David's Space...

My book in electronic form...

This is Ms Geetha Madavan, the executive assistant to Mother Mangalam, Malaysia's very own Mother Teresa. She is holding a copy of my book, There's No Way But Up. Apparently, she loves to read real books or rather books in their physical form I assume. However, there are many out there who love to read books in their electronic form called eBooks. 

Recently, my book There's No Way But Up is out in eBook form. This is way better than the physical book for readers across to globe because you don't have to wait for the book to be packed, shipped and delivered. So there's no shipping costs involved and you can download it immediately! This is the future of publishing but I frankly don't think it will ever replace the real thing. Nothing beats picking up a real book and flipping through the pages to read. 

Anyway, here are the link to the sites where the eBook of There's No Way But Up is available for download...

http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/item/9789675365256/Lai-David-There-s-No-Way-But-Up/1.html

http://ebooks.ebookmall.com/ebook/578889-ebook.htm

http://www.powells.com/biblio/91-9789675365386-0

http://www.bol.com/nl/p/engelse-boeken/there-s-no-way-but-up/1001004011551772/index.html

 http://www.thecopia.com/catalog/details.html?catId=8921994

http://www.infibeam.com/eBooks/theres-no-way-but-up-david-lai-pdf-ebook-download/9789675365386-BEPDF.html?utm_term=David+Lai_1_3

What's a Moleskine?

A Moleskine is basically the most expensive notebook in the world! Well I can't vouch for that statement but it is the most expensive notebook in any bookstore in Malaysia. Only a few stationery shops carry these yummilicious notebooks.

Well, this is not a paid advertisement although I wouldn't mind if it became one. They don't have to pay me with money, just gimme a whole range of their notebooks! (I wonder if they are reading this...) I love these black beauties and I actually own two Moleskine notebooks, one a black and sleek weekly organiser and a blank page notebook. I know! I was a little extravagant as they ain't cheap and the organiser is only for a year. My precious Moleskine organiser is ending in December so its time to go shopping for another soon.  

Recently, I gave Abby Foo, a new colleage of mine, a small limited edition Moleskine with an illustration of Little Prince on it (just like the picture below). This is a welcoming gift for deciding to join KMP full time. I do hope it will inspire her to pursue her dreams is to work and be a part of something bigger and beneficial like being a part of Kechara.

What can I say? I LOVE MOLESKINE! I am a Moleskine fan!  

An Evening of Vegies

One of my recent projects was to organise the launch of the cookbook, Eat Healthy, Daily. Li Kim (my boss) wanted it to be more than just a launch, she wanted it to be a platform to promote vegetarianism and turn the whole world green. Well, I wasn't really very keen with the idea as I had no bloody experience and my only assistant was pulled out. 

After a few rounds of talking and planning, it finally came down to executing the plans. I was a bunch of nerves as I got people and venue ready. I contacted Mr Wong Yu Jin, the nutritionist and after a just a feel meets, he was ready to present his vegie talk. I rounded our in-house celebrity designer friend, Eric Choong to host and to tap into his extensive network of friends.  

 

More importantly, I had to get the press kit, press release and press what not, done. I was basically all over the place and the week of the launch was also the week of the Wesak fair at Sunway Pyramid. That was another set of preparations. I just wanted to kill myself. I had to set up, man the booth and then dismantle everything at the end of it. Thank Buddha, I had some help from the other KMP people. Then, just before the launch, a very cute video called 'Veg in the City' was completed just in time for the launch. 
 

Well on the day itself, it was nerve-wrecking as nobody was on time and there was a massive jam around the venue, Kechara Oasis Jaya One. My heart sank but we anticipated it but fortunately, a few press folks were there. Anyway, the venue did fill out and it was soon over. I returned to KMP right after and slept the evening through...

Dharma Princess Jamie 'Paris' Khoo and Designer Prince, Eric Choong played the emcee of the evening.

 Li Kim giving a delightful speech...

Mr Wong Yu Jin presenting his green points. 

The press loved 'Veg in the City'...

Check out the crowd! Phew! I was relieved that people did eventually turn up. 

Here, you can actually watched the whole launch for yourself :-

 

The Season Of Giving...

Everybody loves Christmas and I love the songs, the Christmas tree, the decorations, the sales, the holiday and of course the gifts. Some think it is all just commercialism and I agree too but that doesn't keep me from loving it. I don't own a Christmas tree but I guess liking it doesn't mean I have to make my living space look like a shopping mall.

