Editor: Azraf Mahir

✍️ Transcribers: Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Ng Yah Tyng

🎨 Visuals & Sound: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

📱 Get Connected

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Instagram https://bit.ly/hol-instagram-podcast

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Get connected here: ⁠⁠Telegram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook

Two Dharma friends, Cheryl and Angela, sit down to unpack everything their March meditation retreat with Ajahn Jayasaro taught them — and it wasn't the peaceful escape either of them expected.In this honest episode of the Handful of Leaves podcast, they talk through work burnout, losing parents to cancer, the "I'm not good enough" loop that followed them onto the cushion, and why chasing a peaceful feeling in meditation can actually work against you. They unpack Ajahn Jayasaro's teachings on contentment, patience (Khanti), comparison, identity, and what it really means to sit with difficult emotions instead of rushing past them.If you've ever felt burnt out, doubted whether you're "enough," or struggled with restlessness in meditation, this conversation is for you.In this episode:- Why meditation is about learning to observe, not chasing peace- How to work with burnout, doomscrolling, and restless thinking as habits, not character flaws- Sitting with grief and catching the stories the mind repeats- Ajahn Jayasaro's teaching: "We are a function of who we compare ourselves to"- Why patience (Khanti) is called the incinerator of the defilements- Letting go of identity and achievement to become "nobody" — and why that's freeing

About the Teacher

🧘 Ajahn Jayasaro is a British-born monk of the Thai Forest Tradition and one of its most widely respected living teachers. He first joined Ajahn Sumedho's monastic community in the UK in 1978 before travelling to Thailand the following year to train under the renowned meditation master Ajahn Chah at Wat Nong Pah Pong. He received novice ordination in 1979 and higher ordination in 1980.

From 1997 to 2002, Ajahn Jayasaro served as abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat, the international forest monastery founded by Ajahn Chah, guiding monastics from around the world under the tradition's strict standards of discipline and meditation. He is also widely recognized as Ajahn Chah's official biographer, writing Stillness Flowing.

Since 2003, Ajahn Jayasaro has lived in a hermitage near Khao Yai National Park in Thailand. He has become one of the most respected contemporary voices of the Thai Forest Tradition, known internationally for his meditation retreats, talks, and writing.

📄 Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-74

⏱Timestamps:

(0:00) Welcome and introducing the March retreat with Ajahn Jayasaro(0:28) The real reason Angela signed up: work burnout(1:53) Meditation isn't about peace, it's about learning to observe(3:45) "Okay shit, this wanting is not getting me anywhere"(5:47) Doomscrolling as dissatisfaction in disguise(7:59) Angela’s "fear monster" and fear of dying young(11:31) Reframing thinking itself as a reshapeable habit(15:11) Patience as Khanti, "the incinerator of the defilements"(17:00) "We are a function of who we compare ourselves to"(18:18) Choosing a wholesome idol to compare yourself to(21:02) Becoming "nobody" in meditation, and why it's freeing(22:24) Closing reflection: suffering and joy, together

Resources:

https://www.jayasaro.panyaprateep.org/en/about-us

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong, Dennis Lee, Kayliam, Darren

🙏 Sponsor us:⁠ https://handfulofleaves.life/support/⁠

🎬 Editor: Azraf Mahir

✍️ Transcribers: Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Ng Yah Tyng

🎨 Visuals & Sound: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

📱 Get Connected

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Instagram https://bit.ly/hol-instagram-podcast

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What happens when you follow the Singapore path, tick the right boxes, and still feel like something is missing?

In this episode, Cheryl speaks with Venerable Damcho on her unexpected path into Buddhism, from heartbreak and anxiety in university, to meditation, retreats, ordination, and discovering a kind of happiness that did not depend on external success.

Key takeaways:

🧭 I just felt like I had been cheated

A raw reflection on chasing the life we are told will make us happy, only to ask: and then what?

🧘 My happiness is not dependent on all these external things

A short-term novitiate showed her that peace could arise even while waking early, wearing simple robes, and cleaning toilets.

🔥It’s very difficult to identify the afflictions because I think they are true

A practical reminder that anger, self-pity, and fear often feel logical until we learn to see them clearly.

📄 Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-71

⏱Timestamps:

(00:00) Why the usual Singapore success path still felt empty

(01:20) Growing up with zero interest in religion

(03:21) How heartbreak and anxiety led her to meditation

(04:29) Her first strange encounter with chanting and the Heart Sutra

(05:21) The breathing practice that changed her response to fear

(07:44) How the thought of monastic life slowly began

(08:50) The friend who brought her into Bright Hill Temple

(11:43) The hidden wish to become a nun

(13:14) The Vesak aspiration that surprised even her

(17:22) Why ordination is not a form you submit overnight

(18:39) The short-term novitiate that changed everything

(21:48) Sleeping on mats, cleaning toilets, and feeling unexpectedly happy

(22:42) Why external success felt so unfulfilling

(25:03) How a Theravada retreat opened the door to Tibetan practice

(29:25) Her first visit to Sravasti Abbey was not what she expected

(35:55) The breakup, the US ticket, and a decision that shocked her boyfriend

(39:30) Becoming a novice and later receiving full ordination in Taiwan

(42:10) Lojong: turning difficult situations into practice

Resources:

Sravasti Abbey Website: https://sravastiabbey.org/

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong, Dennis Lee, Kayliam, Darren

🙏 Sponsor us:https://handfulofleaves.life/support/

🎬 Editor: Azraf Mahir

✍️ Transcribers: Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Ng Yah Tyng🎨 Visuals & Sound: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

📱 Get Connected

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What if the peace you've been searching for was never outside of you?

In this profound conversation, internationally renowned Zen monk and bestselling author Haemin Sunim shares timeless wisdom on navigating heartbreak, uncertainty, difficult relationships, and life's inevitable challenges. Drawing from Buddhist teachings and personal experience, he reveals how inner peace emerges not from controlling the world around us, but from trusting the strength already within us.

Whether you're facing loss, struggling with difficult people, or simply feeling overwhelmed by life, this episode offers practical insights to help you find calm, resilience, and freedom amidst the chaos.

#HaeminSunim #InnerPeace #SelfWorth #EmotionalHealing #PersonalGrowth #Boundaries #SelfCompassion #SpiritualGrowth

✨ Key Takeaways:

💎 You Already Have What You're Looking For

Love, worthiness, security, and peace are not things we earn from the outside world. They already exist within us. External circumstances may amplify these qualities, but they never create them.

