Core Purpose A FABLE ABOUT FINDING OUR PURPOSE
Richard Ong and Pixie Cigar
Copyright © 2018 by ROPT Consulting Illustration by Richard Ong Published by ROPT Consulting 3A-10A, GLO Damansara, 699 , Jalan Damansara, Taman Tun Dr Ismail 60000 Kuala Lumpur All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as expressly permitted by law, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher. Request for permission should be addressed to the Publisher. Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for any damages arising herefrom. ISBN 978-967-16406-0-9 Printed in Malaysia Print Batch 1
Core Purpose A FABLE ABOUT FINDING OUR PURPOSE
Written by Richard Ong and Pixie Cigar Foreword by Lee Constantine
Contents Foreword by Lee Constantine
1.
Finding Purpose
3
3.
Discovering Purpose
18
Feeling Reborn
39
2. 4.
1
5.
Seeking Wisdom
10
Growing Passion
30
Acknowledgements by Richard Ong
46
Acknowledgements by Pixie Cigar
47
Foreword By Lee Constantine
There is always some degree of subjectivity introduced in the physical world, and it requires a bit of soul-searching and
wisdom-seeking in places unknown to interpret reality in any
meaningful way.
In Core Purpose: A Fable About Finding Our Purpose, authors
Richard Ong and Pixie Cigar, manifest their approach to unraveling some important universal truths and teach their
philosophy on how to find meaning and purpose. This book is filled with vibrant storytelling that mimics tightly the values and worldly mission of those in search of life’s purpose and
their own inside of it. It blends pursuits of eastern and western cultures asking you to ponder and reflect differences of opinion before jumping to a conclusion.
Whether the story relates to a similar journey or experience, or a desire to discover something unexpected, the authors touch
on the universals of human experience with wisdom and a telling sense of certainty so that we may confront our foibles with disarmingly gentle assurance.
1
Core Purpose: A Fable About Finding Our Purpose gradually and
very conveniently becomes a dialogue-dominated narrative.
This creates opportunity for philosophical inquiry and
exploration of possible outcomes for any given situation, while at the same time pointing you in the correct direction.
I met Richard Ong, and then soon after Pixie Cigar, on a similar
journey of my own while visiting Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Less
a spiritual undertaking than one of self-enlightenment, it
became a memorable turning point for me that truly helped bring clarity to my own purpose and path in life.
I find their principles for authentic human interaction, wisdom
seeking, and spiritual reasoning invaluable for the entire world. This is a must-read for anyone on a journey of self-discovery.
Lee Constantine
Cofounder & CMO at Publishizer
2
Finding Purpose
I lift my window shutters up, fastened my seat belt and placed my seat in an upright position for yet another bumpy landing.
The cabin assistants were already making their way down the aisle, taking short and careful glances across every row to make sure that everyone was in check.
I couldn't help but notice the couple next to me as they flipped
through a travel guidebook filled with the best places to visit in Seoul. Seeing their hands placed over each other, I supposed
they were off for a romantic getaway. The great thing about meaningful relationships like theirs, is the hope and assurance
3
of a bright future. Life is pretty sweet when you fill it with love. Don’t you think?
I sat motionless in the comforts of the plane, reminding myself again that I was not going to Seoul for romance, work or sight-
seeing. Instead, I am on my way to a secret temple that may offer me something that I hope will change my life forever, my purpose in life.
As my thoughts unfold itself, an announcement from the pilot is broadcasted through the overhead speakers, “Good morning
everyone, we will be landing in approximately 30 minutes time. The local time in Seoul is 8.30am. The skies are clear and the temperature is floating around 15 Celsius. Today must be your
lucky day, look out the window on the right and you will see a beautiful rainbow. It is not fully formed but it is better than
nothing. Have a pleasant stay in Seoul and thank you for flying with us.”
The announcement ended with a sharp beep that sounded like a burnt out electrical circuit. I peered over to catch a glimpse of
what mother nature has to offer, while some sat back to take her for granted. As expected, she is half-formed but it made my day anyway. It reminded me of myself in a way, somewhat halfformed.
4
I always thought that I knew exactly who I was and what I was
meant to do. I went down the road of listing down my passions, but I could only think of the things I did outside of work, like football for example. My projects and companies that I have
worked on in the past started to stack up like shopping items,
only to feed my desire to own more, but are now just items that eventually fades away into the past without any lasting
satisfaction. Knowing this, I always end up at the same dead end, pondering over the real reason why we are doing what we do? Or, is there any reason to our actions if it doesn’t even matter at the end of the day?
The plane wheels gave a loud screech below the belly of the plane, the whole fuselage is now shaking and rambling with us
all still belted in like raw eggs in a carton. The airplane wings
expose itself to create more wind drag, while the turbine engines roar in a reverse air flow to slow the plane further.
I have arrived and my search begins. What I may end up finding may be nothing at all. I will keep my fingers crossed and for good luck, let me tell you what I am really here to find.