Christmas back in the old days meant, anticipating presents from my parents. Sometimes... well most of the time, my mum would just ask me what I want ahead of Christmas and she would just buy it for me. I know! I was spoilt rotten. Well, with the Dharma, it looks like I have to do the opposite and learn to give instead of always taking from my parents. Well this year, I haven't had time to go shopping yet but will do so this weekend and hopefully get the gifts in time for Christmas. 

Since I am talking about generosity and giving, I am also starting to think of fund-raising for KMP. I have not really done this before and would have to start. Kechara Media and Publications which is a Kechara department that I am working for that produces spiritual books. Book publishing requires serious money and the returns are not easy to be seen especially with high profit margins taken by distributors and 3 month credit terms, it is hard just to stay afloat.

At KMP, we do have funds to stay afloat but I need to find ways to market the books better and also to raise more funds so we can publish even more. So, it would be a great Christmas if I could find a generous sponsor for those who love books and love to spread knowledge and wisdom of Rinpoche's great works out into the world. Sponsor Kechara Media and Publications! That would be a very nice Christmas for me and everyone of us in KMP. Even coming out with ideas for fund-raising or marketing would be most welcomed. I am not sure if anybody heard me on this but if you do... do leave a comment. Thank you!

Strange & Sexy Gift From America

Alas, Paris and Sharon Saw are back in KMP office today after a 3 week hiatus. Naturally, they were touring America like a rockstar troupe. Well, not everything is rock'n'roll as they were doing some serious interviews and research on Rinpoche's background in America. The research, video footage, photos and contacts would lead to amazing biographies of Rinpoche and an amazing documentary. (I can't wait! It is going to be awesome to know what Rinpoche went through.)

Anyway, while traveling, they remembered little old me and got me a bag of blue M&Ms and a book from Bodhi Tree bookstore. Bodhi Tree bookstores is this amazing new age bookstore in Los Angeles that Rinpoche used to visit when he was still living in America. What is amazing is that it still exists! They (Paris) went there and got this rather weird and sexy gift...

Sex, Sin And Zen: A Buddhist Exploration of Sex. 

Wow! It kinda gives a whole new spin on Karma Sutra. I flipped through the inch-thick paperbag to see if there were any pictures of naked people but there were none. (Damn! Too bad! Hehe!) So it is not really a book on sexual positions. It is really what it says it is... A Buddhist perspective on sexuality with some really eye-popping chapter headings. 

Let me name some for you...

1. Are Buddhists Allowed to Jack Off?

2. Saving All Beings...From My Dick! (Sex and the Bodhisattva Vows)

3. Is Orgasm the Highest Form Of Meditation.

4. I F*ck, therefore I am what I F*ck?

Man! Those are really edgy and catchy titles. To top it off, the book is authored by an off-beat caucasian Soto-Zen priest, Brad Warner. It looks like it is going to be an interesting read if I do find the time to read. Anyway, if I do finish the book, you will be sure I will spill the beans here.... 

A big thank you for your strange & sexy gift, Paris & Sharon!

You guys sure know me a little too well to pick a gift that bridges two of my biggest attachments. Gee! I think I am already revealing too much here!!! Haha! 

What's Up with Me Lately...

1.  I recently had a nice interview with Jojo Struys in Kechara Paradise Bangsar store. She is a pretty girl, speaks well, is street-smart and seemed deeper than her makeup. It is part of StarProperty's efforts to have us in it with her talking about Buddhist art. I love Buddhist art, especially Tibetan Buddhist art. So I was there, the strange awkward expert explaining about art. Here is the finished video:-

By the way, KP Bangsar is now closed for relocation to Viva Mall! 

2. Radio Interview on TraxxFM with Priscilla Ann Yap. 

I had a lovely 45 Minutes of LIVE National Airtime on TraxxFM talking about my book, of course - There's No Way But Up.  It was interspersed with a few songs and I not only got to talk about my book but also about Kechara organisation along with Rinpoche. I will be trying to get the recording of this interview from the radio station and will post it up here soon. 

 

 

3. Reading The Bodhisattva Vows by Venerable Dagpo Lama Rinpoche at the moment. When I am finished, I would have to give a talk about it. It was of course instructions from Rinpoche and I am right  as type this on my third chapter. 