🌱 Every Challenge Reveals Your Inner Strength

Life will inevitably bring heartbreak, failure, and uncertainty. Yet every difficulty you've faced has shown one important truth: you've survived before, and you can trust yourself to navigate what comes next.

🕊️ Compassion and Boundaries Can Coexist

Understanding that hurt people often hurt others can help us respond with compassion. But true peace also requires healthy boundaries, protecting your well-being while allowing others to take responsibility for their own healing.

About the Speaker:

👤 Haemin Sunim is a globally respected Zen meditation teacher and international bestselling author known for his deeply practical approach to modern spirituality. His books have sold over six million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than thirty-eight languages.

Ordained in the Korean Zen tradition, Haemin Sunim received monastic training in South Korea before pursuing academic study in religion at the University of California, Berkeley, Harvard University, and Princeton University, where he earned his doctorate. Today, he continues to teach and inspire audiences around the world through international talks, retreats, and his widely read writings.

📄 Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-69v

⏱Timestamps:

(00:00) Stop Looking Outside Yourself for Happiness

(01:42) The Breakup Myth: Can Someone Take Your Love Away?

(03:18) Why You're Stronger Than You Think

(05:40) How to Forgive Someone Who Hurt You Deeply

(07:46) The Secret Behind Negative People

(09:13) Don't Take It Personally

(09:46) Why Boundaries Are an Act of Compassion

(11:30) The Backlash You'll Face When You Finally Say No

(12:04) The Hidden Reason People Try to Control Others

(13:12) The Path to Inner Freedom and Peace

(13:41) Why Healing Yourself Changes Your Entire Life

(14:00) Final Wisdom: The One Thing Haemin Wants You to Remember

Resources:

Haenim Sunim Website: https://www.haeminsunim.com/

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong, Dennis Lee, Kayliam, Darren

🙏 Sponsor us:⁠ https://handfulofleaves.life/support/⁠

🎬 Editor:Karen Law

✍️ Transcribers: Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Ng Yah Tyng🎨 Visuals & Sound: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

Get connected here: ⁠⁠Telegram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook

Why do we feel like we’re never enough even when everything seems “fine” on the outside? In this heartfelt conversation, Haemin Sunim unpacks the hidden roots of unworthiness, revealing how our deepest insecurities are often shaped by childhood survival instincts and our need to belong. Through gentle wisdom and practical insights, he shows us how to reconnect with our inner child, shift our attention away from negativity, and rediscover a sense of peace and intrinsic worth that has always been within us.

✨ Key Takeaways:

🧠 Why your brain is wired to seek validation Your brain is built to scan for threats. So approval feels like safety, making you rely on external validation.

👶 How childhood survival shapes adult anxiety As a child, you adapted to be liked and accepted to feel safe and cared for. This shows up in adulthood as anxiety, people pleasing, and fear of rejection.

🌱 The hidden link between belonging and self-worth

When acceptance is at risk, it’s easy to believe “I’m not enough.” This is why self-worth often becomes dependent on feeling included and liked.

✨ A simple way to retrain your attention away from negativity

Your mind naturally focuses on what’s wrong, overlooking what’s good. Where you place your attention shapes how you experience your life.

#SelfWorth #InnerHealing #Neuroplasticity #InnerChild #SelfLove #HealingJourney #BuddhistWisdom #PersonalGrowth #HaeminSunim

About the Speaker:

👤 Haemin Sunim is a globally respected Zen meditation teacher and international bestselling author known for his deeply practical approach to modern spirituality. His books have sold over six million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than thirty-eight languages.

Ordained in the Korean Zen tradition, Haemin Sunim received monastic training in South Korea before pursuing academic study in religion at the University of California, Berkeley, Harvard University, and Princeton University, where he earned his doctorate. Today, he continues to teach and inspire audiences around the world through international talks, retreats, and his widely read writings.

📄 Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-69v

⏱Timestamps:

(00:22) Meet Haemin Sunim: From Harvard to Monkhood

(01:02) The Hidden Loneliness of Your Inner Child

(02:27) Why We Seek Approval (Childhood Survival Instincts)

(04:20) The Fear of Rejection = A “Death Sentence”?

(05:44) People Pleasing & Outsourcing Your Self-Worth

(07:04) You Already Have the Love You’re Seeking

(07:29) What People Secretly Hide Behind Their Smiles

(08:47) Rewiring Your Mind: Escaping Negative Thinking

(10:21) A Simple Night Routine to Train Gratitude

(12:25) How to Reset When You’re Stressed (10 sec → 20 min methods)

(15:19) Dopamine vs Serotonin: Why You Feel Empty After Scrolling

(18:00) Addiction Isn’t the Problem—What Are You Avoiding?

(19:30) Love = Attention (A Surprising Redefinition)

(20:11) Relationships as Mirrors: What They Reveal About You

(22:00) Healing Patterns: Why You Keep Getting Hurt

(24:14) Reparenting Yourself: Giving What You Never Received

(24:30) Cheryl’s Reflection: Letting Go of Validation

(26:11) Cheryl’s Reflection: Love Was Never “Taken” From You

Resources:

Haenim Sunim Website: https://www.haeminsunim.com/

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong, Dennis Lee, Kayliam, Darren

🙏 Sponsor us:https://handfulofleaves.life/support/

🎬 Editor:Karen Law

✍️ Transcribers: Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Ng Yah Tyng🎨 Visuals & Sound: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

Get connected here: ⁠Telegram⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Facebook

In this episode, Cheryl sits down with Ajahn Nisabho to explore a powerful question many practitioners quietly wrestle with: with so many Buddhist paths available, why commit deeply to one?

Drawing from his journey in the Thai Forest Tradition, Ajahn Nisabho shares how commitment is less about limitation and more about depth and sincerity. Through his experience training as a monk and helping to build a monastery in the West, he reflects on how practice, service, and community are not competing priorities, but interconnected expressions of the same path.

This conversation offers a grounded look at how the Dhamma can remain authentic while meeting the needs of a modern, diverse world, showing that with care and clarity, depth and accessibility can coexist without losing the essence of the teachings.

✨ Key Takeaways:

🧘‍♂️ I don’t think the Dhamma makes us choose.

True Dhamma doesn’t force a choice between inner practice and outer service. When held wisely, both can deepen each other. A powerful reminder that practice and service, seclusion and community, can coexist when held with wisdom.

🤝 This hunger for… spiritual friendship and community is very deep in people’s hearts.

