Advice

I came across this article, “The Power of a Quiet Life” by Lewis Richmond, recently and I quite like this quote— There are three principles of bodhisattva life I teach: keep your mind clear, be patient, and when you see an opportunity to act, do so without hesitation. Now I am thinking about adding a fourth principle: live a quiet life. Don’t be distracted by things. When the insanities of the world become too noisy and preposterous, remain inwardly calm. If you don’t see what you can do, don’t do anything. Just wait. Things will change; they always do. Change is the Buddha’s first and best teaching. In some ways, change has never been more in the air than now. The aspiring bodhisattva rides change the way a thrown stone skips over water. Change is our best hope and strongest power. ...

My favourite philosopher, Peter Singer, has, like many in today’s world, ventured into the realm of podcasting with Live Well Lived, alongside his collaborator, Kasia de Lazari Radek. Together, they have engaged in conversations with experts from diverse fields. For instance, they spoke with psychiatrist Murali Doraiswamy about tackling global mental health challenges. I found the following exchange both succinct and remarkably pertinent to the podcast’s theme — Kasia de Lazari Radek: Okay, so now I should ask you, do you believe that we can train our brain to be happier on its own without any drugs, any psychedelics and any psychiatric drugs? ...

I’ve been a vegan for over three years, and I’ve lived in Kunshan, Jiangsu, China, for the past two years. Adopting a vegan lifestyle is no trivial feat anywhere in the world, but it feels even more challenging here compared to Sweden, where I used to reside. Here’s what I’ve learned about being a vegan in China. Finding Vegan Food in Restaurants Recommended Restaurants Restaurants that I recommend (see details below) include — ...

The Sixth Tone is an English news website covering stories in China. A DKU (Duke Kunshan University) student just won a writing contest organized by them with an essay titled Moxa, Receipt, Money, and Generations. It is a candid and touching account on how her father’s obsession with moxa damaged their family. This makes me think that perhaps many of our students also similar family issues. If you are in such a situation, reading the memoir The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls might be helpful. ...

DKU bulletin: Embark on an Exciting Journey! Download the DKU (Duke Kunshan University) bulletin and explore your path ahead. Delve into Part 3: The Curriculum and Part 6: Academic Procedures and Information. Don’t miss Part 10: Majors and Courses as it may spark inspiration for your future passions. Course Selections: Your Path to Success Your first term is filled with opportunities: In the first 7-week session, you can embrace up to 8 credits including an engaging four-credit course, an exciting language course, and a PE course to keep you energized! In the subsequent 7-week session, you can go beyond with up to 10 credits. Consider these guidelines to make the most of it: ...

About This Article ⚠️ This article discusses issues related to suicide. If you have thoughts of suicide, please seek professional help immediately: DKU Counseling Services Suicide Crisis Hotline List Resource Compilation | Free Psychological Counseling, Crisis Helplines, Psychiatric Hospital Appointment Services I came across an interview with Japanese monk Ittetsu Nemoto, who has dedicated his life to preventing suicide. Due to personal reasons, I’ve translated it into Chinese in the hope that it may help more people. The original article was published in the Spring of 2014 on tricycle.org, and the author, Winifred Bird, kindly granted permission for me to translate and share it here. See the translation here. ...

⚠️ This article is about suicide. If you have suicidal thoughts, please seek help immediately from services such as Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) of DKU US’s National Suicide Prevention chat or hotline UK’s Samaritan hotline Someone I know recently committed suicide. I was shocked, saddened, and confused. It is one thing to know that many people die of suicide each year around the world. It is another to be personally affected by it. So I read and thought a bit on this topic. Here are some resources which I found helpful for understanding suicide. ...

I came across an interesting article A behavioral scientist’s advice for changing your life. Here’s an excerpt If you’re trying to develop a habit like working out regularly or writing each day, letting yourself have a little leeway is the way to make that habit stick. If you know when you might procrastinate, impose a fine on your future self and commit to paying if you don’t follow through with your goals. ...

I procrastinate, a lot. And when I think about all the things I could have done had I not procrastinated so much, e.g., all the papers I could have written, I am really regretful 😢. One of the books which I found very helpful is How to Beat Procrastination by Nils Salzgeber. Here are some tips from the book and some of my own thoughts. Hope it help you to not to have the same regret which I have. ...

Here are some things which I wish I had been told when I first went to college. Sleep well should be your top priority. (Why lack of sleep is bad for your health and Why Bill Gates thinks sleep is important.) Exercise regularly for the sake of both your mind and your body. Learn how to beat procrastination. Avoid getting addicted to tech by practising digital minimalism. Get some tips for socialising successfully. Fail-safe your important plans. Ask yourself some life-changing questions. Don’t feel ashamed for asking for help when you need.