I am in search of a life-changing experience, away from the
mundane work that I have been enduring all these years. The
truth is that I have not spent enough time on my own to figure out what I am really passionate about. I don’t even know what
5
is the purpose of the work that I was doing. I was a consultant
for large clients, where requirements were handed to us and it
was really up to us to deliver the solution. The problem was that I have never had the luxury of meeting the client's customers,
the disconnection from the end user had me wondering if and
where my value exists. With all the late nights and stressful deadlines, there was no time to think about what value I am giving or what really matters to me anymore. I was numbed to
the core and felt really empty because I was starting to feel lost.
Coming to work every day was just sucking the energy out of me.
I recently saw hope when I met a senior leader, who managed various companies across America and Japan - and left it all behind to develop a new generation of leaders. He once asked
me to take a leap of faith to find a small temple in Seoul that he has once been to, because he was convinced that I will be able
to find my answer there. What he got out from that place
eventually changed him forever. Unfortunately, it was such a surreal experience for him that he found it difficult to share with me. His only advice was to search for the temple and express my doubts there. That is exactly what I am doing today.
Packing light has its benefits, you can travel around easily and
you don’t have to waste your time waiting at the baggage
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carousel. I finally got my bus ticket and was soon on my way out of Seoul to find this unknown temple.
Looking out, I can't help but admire the bustling city of Seoul, filled with a combination of modern skyscrapers that envelopes
the old temples and palaces that are just screaming to be seen and heard. It was the result of their fast pace modernization and
a rush to compete with the rest of the world. The country was once underdeveloped right after the Korean war and look at
how far it has come now, it is one of the most important economies in this region, if not, in the world.
The resiliency of the Korean people and the pride they have to defy all odds is admirable. It was known that during the
economic meltdown in the 90s, the people of South Korea decided to engage IMF (International Monetary Fund) to help
inject cash into their economy. To repay IMF back fast, the citizens started offering their own gold and money to the
government to save the country from foreign interest, and in fact, the IMF was paid back at record speed. After this milestone
achievement, the Korean people went on to build an economic powerhouse with the likes of Samsung and Hyundai, exporting
products to serve global consumption. But here I wonder, has this country found its purpose?
7
As I journeyed into the outskirts of Seoul, I noticed a change of landscape. My mind starts to calm down, even though I am nervous about the trip ahead. I have no expectations on what I
was about to get myself into. I have nothing to lose. There is nothing much to think about now but to see this trip through.
After 2 hours of travelling, my bus finally stops at a remote
village. I could not help but notice the motionless vibe here. It has been reported that more and more people from the villages are starting to flood to Seoul for better job opportunities, you do
get the occasional retirees that are up and about the small markets but nothing more exciting than that. I was starting to
feel disconnected from the modern world already and that might just be a good thing.
Looking around without sight of any temple, I told myself that it is just about time to ask someone for directions.
8
Questions For Readers 1. Have any of you been on a soul-searching trip before? What did you learn?
2. What are some of the things that you take for granted? 3. How has work been for you in the past? Do you feel passionate about it?
4. Was there an incident that changed your life dramatically?
5. How did modernization change your lifestyle?
6. How do lifestyles differ between east and west?
7. How is western culture different from the east, in terms of preserving its cultural history?
9
Seeking Wisdom
Right in front of me are 3 small roads that lead deep into the different parts of the city. There are no signs or anyone I could
ask directions from, and even worse is that my phone has no
connection.
There are a few shops closing for the day but none of its owners knows or even have the faintest idea about the temple. It does not help that they don't speak English either. Can this town get any more remote?
10
As I am walking towards the end of the road, I noticed a wooden structure protruding out from the hills, mostly covered by the trees surrounding it. I could only make out the roofing and that it looks pretty old. Could that be the temple I am looking for and how in the world can I get up there?
Looking over to my left shoulder, I noticed a small footpath now leading towards an entry into the dense forest, with a wooden sign that displays a set of Korean characters. I had to take a chance or risk sleeping on the streets for the night.
The footpath led up the hill through the trees. I got closer to
what seems like a very old temple, as if it was frozen in time for the past hundred years. The green thick forest hid it from the
outside world. It felt to me, as though I have stumbled upon a lost world disconnected from civilization.
The temple gates are now before me and I did the most sensible thing - push them open and calmly walk into a beautiful garden.
Surrounding me are these elegant and artistic flowers of
different colours, blooming from every corner, and there are little pathways in between them to walk through. Someone here must have fallen head over hills for gardening. If this was a temple, I have not seen anything like it before.
11
In one of the pathways, I see a monk standing calmly while he
tends to a group of Mugunghwa flowers, the national flower of South Korea. I could not make much of his age, Asians never
seem to grow old after their 20s, he was wearing an earthly coloured robe that had a simple cut, generously covering him from the neck down. He turned to look at me with a smile
already appearing on his face. A nice smile surely goes a long
way, especially when it is given away generously like that. It is a real contrast to what most urban people are used to nowadays.
“Anyoung haseyo, can I help you?” the monk asked to my
surprise in English.
“I am so glad you can speak English. My name is Dan Frost and
I am here on a visit from the UK. I was wondering if there was anyone here who can guide me."