In a disconnected world, kalyanamitta is not optional, it is essential to the path, especially in a fragmented, modern world.

🌱 Give where you feel inspired.

Whether through time, energy, or intention, true generosity (dāna) begins with genuine inspiration not from pressure or obligation.

#Dana #Generosity #HeartLedLife #Balance #DhammaInLife #Community #Kalyanamitta #SpiritualGrowth

About the Speaker:

👤 Ajahn Nisabho is a Buddhist monk in the Thai Forest Tradition and a founding teacher of Clear Mountain Monastery. After completing college in 2012, he left his native Washington to ordain in Thailand, seeking a life dedicated to meditation and the pursuit of liberation. He received full ordination the following year under Ajahn Anan, a senior disciple of the renowned meditation master Ajahn Chah.

Over the next several years, Ajahn Nisabho trained in forest monasteries across the world under respected teachers including Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Jayasaro.

In 2021, he returned to the United States and began laying the foundation for Clear Mountain Monastery in Seattle, with the aim of creating a place where the timeless teachings of the Buddha can take root and flourish for contemporary practitioners.

📄 Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-68

⏱Timestamps:

(00:00) Why commit to one Buddhist path?

(00:25) Podcast intro & guest introduction

(00:56) Ajahn Nisabho’s journey into monastic life

(02:52) Vision of Clear Mountain monastery

(03:47) Balancing practice, service & responsibility

(05:21) The joy of giving (Dāna) & community role

(07:55) Building a community-first monastery

(10:33) The modern need for spiritual community

(13:36) How to support the monastery meaningfully

(18:35) Balancing accessibility vs deep teachings

(22:11) Insights from science, interviews & tradition

(25:25) Teaching without compromise & closing reflection

Resources:

Clear Mountain Project: https://www.friendsofclearmountain.org/

Clear Mountain Youtube : @ClearMountainMonastery

Clear Mountain Website: https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong, Dennis Lee, Kayliam, Darren

🙏 Sponsor us:https://handfulofleaves.life/support/

🎬 Editor: Dexel Loo

✍️ Transcribers: Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Ng Yah Tyng

🎨 Visuals & Sound: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

Get connected here: Telegram Instagram YouTube Facebook

Many couples don’t fall apart because of a lack of love — they drift because they stop listening, growing, and meeting each other where they are. In this episode, Cheryl sits down with Angela, founder of Almost Peaceful, to explore why some relationships deepen over time while others quietly disconnect.

Drawing from lived experience, Buddhist principles, and years of working with couples, Angela shares how mindfulness, curiosity, and honest communication can transform conflict into connection — and why lasting love is less about grand gestures and more about daily intention.

✨ Key Takeaways:

💬 Listening Over Fixing — Most relationship tension comes from rushing to solve problems instead of first offering presence, empathy, and a listening ear.

🌱 Love Is a Verb — Healthy relationships are built through consistent effort, curiosity, and small daily actions — not assumptions or mind-reading.

🧘 Non-Attachment Strengthens Love — Honouring impermanence, personal space, and emotional awareness helps couples grow together without clinging or control.

#MindfulRelationships #BuddhistWisdom #ConsciousLove #EmotionalConnection #HandfulOfLeaves

About the Speaker:

Most relationship experts either focus on therapy (fixing what's broken) or surface-level advice (communication tips that don't stick). Angela bridges the gap with relationship mastery - the systematic approach to building extraordinary partnerships.

Her unique combination:

•

Academic rigor from her Master's in Social Development Policy (Distinction) from University College London

•

Real-world experience from 6 years facilitating high-stakes government dialogues as a Singapore Scholar

•

Professional training in Gottman Method, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and Co-Active Fundamentals Coaching

•

Personal understanding of what makes marriages thrive

📄 Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-67

⏱Timestamps:

(00:00) Why many couples drift apart despite loving each other

(01:02) From problem-solving to deep listening in relationships

(03:14) The turning point before marriage and choosing commitment

(05:00) What it really takes to know someone is “the one”

(07:10) Why busy lives quietly erode relationships

(08:20) Love as a daily practice, not a feeling

(11:04) Monthly relationship check-ins that rebuild connection

(13:21) Conflict patterns: avoidance and mind-reading

(15:06) Communicating needs without blame or defensiveness

(17:05) Hyper-independence and learning interdependence

(19:00) Creating space without disconnecting from your partner

(21:44) Impermanence, compassion, and choosing wisely at crossroads

(27:27) One small daily habit to feel more connected

Resources:

Zen-inspired marriage preparation workshop - https://almostpeaceful.sg/pages/marriage-success

Get in touch with Angela via - https://www.instagram.com/almostpeaceful.sg/

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong, Dennis Lee, Kayliam, Darren

🙏 Sponsor us:https://handfulofleaves.life/support/

🎬 Editor: Havalooka Studios

✍️ Transcribers: Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Bernice Bay

🎨 Visuals & Sound: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

Get connected here: Telegram Instagram YouTube Facebook

What does it mean to be alone without feeling lonely? In this episode, Venerable Sumangala reflects on solitude, companionship, and the inner stability needed to stand confidently on our own. Drawing from Buddhist teachings and lived experience, she shares why learning to be at ease with oneself is essential for mental freedom, emotional resilience, and genuine connection with others.

✨ Key Takeaways:

🧘 Solitude Is Not Loneliness — being alone becomes nourishing when the mind is trained to be steady, kind, and present.

🤝 Right Companionship Matters — wise friendships support growth and values, without creating dependence or fear of being alone.

🌱 Inner Stability Creates Freedom — when we are rooted within ourselves, we relate to others from wholeness.

#AloneButNotLonely #BuddhistWisdom #MindfulLiving #InnerPeace #SpiritualFriendship

About the Speaker:

👤 Venerable Sumaṅgalā Therī is the Abbess of Ariya Vihara Buddhist Society. She embarked on her spiritual journey in Buddhism at the age of 19, inspired by the serene sight of a monk and people meditating, which deeply delighted her heart. This initial inspiration led her to actively pursue, learn, and practise the Buddha’s teachings, with a particular focus on meditation.

She holds a B.A. in Psychology and in 1999, she completed her M.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, both from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Furthering her academic and spiritual education, Ven. Sumaṅgalā Therī obtained an M.A. in Philosophy (Buddhism) from the International Buddhist College, Thailand in 2011.