 

4. Silly Random Photos taken on my phone's camera at an Art Gallery. This guys are around 4 - 5 feet high. I believe Kechara Care will be having one of these guys in their new 'lounge'. I can't wait! 

   

 

 

 
 

Lamrim

Recently Kechara House has been engaging in a Lamrim recitation retreat to create the cause for the new Kechara House Gompa to arise. Just imagine KH1 and KH2 combined together to form into one massive temple in Sunwaymas! Yup, that's whats going to happen in the near future. Such a massive project require certain pujas to be conducted in order to create the cause and remove obstacles and so amongst the recommendation was a reading of the Lamrim.

So what is the Lamrim? 

Well, it is not to be mistaken to be just one book, it is actually a genre of books that was started of by Dipamkara Srijnana Atisha. Rinpoche gave a wonderful account of the story of Atisha in KH regarding his travels to Tibet at the request of one of the Tibetan chieftains, Jangchub O. Upon commencing his journey to Tibet, he promised the Abbot to return. However, when he was about to return, a war broke out in the Nepalese border, effectively closing the borders to travellers. Hence, not wanting to break his promise, Atisha composed the first Lamrim text, which he named Bodhipathapradīpa and sent it back to India. 

Incredibly, it condenses the entire teachings of Lord Buddha into one volume. It was revolutionary in that way and that is why Lama Tsongkhapa elaborated it by basing it upon Atisha's root text. The text itself is divided based upon three scopes - lower, middling and higher. They correspon with liberation for oneself, for others and attaining Enlightenment for all sentient beings. Lama Tsongkhapa further condenses the Lamrim into 3 Principle Aspects of the Path, namely discovering renunciation, Bodhichitta and the realisation of Emptiness. Lama Tsongkhapa said that if you have studied all the texts and have not come to a realisation of these three aspects, one would still not understood the actual intent of Buddha Shakyamuni. 

Hence, studying and even reading the Lamrim is a very powerful blessing because it imbues the blessings of the entire set of Buddha's teachings upon us. Even having basic understanding of the topics contained within the Lamrim is particularly powerful for our spiritual practice and learning because it will enable us to integrate any other teachings within the framework of Lamrim. Any authentic Buddhist teachings whether Sutra or Tantra would fall within the Lamrim framework. Hence, just knowing this framework would allow us to put into practice almost any Buddhist teachings immediately.

Phew! I know that was deep, but I read it somewhere in chapter 3 and I was flabbergasted. Thanks to this lamrim recitation retreat, I have learnt something. I hope to find some time to read more of the Lamrim and learn even more. 

(The haunting statue in the photo is a depiction of Atisha)

   

Calling Everybody! It is time to read my book again...

  

It's time for another book reading session at MPH Midvalley. So instead of reading it to just a bunch of strange passerbys. I am asking all you folks out in cyberspace to come support me...

Venue         :  Midvalley Megamall

Date            :  Sunday, 30th May 2010

Time           :   3pm - 4pm

I think I just hear an echo.... ; (

Mum! I am on TV!

Yes! I was on TV last Monday morning on NTV7's breakfast show! I was a nervous wreak but it turn out not too bad. At least I didn't fall flat on my face while talking. 

Catching Up - Photos from a Media Gathering of my book.

I know I have been lazy and not been blogging for the longest time. But that doesn't mean that I have not been doing stuff. I just had my media launch of my book at MPH Bookstores in One Utama...well 2 weeks ago. Here are some nice photos that Fang, KMP's designer, photographer and singer extraordinaire. 

Needless to say, my friends, colleagues and family were present to hear me croak a few words to launch it to some journalists and media people. I must say, I sound like some weird politician belting out some very TC (tired city - a city-sized worth of ridiculousness) political rhetoric. 

 Enjoy the photos...

My CEO boss & 'mummy' Phng Li Kim plus my wonderful colleague and friend Paris Khoo

   

Boy, I hate this picture! I thought I looked cool by resting my hand like that but it only made me look fatter! 

I know! I look like a TC pink politician... Look above if you want to know what TC means... 
 

Look! Paris is just so calm and she was so good when she gave her song and dance... I mean speech

My lovely parent with their flowers. I am fatter than my dad! Sigh!

I love fans! Although it was just one... Not too bad and please don't compare me to Paris, she had a line. Well everybody loves Paris Hilton!