“Hi, Dan. That is me. My name is Kim Taeyang and I am a
monk at this temple. Your business friend told me that you may visit this place one day. I just did not know when.” “Wait, were you his teacher?” The monk simply smiled.
“Haha, what stroke of luck. Well, I never knew when this trip
would become necessary for me, it is a spontaneous trip indeed. Honestly speaking, I would not exactly call you guys tourist friendly.”
12
The monk laughed, “As you already know, there is no
reservation system for this place, so our visitors are usually
referred to us by someone we know. I am glad you decided to
come. I bet you had a long journey, how about we get you settled in and talk about it later. Please follow me.”
A large wooden structure appeared as we walked behind the main hall, leaving behind the gardens. The large doors were left open to reveal the inside, I could see the candles at the end of the hall and how a few monks were already in deep meditation. The monk asked, “How long will you be staying?”
“I bought an open ticket. So I can stay for a few days, since I
didn’t know what to expect from all of this, I didn’t want to rush it,” although I knew I might not want to stay too long.
“Good, we have quarters at the back for guests. Why don’t you check in and head on straight to your room? There is some food downstairs if you are hungry. Can we meet tomorrow morning at 5am in the hall behind the temple? We will be doing some
meditation first, and right after, I would like you to follow me up the hills so we can talk more about what you came here for.” “Looking forward to it. Thank you.”
I checked in and went straight up to the room. The room had no
furnishing, no distractions, no clutter. There was a small mat left at the far end, with a pillow and a blanket to complete it. I
13
laid comfortably on it with anticipation of what tomorrow has
to offer. What is going to happen tomorrow? Will the monk change my perception of life, or would this all just be a waste of time? My head started to spin out of control as the jet lag started to kick in.
Before I knew it, the alarm went off at 4.45am, “Ring… Ring…
Ring…”
Getting myself ready cannot be any simpler, I put on the clothes
provided by the temple and rushed down to the main hall before the morning meditation began.
The monk was there to explain how the meditation is done. The
proper way is to go down on your knees and lay flat chested
with your arms extended above the head, and that is just one position to represent one virtue. My mind felt detoxed of
thoughts after the 100th virtue, my body beat down as if it was a slab of dead meat. It was brain numbing and all I can think off
right now is what is being served for breakfast. I can see the monk coming over. What will he have me do next? “Good morning Dan, how are you feeling?”
“I feel brain dead” I replied with a struggling “smile’’.
14
“Haha, good! That is what you need for our next session, come
on, we have much to talk about. Follow me up the hill, but please note to not talk or think while we head up.”
“Absolutely. Just wondering, why are we doing this so early in the morning?”
"These daily walks through nature helps us to reconnect with
the present and enjoy what nature has to offer us. I will wait for you outside while you pack up.”
I still can’t believe we are going to hike up the hill this early in
the morning, I thought morning prayers and meditation were
mostly done indoors.
I carefully packed away my prayer mat and brought it to the back of the hall, while noticing another female Korean traveler doing the same.
She was wearing an earthly coloured outfit that looked like cotton. Her long hair was tied to the back, exposing her
attractive features. She looked at me with a contagious smile on
her face. I was almost lost for words but yet she turned away
after glancing at me. She seems like someone who is quiet and
reserve. I am curious. What is she like as a person? With all the remaining energy I have left, I must say 'hello' to her.
15
“How are you this morning?” I asked hoping that my English could get me by just one more time in this small town. “Joh-eun achim. I am good,” she replied.
“Oh great, you speak English. Do you come here often?” “I am no traveler, I live here. Sorry for my English.”
“Not at all. I can understand you. What is your name?” “My name is Hyunhwa. And you are Dan, correct?” “Yes.... how did you know my name?"
"This is a small temple and I know people here. Why are you
here?”
"To get away from work I guess. I have some questions and I was told I can get the answers here.”
“That is great. I hope you find them. I am sorry but have to go
now.”
“Will you be joining us up the hill?” I am now hoping that she will say yes.
“No, I have been up before, but if I am free, I will come and join
you."
I wondered who told her about me. First with the temple, and now with this beautiful girl by the name of Hyunhwa. This trip is starting to become very memorable.
16
Questions For Readers 1. 2.
Who are the people that have influenced your life? What did you learn from them?
3. Were you discouraged before when you were expressing your ideas?
17
Discovering Purpose
A small path led us all the way up the hill. We did not speak, just as how the monk suggested earlier.
I am trying not to think and to completely empty my mind of thoughts. Didn’t expect this to be so hard for me.
The moment I reached to the top, I was blown away by the breathtaking view in front of me, a vast space filled with
untouched mountains, stretching as far as the eye can see.
The Monk was already sitting himself down on a large rock. I sat myself next to him and started to think of how I can formulate
18
my question in the simplest way I know, but before I could find
the right words, the monk turns over to ask, “Please share with
me what is on your mind.”
I quickly asked with no hesitation, “What is truly the purpose
of life?”
“Is that it?” the monk responded with a smile.
“I think so. I know it sounds cliche but it has been on my mind for as long as I can recall."
"There are countless books out there talking about this. Since
you had read so many, what are you expecting me to say that you have yet to read? " The monk asks.