Currently, she serves as the Abbess and President of Ariya Vihara Buddhist Society and is an advisor of Gotami Vihara Society in Malaysia. Ven. Sumaṅgalā Therī is actively involved in conducting meditation retreats and giving Dhamma talks in various centers and camps, sharing her deep understanding and experiences in the Dhamma with others.

She is one of the recipients of the 23rd Anniversary Outstanding Women Awards (OWBA) 2024, in honour of the United Nations International Women’s Day.

📄 Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-66

⏱Timestamps:

(00:00) Being alone versus feeling lonely

(02:05) Why modern life amplifies loneliness

(04:30) Learning to be comfortable with oneself

(07:10) Solitude as a spiritual training

(09:55) The role of spiritual friendship

(12:40) Boundaries, dependence, and healthy connection

(15:20) Loneliness as a teacher

(17:45) Cultivating inner refuge

(20:10) Living fully alone but not lonely

Resources:

Ariya Vihara Buddhist Society website - https://ariyavihara.org/

Ariya Vihara Building Project - https://ariyavihara.org/ariya-vihara-building-project/

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong, Dennis Lee, Kayliam, Darren

🙏 Sponsor us: https://handfulofleaves.life/support/

🎬 Editor: Hong Jiayi

✍️ Transcribers: Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Bernice Bay

🎨 Visuals & Sound: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

📱 Get Connected: Telegram Instagram YouTube Facebook

What gives life true meaning beyond achievement, comfort, and success? In this episode, Venerable Sumangala reflects on purpose, happiness, and the Buddhist path—challenging modern ideas of fulfillment and inviting us to look inward. Through teachings on non-attachment, mental training, and the Noble Eightfold Path, this conversation explores how lasting happiness comes from freedom of mind, not endless striving.

✨ Key Takeaways:

🧭 Purpose Beyond Success – Why ambition and “becoming someone” never fully satisfy.

🌿 Non-Attachment, Real Peace – How letting go leads to calm, clarity, and inner happiness.

🧘 Train the Mind – Meditation and mindfulness as practical tools for daily life.

#BuddhistWisdom #PurposeInLife #InnerPeace #MindfulLiving

About the Speaker:

👤 Venerable Sumaṅgalā Therī is the Abbess of Ariya Vihara Buddhist Society. She embarked on her spiritual journey in Buddhism at the age of 19, inspired by the serene sight of a monk and people meditating, which deeply delighted her heart. This initial inspiration led her to actively pursue, learn, and practise the Buddha’s teachings, with a particular focus on meditation.

She holds a B.A. in Psychology and in 1999, she completed her M.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, both from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Furthering her academic and spiritual education, Ven. Sumaṅgalā Therī obtained an M.A. in Philosophy (Buddhism) from the International Buddhist College, Thailand in 2011.

Currently, she serves as the Abbess and President of Ariya Vihara Buddhist Society and is an advisor of Gotami Vihara Society in Malaysia. Ven. Sumaṅgalā Therī is actively involved in conducting meditation retreats and giving Dhamma talks in various centers and camps, sharing her deep understanding and experiences in the Dhamma with others.

She is one of the recipients of the 23rd Anniversary Outstanding Women Awards (OWBA) 2024, in honour of the United Nations International Women’s Day.

📄 Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-65

⏱Timestamps:

(00:00) – Introduction to the episode & Venerable Sumangala

(01:30) – What is true happiness and freedom from suffering?

(02:11) – Non-attachment as the key to peace

(03:17) – Why ambition and “becoming someone” never satisfies

(06:37) – The Noble Eightfold Path explained simply

(08:17) – Training the mind through meditation and loving-kindness

(10:54) – Happiness from within vs sense pleasure

(12:45) – Living simply in a consumer-driven world

(17:27) – Redefining success as inner peace and happiness

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong, Dennis Lee, Kayliam, Darren

🙏 Sponsor us:https://handfulofleaves.life/support/

🎬 Editor: Hong Jiayi

✍️ Transcribers: Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Bernice Bay

🎨 Visuals & Sound: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

📱Get connected here: Telegram Instagram YouTube Facebook

In this energizing conversation, Meng — Google’s former “Jolly Good Fellow” and co-founder of http://buddhism.net — breaks down how Buddhist practice can boost happiness, success, and emotional resilience. From the “minimum effective dose” of meditation to the surprising technique of “suffer later,” Meng shares practical tools anyone can use to feel calmer, think clearer, and live wiser — without needing hours of practice a day.

✨ Key Takeaways:

🧘 Meditation Makes Life Better – Even small, consistent practice creates clarity, calm, and emotional strength

💛 Kindness = Real Power – Why compassion makes you more likeable, more effective, and a better leader

⚡ Tiny Tools, Big Impact – Quick practices like 6-second meditation, “suffer later,” and micro-Metta can transform your day

#MindfulLiving #BuddhistWisdom #EmotionalResilience #LeadershipSkills #MeditationTools

About the Speaker:

👤 Chade-Meng Tan (Meng) is an award-winning engineer, international bestselling author, movie producer and philanthropist.

Meng led the creation of the groundbreaking mindfulness-based emotional intelligence course at Google called Search Inside Yourself. He retired from Google as its Jolly Good Fellow at the age of 45 but is far from retired in his pursuit to spread peace, kindness, and mindfulness around the world.

He is Co-chair of One Billion Acts of Peace, which has been nominated by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and seven others for the Nobel Peace Prize. He was also Executive Producer of the movie Walk With Me, and Adjunct Professor at the National University of Singapore.

Meng delivered a TED talk on compassion at the United Nations, spoke about the development of kindness at the White House, and led mindfulness practice at the Vatican. The Dalai Lama gave him a hug for his 40th birthday. President Carter once gave him a standing ovation.

He jokes that he is a Buddhist “on most weekdays, especially Mondays.” His personal motto is, “Life is too important to be taken seriously”.

