Mark Van Ogtrop
59 years, Director, Beacon Sky Hospitality
The Netherlands
My dearest children,
I promised that I would share a little bit of my journey of the past month, which was indeed a life-changing experience. I am very grateful to be invited to join this programme. I now realise that I should have done this much earlier in my life, as it was so impactful, but as the saying goes: it’s never too late. Allow me to explain then the two journeys: the physical and materialistic one and the mental/spiritual one.
So we were invited by a senior monk who has a foundation. His objective is to develop an ordination programme for foreigners and set up retreats to facilitate this and meditation centres. So we were a group of seven new monks to be trained and ordained.
Watch VDO, Life Changing Experiences
Anthony Jude Tan
58 years, Chief Advisor, iRetreat and founder & managing director at AJT Wellity Asia
Singapore
The calling of Peace and Inner Happiness
I’m a 58 year-old Singaporean based in Thailand for the past 16 years. Prior to my 9 years as an entrepreneur, I was the CEO of Thailand’s Top Hospital for Preventive Medical Wellness, and numerous other senior positions as COO and General Manager in the hospitality & Healthcare industry respectively.
My life thus far has been a rollercoaster ride, having gone through 3 broken marriages, with the latest divorce 10 years ago leaving a deep scar on my children, who are now 23 and 17 respectively. Those were years where I prioritized work and social life, always leaving my family at the bottom of my list.
Watch VDO, From darkness into light
Christopher Smith Burananont
40 years, Founder & Owner of Gym Bangarang (Muay Thai Boxing Camp – Chiangmai)
United States of America
It’s been 18 years since we last met on the sands in the Middle East. Some of us never returned home and many of us came home broken and shattered much like myself. Some of us don’t like to be reminded of our past and some of us even today cannot escape our own fears.
The Brothers we left behind, the widows we confided and the children we told stories to about their fathers are always a constant reminder to why we keep pushing forward… but to what end and to what purpose?
Watch VDO, Seeking the Truth
Kevin Todd Jackson (Saccabalo)
I have been asked to share my experience(s) as Monk in the Monk for Life program. I was a late addition to this program, one in which I’ll be eternally grateful for Luang Pi Duke for accepting me!
This program has been specifically designed for foreign nationals, that not be able to speak or understand the Thai language. To that end, the instructors speak English fluently. Which is simply wonderful, so that we can fully understand and have the best learning experience possible.
I came in understanding a little about meditation and it’s impact that it can have on our daily lives. I firmly believe that I would not have attained a deeper understanding, appreciation and the positive impact that it has made in my life.
I would encourage all of those who are considering this, please do so as soon as you can.