"The books I have read about purpose is complicated with too
many options for me to pick and choose. What I am searching for is really a reason as to why all of us are here, that somehow can bring light to everything we do. A clear cut answer. "
"I see. What about the success in your professional and personal life. Isn't that something of purpose?"
"I am starting to find surfaced success, wealth and material gains to be un-rewarding at times, that is what is bothering me.”
“Ah yes, I can see where you are now in life.” The monk smiled
and looked at me even deeper now.
Honestly, I am starting to find no end to my doubts, perhaps deep down I am looking for yet another copy and paste solution
without having a real understanding of the core. But
19
nevertheless, I think I should continue to let the monk really dissect me.
I continued to explain, “I am constantly seeking out the next
big project or goal to feel fulfilled. I have read books after books
about self-help, but I feel even more confused with the endless suggestions and techniques out there. Those that I have applied
started to consume my life and it became more of a chore than a way of life. I am not sure where am I going with all of this. Does knowing the answer even matter at the end of the day?"
“Dan, you are either lost or confused.” The monk looked right
into me, even though I knew I was lost, but him saying it out made me realize that I was more scared about all of this then I expected.
“I think I have lost my purpose in life. I am tired of searching
for something, to think that I have found it and later find out
that there is something else. I guess I am looking for my true purpose that can ground me. A purpose that will be with me all the way.”
“Dan, life is very simple, we just make it complicated for
ourselves every day. So I want you to first put away everything you know about success, fame and material gains. Put them all
away and out of your mind for now. Also, I want you to put away all of the books and tips that you have read before. We can always revisit that later."
20
"Clear my mind?"
"Yes. You see, a lot of us tend to jump straight into the work
that we do and use “quick-fix techniques” without really
understanding what our core purpose is and how it aligns with our life.”
“I am listening."
“Like you said about having a purpose, there is really only two core purpose that we all share together." "Together? Only two?"
"Enough for you to live a purposeful and passionate life. I
encourage you to practice them daily and match it to your interests in your personal and professional life. You will not only be fulfilled, but you will also be able to see yourself clearly in the sea of distractions."
“I am about to fall off this rock now if you don’t tell me. What
is it?" I am starting to feel anxious about what I will hear next.
“Haha, I am not going to share everything with you just yet.
First, I want to ask you something. What do you think is the result of success?”
“Fame and happiness? A nice house, with a family and a dog?"
“Maybe. How about material gains, opportunities, and growth?”
“I am not sure I am following. I guess what you are saying is
what society perceives as success. Sometimes I am pressured by
21
it but I know deeply it is not the true answer to happiness. But it does give me options.”
“Material gains, opportunities, and growth is a result of
practicing our core purpose, the two that I am about to tell you. If you strive to act upon your core purpose, the universe will
align itself to you; then material gains, opportunities, and most
importantly satisfaction will soon follow. Now, I want you to
think about it and tell me what is the first core purpose that we have to practice daily. You have been practicing it all this while but you are probably not aware of it. In other words, you have
forgotten. It is the reason why you are able to get a job, work with your teammates and why you are needed at work.” “Could it be because of my skills?”
“You are getting close. One more try.” “Passion?”
“Haha, very close. I will tell you now. Are you ready?”
“I have traveled all the way here for this. I am ready!”
“Our first core purpose is to strive to Create Value in
everything that we do. When you wake up in the morning, think about how you can bring value to your family. When you go to
work, think about how you can bring value to your teammates. When you start a company, think of how you can bring value to your staff, customers, stakeholders, and partners. You see, if you
strive to create value, the universe will automatically offer you
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growth, opportunities, and material gains to make sure you are able to continuously create value for others.” “Value in the sense of helping someone?"
"Offering help to someone is no different than how a product
is serving its user. Value creation cuts across everything. Like how the moon is of value by helping to stabilize the earth's
rotation."
"So how does creating value for others help me? I still need to survive right?"
"There is this universal law that binds us - give and it shall be
given to you, karma, what goes around comes around. Have you
heard of those saying?"
"If you cannot create value for others, how can others do the
same for you?” I am now starting to wrap my thoughts around
this simple concept.
"Yes, create value wholeheartedly and opportunities, wealth,
meaning and happiness will flow back to you. Never the other way around."
"That is a change in mindset. What about the second core purpose?"
"Now I want you to think, what is it that we cannot live
without in life? We built our lives around it, our work relies on it and it brings meaning to our lives. Think of something that we are building together right now.” “A connection?”
23
“I bet if I give you a few more tries, you would figure it out. Second try?” “Love?”
“You are very close. Our second core purpose is to Build
Meaningful Relationships. We are building a meaningful relationship together right now, are we not?” “Absolutely."
"I sure hope so, Dan. Our happiness, memories, growth,
opportunities depend on the quality of our relationships we built together. It is vital for our existence. To give you an
example, I want you to reflect on your life, would you be able to share some of your fondest memories?”
"I can remember the first time when I skipped school to swim
at a friend’s pool. I did not know how to swim then, so my friend
told me to hold my breath, close my eyes and shut my nose
tight. I went underwater after and started to float. I trusted him even though I was nervous about drowning but I ended up learning how to swim. It was a happy moment we shared together and I will always remember that day.”