📄 Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-64

⏱Timestamps:

(00:00) – Are you happier? Meng’s unexpected opening question

(00:23) – Meng’s background: Google, Buddhism.net & his mission

(01:38) – Why young people postpone Buddhism (and why it’s a mistake)

(02:39) – Early practice = lifelong benefit (fitness & investing analogy)

(03:45) – How meditation improves success at work & relationships

(05:47) – Leading with kindness: why people help those they like

(07:16) – Leadership under pressure + Meng’s lesson from IBM’s CEO

(10:00) – “Suffer later”: Meng’s surprisingly effective stress technique

(11:40) – Two parts of Buddhism: transformation & transcendence

(13:22) – 6-second meditation experiment (Cheryl tries it)

(16:17) – Minimum effective dose: only 100 minutes needed

(17:59) – 3 simple practices: Breath, Metta, Waiting-awareness

Resources:

Links to the ‘Buddhism for All’ series -

Website: http://buddhism.net

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buddhism_dot_net/

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong, Dennis Lee, Kayliam, Darren

🙏 Sponsor us:https://handfulofleaves.life/support/

🎬 Editor: Brian (Pasadhi), Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing

✍️ Transcribers: Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Bernice Bay

🎨 Visuals & Sound: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

Get connected here: Telegram Instagram YouTube Facebook

In this inspiring conversation, Buddhist nun and author Emma Slade (Lopen Ani Pema Deki) shares how compassion fuels her work through Opening Your Heart to Bhutan, a charity supporting children with special needs. From surviving a life-changing hostage experience to preparing for a 37-day trek across Bhutan, Emma reveals how resilience, faith, and kindness can transform both personal suffering and the lives of others.

💪 Resilience in Adversity – Lessons from Bhutanese children and Emma’s own journey through trauma.

🌏 Compassion in Action – Why widening our hearts creates true peace and supports those in need.

🧘 Progress, Not Perfection – How practice and service are about gradual growth, not instant enlightenment.

#CompassionInAction #BuddhistWisdom #OpeningYourHeart

About the Speaker:

👤 Lopen Ani Pema Deki (Emma Slade) was born in Kent, and was educated at Cambridge University and the University of London where she gained a First Class degree. She is a qualified Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and worked in Fund Management in London, New York, and Hong Kong.

A deep seated desire to enquire into the deeper aspects of humanity arise following a life-changing business trip to Jakarta, where she was held hostage at gunpoint. She resigned from her financial career and began exploring yoga and meditation and methods of wellbeing with the ultimate aim of turning a traumatic episode into wisdom and conditions for thriving.

​Her interest in Buddhism as a science of the mind strengthened after meeting a Buddhist Lama (teacher) on her first visit to Bhutan in 2011. This crucial chance meeting led to her studying Buddhism with this Lama and, eventually, led to her becoming the first and only Western woman to be ordained in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan as a Buddhist nun.

📄 Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-63

⏱Timestamps:

(00:00) – Introduction to Emma Slade: Buddhist nun, author, and charity founder

(00:47) – Opening Your Heart to Bhutan: supporting children with special needs

(01:40) – Preparing to walk the 37-day Wild Bhutan Trail for fundraising

(01:59) – Emma’s hostage experience and empathy for children lacking autonomy

(03:21) – Story of a boy walking on his knees who now trains for the Paralympics

(04:17) – Mindset and resilience: lessons from Bhutanese children

(05:14) – Struggles, fundraising challenges, and not giving up

(06:08) – Expanding compassion as mental training and peace

(07:05) – Following the Bodhisattva vow with aspiration despite obstacles

(09:11) – Skillful means: helping others when they are ready to receive

(10:49) – The “cup” analogy for openness to Dharma

(12:12) – Progress is gradual: not expecting perfection in practice

(12:44) – Redefining suffering as mental states, not just physical

(14:02) – Preparing physically and mentally for the Bhutan Trail

(14:31) – Stretching beyond comfort zones to truly help others

(14:40) – How to follow Emma’s journey and support the cause

Resources:

Emma Slade’s website: https://www.emmaslade.com/

Emma Slade’s charity fundraiser: https://www.openingyourhearttobhutan.com/

Facebook/Instagram: @openingyourhearttobhutan_

More about her journey being held at gunpoint: My Path To Becoming A Buddhist | Emma Slade | TEDxSevenoaksSchool

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong, Dennis Lee

🙏 Sponsor us:https://handfulofleaves.life/support/

🎬 Editor: Hong Jiayi

✍️ Transcribers: Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Bernice Bay

🎨 Visuals & Sound: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

📱 Get Connected
Telegram Instagram YouTube Facebook

From dating to reading about Elon Musk to politics, he was in search of meaning in his early 20s. That all changed when he read about the Buddha and his monks.

We had the awesome opportunity to speak with Phra Ryan before he took on full ordination. Here’s his story of becoming a monk at the prime of his career in the tech industry. This is also how he, as an only son and having family members of a different faith, arrived at this path.

#BuddhistWisdom #MindfulLiving #FaithAndPractice

About the Speaker:

Halfway through university, Ryan embarked on a spiritual journey into the deeper meaning of life, and found himself drawn towards Buddhism during a silent retreat in the Australian bush, which marked the beginning of an eight-year long journey into monkhood. This is his story.

📄 Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-phra-ryan

⏱Timestamps:

(00:00) – First week as a novice monk: nerves and relief

(01:30) – Meeting Ajahn Dhammasiha and first retreats

(03:00) – Life as an Anagarika and family’s reaction

(05:00) – Growing up privileged but searching for meaning

(07:05) – Parents’ and friends’ response to ordination

(09:10) – Luang Por’s teaching: life without mindfulness is crazy

(10:00) – Goal of practice: freeing the mind from attachment

(11:15) – Wearing the robe and facing “imposter syndrome”

(12:09) – Choosing Wat Marp Jan under Luang Por Anan

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong, Dennis Lee

🙏 Sponsor us:https://handfulofleaves.life/support/

🎬 Editor: Hong Jiayi

✍️ Transcribers: Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Bernice Bay

🎨 Visuals & Sound: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

Get connected here: Telegram Instagram YouTube Facebook

In this episode, Lopen Ani Pema Deki (Ven Emma Slade) — a former London investment banker who left after a near-death experience in Jakarta to ordain in Bhutan — explores what it means to widen the heart and become truly unbreakable. She contrasts fleeting, manufactured happiness with the effortless joy that arises from practice and explains how small acts of kindness build resilience. Perfect for listeners curious about practical spirituality and living with purpose.

Key Takeaways:

🧭 Choose Liberation, Not Comfort — Why training the mind matters, and how practice aims for freedom from samsara rather than temporary ease.

💫 Real Joy vs. Manufactured Bliss — The difference between practice-born joy (stable, effortless) and short-lived worldly pleasures.

🤝 Small Acts, Big Heart — Two-minute kindnesses, widening your circle of care, and the role of faith/teacher in sustaining practice.

#OpeningYourHeart #BuddhistWisdom #MindfulLiving #FaithAndPractice

About the Speaker:

👤 Lopen Ani Pema Deki (Ven Emma Slade) was born in Kent, educated at Cambridge University and the University of London where she gained a First Class degree. She is a qualified Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and worked in Fund Management in London, New York, and Hong Kong.

