3. 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 overto 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."

"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

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

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?”

“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.”

“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.”

"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?”

“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 sharedwith 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,

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.

Questions For Readers

1. How important is listening to you? 2. How often do we do it during our work days? 3. Do we seek to understand others first before we try to influence them? 4. How have you created value in both your personal and professional life? 5. How have relationships helped you in your business or work? 6. What do you think a meaningful relationship is? 7. How can we build meaningful relationships? 8. How can Dan apply what he has learned? 9. How do you think the two core purpose can be applied acrossyour life?