“Do you have another example to share?”
“Another happy moment was when I was able to get my first
job from a manager that I became close with, it was a wonderful feeling to be able to go home and share the news with my parents.”
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“Thank you for sharing. Now for both experiences, there were people there with you, and you ended up building meaningful relationships with them, did you not?”
“Do you mean my close friends, managers, and parents?”
“Yes, beautiful memories in your lives are built on meaningful
relationships like that. We rely on our relationships to not only
survive but to also make our lives more memorable and worth living. Life would be meaningless without them. Opportunities,
experiences and happiness have always flowed from meaningful relationships."
“That is true. I have to agree that the world would be a really boring place without relationships.”
“Relationships is important across everything you do. For
example, what are the kind of relationships that you need to start a business?”
“Let me think, the team, stakeholders, customers are
important people in the business.”
“Businesses are built on people with meaningful relationships,
whether it is to you, your company or product. What about at home or in the community. Aren’t they all built on relationships?”
“Yes, they have to be.”
“Now you know why our core purpose is to build meaningful
relationships, as we have already been building our personal
and professional lives on it.”
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"Wow, only two core purpose to live by every day."
“Dan, these two core purpose is universal to all of us and I
believe that this is what you have come all the way to hear. This
is what you must do every single day and I am confident that
your life will experience more meaning and satisfaction as you
act on them.”
"I am inspired. Thank you so much for your wisdom and
pointing out something that I have subconsciously known all
along. I am already starting to link them to my past. Especially during my work when I stopped creating value, I realized that I
was starting to look for that something again. Thank you!"
“You're most welcome. As for now, I have an opportunity to
create more value at the temple. There are two monks under my tutelage that will be anointed as senior monks tomorrow.
Please excuse me as I need to attend to them. Take your time to
stay as long as you want up here, it will be good to reflect on what I have just shared with you.”
“Yes, will definitely take some time to think about all of this.
When should we meet next?”
“After lunch, would you be able to meet me at my tea house? It
is located at the back of the temple. You won’t be able to miss it,
it is a small little wooden structure perched on the hillside. If you would exit the back of your quarters, you will see a small path leading right to the tea house.”
“Are you going to prepare some special tea for me?”
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“Well, yes, and there is one other thing that I would like to share that may surprise you.” “What is it?”
“All in time Dan. I will see you at the tea house and we can talk more.”
As I see the monk walk down the hill, I am now starting to
reflect on what he had just shared with me. It made me wonder
whether life could be that simple, Create Value and Build
Meaningful Relationships. It is so simple on its own, and looking back, I can see how I have been applying it in the past. It is just
that I am not aware of it at all. Could all the self-help books be pointing back to the same two core purpose?
While my head was spinning with questions, a sound came out from nowhere.
“Dan!”
My heart skipped a beat as I caught a glimpse of her again. “Hi
Hyunhwa, you made it!”
I can’t help but notice her fair complexion - flawless and fairer
than anyone I know. She wore a white blouse with a pink flower brooch, a pair of blue jeans and white shoes to match. There is
something about her that attracts me, I can’t put my finger on it,
27
but at this moment, I desperately want to know more about
who she is.
Smiling now, Hyunhwa replied, “My work is done and I am
here for a break. Did you get your answer from the monk?”
“Yes I did, the monk spoke about our two core purpose, Create
Value and Build Meaningful Relationships.” “Good. How are you going to use them?”
“I am not sure yet. Probably start with cutting the crazy work
hours and spend more time with my family and friends. Did you know about the two core purpose before we met?”
"Yes, I was taught the same."
“How did you end up applying them in your own life?”
“When the core purpose was shared with me, I thought about what I could do to bring value to others.” “What happened after that?”
“I became a teacher, teaching people how to write. Some of
them are famous now, I am very proud of them, we have a very good relationship together. It was good change for me.”
I took time to reflect on what she just told me. It is nice having
her around, learning who she is as a person, but deep down I
feel like there is another side of her that I have yet to discover.
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Questions For Readers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
How important is listening to you?
How often do we do it during our work days?
Do we seek to understand others first before we try to influence them?
How have you created value in both your personal and professional life?
How have relationships helped you in your business or work?
What do you think a meaningful relationship is? How can we build meaningful relationships? How can Dan apply what he has learned?
How do you think the two core purpose can be applied across your life?
29
Growing Passion
It is already passing midday as the sun positions itself towards
the west. Hyunhwa decides to head back to the temple through the same path we took earlier, so I followed her.
As we walked down, I spotted a small unmarked trail branching away from our path. It was not noticeable on the way up but it
was slightly obvious on the way down, naturally hidden from
sight, where anyone, who is not consciously spending their time being in the moment, would have easily missed. The astonishing
thing about the path itself was the little traces of gold dust
30
covering it, they sparkle at the mercy of one’s feet whenever the light graces its spell on it.
“Hyunhwa, hold up, do you know where this leads to?”