A deep seated desire to enquire into the deeper aspects of humanity arise following a life- changing business trip to Jakarta, where she was held hostage at gunpoint. She resigned from her financial career and began exploring yoga and meditation and methods of wellbeing with the ultimate aim of turning a traumatic episode into wisdom and conditions for thriving. ​

Her interest in Buddhism as a science of the mind strengthened after meeting a Buddhist Lama (teacher) on her first visit to Bhutan in 2011. This crucial chance meeting led to her studying Buddhism and becoming the first and only Western woman to be ordained in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan as a Buddhist nun.

📄 Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-62

⏱Timestamps:

(00:00) – Introduction to Lopen Ani Pema Deki (Ven Emma Slade), former banker turned Buddhist nun

(01:00) – The challenge of practicing Dharma in a busy modern life

(02:31) – Are we seeking comfort in samsara or liberation?

(02:51) – What happiness really means from a Buddhist perspective

(03:40) – Joy and bliss: natural results of Dharma practice vs. worldly joy

(05:28) – Reflections on Bhutan and why happiness can’t be measured easily

(06:20) – Mental resilience and faith in Bhutanese life

(07:17) – Small daily acts of kindness in a busy life

(07:53) – Expanding motivation beyond yourself and loved ones

(08:52) – Why bother about anyone else besides your loved ones?

(09:20) – Why widening your heart supports resilience

(10:24) – The Bodhisattva path: stretching beyond your comfort zone

(11:14) – How Lopen Ani Pema Deki became a Buddhist and later a nun

(11:40) – Meeting her teacher in Bhutan

(12:24) – Moments of clarity and deep spiritual connection

(14:27) – Karma and how Lopen Ani Pema Deki ’s path ripened in Bhutan

Resources:

Lopen Ani Pema Deki (Ven Emma Slade) website - https://www.emmaslade.com/

Lopen Ani Pema Deki (Ven Emma Slade) charity fundraiser - https://www.openingyourhearttobhutan.com/

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong, Dennis Lee

🙏 Sponsor us: https://handfulofleaves.life/support/

🎬 Editor: Hong Jiayi

✍️ Transcribers: Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Bernice Bay

🎨 Visuals & Sound: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

📱Get connected here: Telegram Instagram YouTube Facebook

How can Buddhist principles guide tough business decisions, build trust, and create a healthier workplace culture? In this episode, Glints co-founder Ying Cong shares real-life lessons from 11 years of leading a startup—navigating challenges from employee boundaries to co-founder conflicts—while staying grounded in his “inviolable principles.” His reflections show how mindfulness and compassion can be powerful tools in leadership and life.

🛑 Boundaries Build Respect – Why not treating employees as “family” can actually strengthen trust and fairness.

🗣️ Truth as a Leadership Asset – How radical honesty during crises kept the team united and loyal.

🤝 Compassion in Conflict – Using empathy and gratitude to resolve disagreements without breaking relationships.

#MindfulLeadership #BuddhistWisdom #StartupLessons #TruthAndTrust #DharmaInBusiness

About the Speaker:

👤 Ying Cong is a long-time meditator and the co-founder of Glints, a leading career platform in Southeast Asia. Over the past decade, he helped scale the company from an idea incubated by JFDI to a regional startup featured in major publications like The Straits Times and Yahoo News. As Glints’ former CTO and current machine learning engineer, he has worked on recommender systems, fraud detection, and data infrastructure—though he jokes that most of it is just “glorified data cleaning.”

His Dhamma journey began in his teenage years and continues to deepen through regular meditation, observing the precepts, and periods of monastic training in the Thai forest tradition. He is quietly exploring how to balance the responsibilities of lay life with the path of practice.

📄 Transcript:https://bit.ly/hol-ep-61

⏱ Timestamps

(00:00) – Introduction to Ying Cong and Glints

(00:46) – Why “treating employees like family” caused challenges

(02:34) – Setting healthy boundaries while staying compassionate

(03:34) – Listening deeply to uncover unspoken struggles

(05:24) – How personal connection creates meaning at work

(05:54) – Translating individual meaning into team culture

(07:04) – Leaders setting the tone for company culture

(08:13) – Avoiding the trap of hiring people just like you

(09:59) – Using “inviolable principles” as a leadership foundation

(10:38) – Close calls with breaking the precept on truthfulness

(12:14) – Learning to package truth wisely for investors

(13:02) – How truthfulness builds long-term trust with employees

(15:02) – Radical transparency during financial crisis kept the team together

(16:04) – Biggest co-founder disagreement: shutting down a business unit

(19:00) – Applying Buddhist wisdom to make difficult decisions

(20:14) – Compassion in execution: acknowledging effort and gratitude

(22:23) – Stepping down as CTO and learning from different roles

(23:26) – Final reflections and key takeaways

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong, Dennis Lee

🙏 Sponsor us:https://handfulofleaves.life/support/

🎬 Editor: Aparajita Ghose –Website |YouTube

✍️ Transcribers: Hong Jiayi, Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Bernice Bay

🎨 Visuals & Sound: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

Get connected here: Telegram Instagram YouTube Facebook

What does it mean to build a $200M startup while staying grounded in Buddhist values? In this episode, Ying Cong, co-founder of Glints, shares candid stories from his entrepreneurial journey—from navigating PR crises to letting go of ego and status. With wisdom drawn from his daily two-hour meditation practice and real-world experience, he explores how Dhamma can shape leadership, decisions, and even definitions of success.

🧘 Meditation in the Startup World – How mindfulness helps in managing crises and emotional highs and lows

💸 The Joy of Giving – Why true generosity pierces the ego and transforms workplace culture

🌊 Samsara on Steroids – Lessons in impermanence from building (and rebuilding) a company over 11 years

#StartupWisdom #MindfulLeadership #BuddhistEntrepreneur #SamsaraOnSteroids #DhammaInBusiness

About the Speaker:

👤Ying Cong is a long-time meditator and the co-founder of Glints, a leading career platform in Southeast Asia. Over the past decade, he helped scale the company from an idea incubated by JFDI to a regional startup featured in major publications like The Straits Times and Yahoo News. As Glints’ former CTO and current machine learning engineer, he has worked on recommender systems, fraud detection, and data infrastructure—though he jokes that most of it is just “glorified data cleaning.”