Hyunhwa turned back and looked at the trail. She paused for a while before answering. Her eyes now focusing more intensely on it, with her hands now shoved deep into her pockets.
“It is nothing Dan, let’s go back to the temple.”
“Hold on, I have to at least see where this place leads too. It
has gold dust coming from the ground. Don’t worry, you can either head down first and we meet later, or you can decide to follow me.”
Hyunhwa seems to want to stop me from exploring the path,
without making it too obvious that she does not want to go in. I calmly assured her again that it will be alright, as I had to go in to see where it leads to.
The path became smaller and smaller with no trace of being disturbed by anyone before me. As the path curved to the left,
colours started to appear. The sunlight peered through the
dense forest to reveal red, yellow, blue, and violet hues. My pace
started to hasten with the annoyance that I could not make out
the end of the path. Getting closer and closer till I finally was
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there seeing what was before me, I was left unspoken with only one thought on mind, “Oh my god, I have to take a selfie.”
My heart is fluttering with happiness now when all of a sudden
Hyunhwa sneaked up from behind once again.
“Oh my god, Hyunhwa, you got to stop sneaking up like that on me. I am going to get a heart attack.”
“Sorry Dan.” Hyunhwa smiled with an amused look on her
face.
“It is okay. Look at this place. It is so beautiful. Why did the
monk not tell us about this place?"
“He does not know.”
“What do you mean he does not know? Did you know about this?"
"This is my small secret garden that I come back to. Every
flower you see represents a small part of my life. Do you like it?" "Like it? I am lost for words."
"No one knows and I am surprised that your eyes caught sight
of the path earlier.”
“Why didn't you tell me about this garden?”
“I did call this place my secret garden. It is supposed to be a secret, no?” Hyunhwa replied with a smile.
“Come, let me show you around. The garden is divided into
three sections. This first section is filled with black and red
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roses. They represent my dark past. I have placed bricks around this part of the garden to separate them from the other parts.”
“That part of your life must have been hard for you. I am glad you are over it."
“Let's move on. Now here is my calm garden with a cherry blossom tree in the middle.”
“Beautiful,” as I noticed the pinkness of it.
“Oh good, it has started to bloom. I really love this part of the
garden. It is my little corner to remind me of my new life and
my two core purpose. I sometimes come here to spend my time to think things through.”
“I can’t help but notice the pink cherry blossoms, they are so
beautiful. What about the rock beneath the cherry blossom tree itself. What does that represent?”
“It was on this very rock that I found my passion in life. I was
thinking deeply about what I wanted in my life and what is the meaning of passion, and how it is very different from a hobby. It took me a while, and with enough guidance from the monk, I managed to find my own answer to my question.”
“Okay, I like cycling once a week and I do think about it once
in a while. Is that considered a passion or a hobby?" “What do you think?"
"Well, I guess passion is something you think about all the time, and a hobby is something done for leisure?"
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"Good. Here is what I want to teach you. If you look up the
word ‘passion’ on the Internet, you will find two related words,
suffering and devotion. Think about ‘suffering’, the word
passion is a Latin word used in the 12th century to describe the
suffering of Christ on the cross; and the suffering was a sacrifice to create value for the world, what do you think that value is?”
“I am not a religious person but I believe it was to free us from our sins?”
“Yes. His suffering was a sacrifice to create value for all of us, to free us from sins. ”
“Wait, are you trying to link passion with the two core
purpose shared by the monk earlier?”
“Now, let’s have a look at the second word that relates to
passion." Hyunhwa went on with a slight smile now appearing. "Devotion?"
"Devotion is act of love, understanding and empathy for
another human. We are devoted to someone because of the
strong relationship that we have together. A meaningful relationship, does that sound familiar, no?”
“Building meaningful relationships? Is that why some people
are so passionate about something… because it creates value and builds meaningful relationships?”
“Yes. Passion is sacrificial and may not necessarily be fun to do
all the time. We are passionate about something because we
know, deep down, that we are creating value for others and
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building meaningful relationships with them. So coming back to
your cycling once a week, it is not passion, it is a hobby. What is
hobby? Hobbies are occasional, leisure, or self-consumed
activities, which is very different from passion that we all think we know today."
“I am speechless, Hyunhwa. I never saw it that way before. I didn’t think I could link passion to the two core purpose.”
“Yes, you can. The thing about your own passion is that you
will be driven to work on it every day because it creates value and builds meaningful relationships with the other person who
receives that value. Holding back means that the other person
will not get the value. What is the meaning of life if that happens?"
"Not much."
"Your day is like a spinning wheel, the more value you give
out, the further the wheel takes you, and the more value you get back - like growth, financial gains, opportunities, satisfaction.
All of which will strengthen your passion even further. It is only from our deepest passion that we can proceed to run our lives the way we want to. "
“Wow. I am starting to see how it all relates now."
“On passion, I would like to show you the last section of my
secret garden. It represents the happiest part of my life where I am living every single day to deliver my core purpose and by
doing what I am most passionate about. I planted my favourite
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flowers here, it always makes me very happy when I see them. Here are some sunflowers and lilies, beneath them is a lovely patch of soft grass. I sometimes lay here on my back to have a look at the clouds above. Please lay here and I will join you.”
Hyunhwa joined me as I laid myself down, we spent a lot of time
talking about her current writing projects and how she decided
to become a writer. She has aspirations to touch the hearts of people around the world through her writing and that is what
she is pursuing every single day. To know that someone like her is on a mission to make a difference through her passion for writing, is very inspirational to me.
“Can I ask you another question?” I had to ask.
“Yes.”
“How long did it take you to find your passion?”
“I can’t remember, but it took time. I did not have any at first.” “So what is yours now?"
“I am passionate about teaching and writing because it can
help others. Hearing about their success makes me even more passionate about what I do.“
Hyunhwa looked down at her watch, “Oh no, I need to go now,
back to the temple to make it back home for dinner.” “Oh wait, how are we going to keep in touch?”
“Well, I don’t have a mobile phone, it takes me away from my
writing. Let’s try and do something different. Why don’t we
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leave our next meeting to fate? Through destiny, we may meet again. I think that life is more interesting that way.”
“What does that mean that life is more interesting that way?
My life is rather upside down now considering the conversation with you and the monk. I don’t think I can take another life-
changing experience.”
“Haha, I have exchanged contacts with many people during my
travels, and we end up not connecting anyway, so I would like
to believe that fate will bring us together one day.” Hyunhwa gave her last sweet smile.
“I am not sure what to say, this will be a first for me and I will
be anticipating our next encounter.”
“I will go now. Please take care of yourself, and I hope you find
your passion.” Hyunhwa bid farewell and left back to the
temple.
I felt a little rejected with the whole ‘meeting by fate’ concept.
When will she and I ever meet again? Maybe never. I guess what is important is our shared moments together. I wonder whether the monk can tell me more about her later.
It is time to head back to the temple with renewed thoughts about life, how passionate and purposeful it can be and what I
should do to create value for others and build meaningful
relationships with them.
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I am excited and extremely optimistic about the future that I am about to carve out for myself. What I was left curious at the end
was really about Hyunhwa, and her dark past. She had that deep look in here eyes when we were on the hill and in her secret garden, what happened to her?
I had my lunch and headed over to the tea house to meet the monk. I wonder what he has to tell me next.
Questions For Readers 1. 2.
What happens when you are passionate about something?
How can you develop a passion?
3. How is passion linked to your business?
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Feeling Reborn
The wooden tea house had a simple and modest look to it, its
single-story structure made entirely out of some kind of light shaded wood that makes me feel calm. I started preparing
myself as I walked to the door, after a few deep breaths I knock
on it gently, creating a solid ‘thud’ sound.
The monk replied from inside, “Please come in.”
I gently slide the door open and welcomed myself into the
monk’s private space. My presence felt underwhelming with him in the same room.
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The interior of the tea house is just as simple as the outside, clean with very little clutter. At the far end of the room is a
wooden tea table where the monk sat, as he slowly prepares tea
for two. His movements were slow, like a ritual in itself, where every step of the process was done with such focus and intent. I walked over, sat down and started observing his every move.
I noticed a number of teapots displayed behind the monk.
Clearly, his enthusiasm for tea brewing was evident here. Next
to them on the right was a wooden photo frame, held within it is
an old picture of the monk and someone I had least expected. It was Hyunhwa, taken at this temple. The only odd thing about
the picture was that the monk looked a lot younger, yet Hyunhwa looks exactly the same as I saw her as if she has never aged a day. How is that possible....?
“Dan, is something on your mind?”
“I am sorry for being rude, but is that Hyunhwa in the
picture?”
“Yes, why do you ask?” The monk is looking up at me now.
“She hasn’t aged at all, yet you are so young next to her. Is she
drinking some magical tea leaves to keep her young or have you been drinking something that is making you age faster?”
“Yes, that is her. And the answer for both your questions is 'no' - neither of us are drinking any magical tea leaves. Please,
40
try this tea, I would like to tell you more about Hyunhwa since
you asked,” while the monk passed the cup of tea over to me
gently.
Not knowing what I might hear next, I had to take another deep
breath before I took a sip of tea to calm myself, but mostly prepare myself.
“How is the tea?” “Pretty tasty.”
“Hyunhwa is my elder sister and she has left this world a long time ago because of an unfortunate car accident.”
“Hold on, hold on. She was just with me today! Are we talking
about the same person here?”
“Haha, calm down Dan. You have met my sister in spirit. Don’t
be afraid, others who have come before you have met her the same way. You are not the only one. So tell me, how is she?”
"Say what?! Why are you asking me how is she? Can't you see her?"
"Dan, calm down. It is okay. I can't see her, but I can still keep in contact with her through you."
“How is she? With what I am hearing... she does have a scary
sense of humor. How is it that I am able to see her? This is crazy!”
“Dan, take a few deep breaths. Listen, we are spiritual beings
and sometimes we experience certain things in life that we
41
cannot explain. Hyunhwa’s path just so happened to cross with
yours and she enjoys coming back to the temple once in a while
to share her knowledge. I know it is not easy to take it all in right now. Most before you were in the same state. After all, it is
an experience for you to keep. You see, her passion was to help
those who are searching for meaning in life. That is what she did with her writings and that is what she has dedicated her life
to. It is her passion to guide you and others, even after her death. Did she share with you what passion means?”