His Dhamma journey began in his teenage years and continues to deepen through regular meditation, observing the precepts, and periods of monastic training in the Thai forest tradition. He is quietly exploring how to balance the responsibilities of lay life with the path of practice.

Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-60

Timestamps:

(00:00) – Startup life as “samsara on steroids”

(00:50) – Introduction to guest: Ying Cong, co-founder of Glints

(02:02) – Ying Cong’s Buddhist background and early monastic experiences

(02:48) – Why he meditates two hours a day and how he finds time

(04:34) – How meditation helped during a major PR crisis

(05:00) – The PR crisis story: a job listing gone wrong

(07:31) – Learning to face problems directly, like in meditation

(08:46) – Reputation: years to build, seconds to lose

(09:37) – The joy of giving and overcoming stinginess

(11:15) – A COVID layoff decision and the pain of letting go

(13:48) – Choosing compassion: giving severance from personal funds

(15:10) – Letting go of attachment to money and ego

(16:21) – Building something meaningful through self-development

(16:50) – Startup life and the eight worldly winds

(17:23) – From financial freedom to finding deeper meaning

(18:01) – “Making it” then losing it: a funding disappointment

(19:38) – People come and go: the pain of team members leaving

(21:05) – Impermanence and the constant cycle of change

(21:47) – Reflections on the Buddha’s noble search

(23:02) – Developing wisdom and seeing patterns of impermanence

(23:36) – Closing Reflection

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong

Sponsor us here: https://handfulofleaves.life/support/

Editor of this episode: Aparajita Ghose

Website: aparajitayoga.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLdn8TJKbY1uQ9PQr5AUsA

Transcribers of this episode: Hong Jiayi, Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Bernice Bay

Visual and Sound Effects: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

Get connected here: Telegram Instagram YouTube Facebook

How do we grow through trauma and find clarity in the midst of chaos? In this heartfelt and honest episode, Hary Ho opens up about his journey through childhood trauma, depression, and a life-changing medical condition that forced him to confront impermanence head-on. His story is a powerful reminder that healing isn't linear—but it is possible. Tune in for raw reflections, unexpected insights, and gentle encouragement for anyone navigating darkness.

🔹 From Abuse to Awakening – Hary shares how childhood trauma shaped his worldview and his eventual path to inner freedom 🕊️

🔹 Facing Illness and Impermanence – A serious medical condition became a turning point for reflection and transformation 🏥

🔹 Letting Go and Letting Be – Insights on acceptance and finding peace in the present moment 🌿

#MentalHealth #TraumaRecovery #FacingImpermanence #HealingJourney #BuddhistWisdom

About the Speaker:

👤 Haryono (Hary) is currently Senior Director in P&G, he has 14 years of experience working across APAC markets and lived across Singapore, Indonesia and Philippines. He had a near-death experience, having a coma during his teenage life and now living with type 1 diabetes. Buddhism has helped him understand that there is always peace in whatever suffering and unhappiness with regards to mind and body and it's up to us on how to make sense of it.

Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-59

Timestamps:

(00:00) – Introducing Hary and today’s topic

(01:12) – Hary’s childhood

(02:16) – Events that started to unfold after Hary’s move to Singapore

(04:16) – Deep depression and suicidal thoughts

(05:38) – Turning to Buddhism and spiritual inquiry

(06:57) – Starting his journey with meditation

(08:01) – Letting go of expectations and control

(10:15) – How did meditation help with his diabetes management

(13:09) – Watching the heart

(14:10) – The equation of suffering

(18:38) – Be kind to yourself

(19:50) – What is a meaningful life?

(22:49) – Challenges faced in letting go

(26:22) – Closing reflections and message to others

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong

Sponsor us here: https://handfulofleaves.life/support/

Editor and Transcriber of this episode: Hong Jiayi, Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Bernice Bay

Visual and Sound Effects: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

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What does Vesak mean beyond flowers, incense, and rituals? In this warm and insightful conversation, the HOL team reflects on their childhood memories, evolving understanding, and personal aspirations for Vesak. From funny temple stories to deep reflections on renunciation, this episode explores how we can live the true spirit of Vesak — not just on one day, but every day.

Key Takeaways:

🌱 From Ritual to Reflection – How Vesak transformed from a cultural event into a meaningful spiritual practice.

🧘 Practice Over Offerings – Why the Buddha taught that our actions — not flowers or incense — are the highest form of respect.

💛 Faith in Human Potential – Vesak is a reminder that we too can walk the path the Buddha walked.

#VesakReflections #EverydayDharma #ModernBuddhism #HandfulOfLeaves #BuddhistWisdom

About the Speakers:

👤 Hong Jiayi works in communications. She began her Dhamma journey last year, a path that has since become a grounding presence in her life.

She volunteers with DAYWA, a community for young Buddhist working adults in Singapore, and serves as an editor on the podcast team at Handful of Leaves.

Outside of work and Dhamma, she trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a sport that keeps her humble, grounded, and occasionally squished.

👤 Teo Heng Soon (known as Soon in short) graduated from the University of Melbourne and is now a human capital consultant. Passionate about people, he has been a leader with multiple volunteer organisations like the Dyslexic Association of Singapore.

Buddhist Fellowship Youth has been his Dhamma home for 12 years. Honing his leadership skills, he has learnt to give Dhamma talks and conduct workshops and sutta discussions.

On a personal level, Soon is passionate about the arts - from Karate to Photography.

Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-58

Timestamps:

(00:00) – Introduction: Gratitude for the Buddha and what Vesak means

(00:56) – Hosts share their backgrounds in Buddhism

(03:00) – Childhood memories and early Vesak experiences

(06:45) – How understanding of Vesak deepened over time

(07:55) – From taking to giving: Vesak as spiritual transformation

(10:05) – Honoring the Buddha through practice, not just ritual

(11:15) – Why precepts matter and how they bring freedom

(13:58) – Restraint vs. comfort in modern life

(15:45) – Redefining happiness: freedom from craving

(16:15) – Letting go of ego and being present with others

(17:30) – Daily check-in: living wholesomely beyond Vesak

(21:15) – Faith in the Buddha and our human potential

(24:13) – Practicing Vesak meaningfully for the first time

(26:38) – The Buddha’s compassion and sacrifice

(29:28) – Seeing the Buddha as a relatable human

(31:19) – Aspirations: letting go, gratitude, compassion

(34:45) – Closing: What does Vesak mean to you?