“Yes she did, she taught me that passion is a sacrificial act to
create value and build meaningful relationships, while a hobby is just purely done for leisure.” “There you go.”
I cannot believe I am having this conversation with the monk. Is
it something in my cup of tea? I shall take another sip, while the monk has his. Today is a life-changing experience for me
already, and finding out about Hyunhwa, especially now, was a
bit too overwhelming for anyone.
I calmed down eventually, shared some of my thoughts and now
it is time to head on home. The monk accompanied me to the
temple gates. I can still remember its structure when I first saw it and wondered whether I was in the right place and what I
was about to embark next was something irrational or a waste
42
of time. It turned out different for me. For the better at least, and a little strange towards the end.
What I do subscribe to is that all of the great opportunities and growth comes from doing the things that scares you. Being out
of my comfort zone helps me to unlearn what I know and rebuilt my openness to embrace change. And today I am leaving
this place with a purpose to create value for the world and to improve my relationships with the people I will be meeting in the future.
If you ask me what I am planning to do when I get back. I would say that I want to kickstart my social enterprise to focuses on
environmental issues. I think it is time to take control of my life and I want to do so by shaping a more sustainable future for the
next generation. As for relationships, I do agree that our lives
are built on relationships. The people we are with enriches us and influences who we eventually are. I want to be closer to my
family and to build the bond that I had neglected over the past
few years. I have to admit that I have taken my family and friends for granted.
Looking back at the short time I had with the monk and
Hyunhwa. They have both taught me something about myself, not necessarily in their words, but in their subtle actions. The monk created a lot of value for me by sharing our core purpose.
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A simple idea that has changed me profoundly and brought a lot
of clarity. I know it will take some time for me internalize it but I am already liking the idea. He has done something worth living, to save another soul from confusion.
Hyunhwa built an ever-lasting relationship with me that is deep
in spirit. That of which I will treasure for the rest of my life, and maybe share over and over again to with those around me. She
shared her story with me and I did so too. I really enjoyed those moments together and I want to make more of those with the people I will come to meet in the future.
While I was drifting away in this moment of reflection, I was suddenly interrupted by the monk:
"Be mindful and stay in the moment, my friend."
"So sorry, I was thinking about my stay here and what you have taught me."
"That is good. It will take time for you but you will see our purpose at play soon."
"I have one last question before I go." "What is it?"
"What does that temple sign above say?"
Above the temple gates is the sign that displays a series of Korean characters that was not visible earlier. The characters, beautifully adorned in gold, must have meant something to the
44
monks whenever they went out into the world. I could not make
it out and my only hope was for the monk to translate them for me.
“I am glad you asked me. The sign simply reminds us to create
value and build meaningful relationships whenever we leave the temple.”
With renewed hopes, I bid farewell and took one last look at the
temple. I know I will always remember the monk, his elder sister Hyunhwa, and how they have changed me for the better. Questions For Readers 1. 2.
How will you create value for your world?
What kind of meaningful relationships would you like to build?
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Acknowledgements by Richard Ong
I must thank my beautiful wife, my cheeky little girl and my loving parents for supporting me all the way. To Pixie and Lee who took the time to work with me on this book. A big shout-
out to the wonderful entrepreneurs who inspired me to write this book. To all my super fans for your endless support, thank you.
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Acknowledgements by Pixie Cigar
Thanks to Richard for bringing me on board to make this book come true. Funny enough it started with me just helping him
read his first edit, and before we knew it we were meeting
every other week discussing how to improve this story. This
story is the start of our meaningful relationship where we hand in hand worked to create value for all our future readers and every soul this story touches.
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About The Author
Richard Ong Richard believes in living a passionate and purposeful life. A
former consultant and manager at a multinational IT company, he left his corporate life behind to pursue his passion for
technology and education. He spends most of his time building web applications and writing books for communities.
Richard can be contacted via email. richard.ong@roptcreate.com
About The Author
Pixie Cigar "Community building by day, Nation building by night." Pixie is a community builder who is passionate about developing
people and their ideas. She does that by building communities
to foster their growth. Besides her corporate job, she co-leads a few non-profit communities in Youth & LegalTech and is the Founder of the Community Builders Union.
Pixie Cigar can be contacted via LinkedIn.
Core Purpose Dan Frost was looking for a reason to live as he found no
meaning and joy in his life. It was during his temple stay at South Korea that changed him forever. The unexpected happened,
when he met up with two spiritual human beings who came to teach him the simple secrets to living a fulfilled life.
Praise
“A must read for those who are seeking a more meaningful life. The key points are simple to understand - this makes them so powerful.”
- Jonathan Lau, German Mentors
“If I were banished to an island and could only take one book, it wouldn't be this one because there would be no one else to
benefit from its useful contents. The Core Purpose book can help us to rethink how we understand the world around us.” - Mohd Atasha Alias, Foxymojo.co
US $9, MY RM35