Resource:

The Snake Simile where the Buddha calls someone foolishhttps://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.022.nypo.html#:~:text=6.%20%22Of%20whom,time.%22%5B3%5D

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong

Sponsor us here: https://handfulofleaves.life/support/

Editor of this episode: Aparajita Ghose

Website: aparajitayoga.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLdn8TJKbY1uQ9PQr5AUsA

Transcribers of this episode: Tan Si Jing, Bernice Bay

Visual and Sound Effects: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

Get connected here: Telegram Instagram YouTube Facebook

In this heartfelt farewell episode, Kai Xin shares her personal journey of stepping away from Handful of Leaves to fully pursue the spiritual path. Together with Heng Xuan, they reflect on the early days of HOL, the community they’ve built, and what lies ahead. Whether you're a long-time listener or new to the platform, this episode is a touching reminder of purpose, presence, and legacy.

Key Takeaways:

🙏 Honoring a New Chapter – Kai Xin shares her decision to step down from HOL to focus on formal Buddhist practice.

💡 Legacy & Letting Go – Reflections on building HOL and trusting the team to carry the vision forward.

🌱 What’s Next for HOL – Heng Xuan shares how the platform will evolve and continue to serve the Buddhist community.

#MindfulTransitions #BuddhistWisdom #SpiritualJourney #HandfulOfLeaves #DharmaInAction

About the Speakers:

👤 Koh Kai Xin is a co-founder of HighSpark, a strategic communications consulting and training agency. She started her Dhamma journey at the age of 17 with Buddhist Fellowship Singapore and has been volunteering her time at various Buddhist organisations. She's now a mentor under the SBM mentorship programme. Her perfect holiday is a long meditation retreat in the forest monasteries.

👤 Teo Heng Xuan works as a senior associate in an investment firm. He is also the co-founder of DAYWA, a community for young Buddhist working adults in Singapore & Handful Of Leaves, a popular Buddhist media platform that publishes insightful articles and a podcast series. He is also a mentor for the BFY youth group.

Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-this-is-goodbye

Timestamps:

(00:00) – Kai Xin announces her departure from Handful of Leaves

(01:26) – Origin of HOL and vision to make Buddhism accessible

(06:17) – Why Kai Xin chose to step down

(08:28) – Emotional struggles and clarity while in Thailand

(11:51) – Heng Xuan reflects on the impact and future without Kai Xin

(13:54) – Transition planning and empowering the team

(15:40) – Financial sustainability and staying true to Dhamma

(17:51) – Confidence in the path and finding support in Thailand

(22:29) – Milestones and meaningful community impact

(26:05) – Kai Xin’s commitment to practice and simple living

(28:32) – The future of HOL: new formats, new contributors

(30:30) – Parting advice: use the three poisons as a guide

(35:06) – How to support HOL: skills, donations, and personal practice

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong

Sponsor us here: https://handfulofleaves.life/support/

Editor and transcriber of this episode:

Hong Jia Yi, Ang You Shan, Tan Si Jing, Bernice Bay, Cheryl Cheah

HOL indent visuals: Anton Thorne

Jingle and Sound effects: Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

Get connected here: Telegram Instagram YouTube Facebook

In this enriching episode of Handful of Leaves, Venerable Sumangala shares how Buddhist wisdom can be applied to everyday challenges—whether in the workplace, in speech, or in balancing spiritual life with modern demands. With heartfelt stories and practical guidance, she offers a grounded path toward wisdom, mindfulness, and right living.

Key Takeaways:

🗣️ Right Speech Matters – How the words we use can either uplift or harm, and ways to speak with intention and compassion.

🧘 Mindfulness in Daily Life – Practical tips to integrate Dhamma into your workday, commute, and even lunch breaks.

💡 Simple Principles, Deep Impact – Why values like generosity, morality, and clarity of mind are essential for lasting happiness.

#RightSpeech #ModernMindfulness #BuddhistWisdom #DhammaInDailyLife #LiveWithCompassion

About the Speaker

Venerable Sumaṅgalā Therī is the Abbess of Ariya Vihara Buddhist Society. She embarked on her spiritual journey in Buddhism at the age of 19, inspired by the serene sight of a monk and people meditating, which deeply delighted her heart. This initial inspiration led her to actively pursue, learn, and practise the Buddha’s teachings, with a particular focus on meditation.

She holds a B.A. in Psychology and in 1999, she completed her M.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, both from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Furthering her academic and spiritual education, Ven. Sumaṅgalā Therī obtained an M.A. in Philosophy (Buddhism) from the International Buddhist College, Thailand in 2011.

Her formal journey into monastic life began in 2005 when she left the household life to become an Anagarika. Her ordination as a Dasasil (akin to a Sāmaṇerī) took place in November 2008 under the sacred Sri Mahābodhi at Bodhgaya, India. Her preceptor-teacher was Ven. Mahinda Mahāthera, a proponent of Mettā and one of the early disciples of the late Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda Nāyaka Mahāthera from Malaysia. Her meditation teacher was Ven. Nadimale Sumedhā Maniyo of Sri Lanka, who guided her in samatha-vipassanā meditation practices.

On 21 June 2015, she took her higher ordination under the guidance of preceptor Ven. B. Sri Saranankara Nāyaka Mahāthera – the Chief Judiciary Monk of Malaysia, and bhikkhuni preceptor-teacher Ayya Santinī Mahātherī of Indonesia.

Currently, she serves as the Abbess and President of Ariya Vihara Buddhist Society and is an advisor of Gotami Vihara Society in Malaysia. Ven. Sumaṅgalā Therī is actively involved in conducting meditation retreats and giving Dhamma talks in various centers and camps, sharing her deep understanding and experiences in the Dhamma with others.

Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-57

Timestamps:

(00:00) – Power of speech and first impressions

(01:00) – Ego and decision-making in teams

(02:00) – Communicating with clarity and empathy

(03:00) – Leading with Dhamma and unity

(04:00) – Right speech in difficult situations

(05:00) – Transforming unwholesome language

(06:00) – Speech as a source of harm or healing

(07:00) – Choosing words that reduce negativity

(08:00) – True meaning of “being busy”

(09:00) – Mindfulness in everyday routines

(10:00) – Practicing generosity and morality

(11:00) – Living by the five precepts

(12:00) – Simplicity, health, and presence

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law

Editor and transcriber of this episode:

Hong Jiayi, Ang You Shan, Tan Si Jing, Bernice Bay, Cheryl Cheah

HOL indent visuals: Anton Thorne

Jingle and Sound effects: Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

Get connected here: Telegram Instagram YouTube Facebook