He has the best job in the world!
We are all brought up in a world that encourages materialism. We are taught that accumulation of material wealth will bring us happiness. However, the opposite is true, and has been proven countless times by various successful individuals who have realized that life is not just about ourselves but about what we can do for others.
I want to share this wonderful article about Kenneth Lee, a successful man who quit his job as an accomplished lecturer to teach children in a remote town in Southern Thailand. His story and account of his experiences is very uplifting, as there are many successful people who have ‘made it’ yet feel discontent and unhappy. I hope that reading about Kenneth will inspire some of you embark upon your own journey to live a more meaningful and purposeful life. Life is not about acquisitions but more about the benefit we give the world before our time is up. We should not fall into the rat trap of just job, money, pay bills, acquire things, travel, fun and that is it. We should be more and above that.
Do share your thoughts in the comments section below, and let me know about your life experiences and where it has brought you so far in terms of fulfilment and happiness.
Tsem Rinpoche
This Malaysian Lecturer Quit His Job To Earn Less, But Affirms He Now Has The Best Job In The World
by Jean Khoo
Kenneth Lee quit his well-paying job in the Malaysian education industry after working as a lecturer for 6 years. 4 months to the date of his departure, Kenneth handed in his letter of resignation, packed up his things with a 65-litre backpack, and began his long travel to Asia.
There’s a saying that goes, “changes run faster than plans”. With the intention of becoming a solo backpacker to travel in Asia; instead today Kenneth is a teacher again, except that now he is teaching in a government school located in a small town at the southern region of Thailand, about six hours from the city of Bangkok.
Previously, Kenneth was teaching in one of the highest learning institutions in Malaysia. His work place was just a stone’s throw away from his comfortable home. Currently he stays in a house in the outskirts, with no proper mattress or any blanket; and yet, he is not bothered by such a change in his living conditions.
Of course a lot of people questioned his crazy decision, including his aunt who asked him, “Why would you quit your job in a good university to teach in a lesser-known university college?”
Kenneth’s former house.
It was a legitimate question. One apparent difference between being a teacher in Thailand and lecturer in Malaysia is the payment. Currently Kenneth receives less remuneration than what he was getting in Malaysia. Also, the work load is slightly more because his students—the 180 children who are his new friends—speak a language that he understands little of.
However, Kenneth said in his blog post, “My life couldn’t have been more blessed.”
The Key To Happiness
Kenneth gave up his comfortable life, his material possessions, and thanks to that decision, he is now enjoying a greater degree of spiritual happiness and has less worries. “If I were to compare my life at this point to a song, it’s got to be a stripped-down, acoustic version of a rock song,” he explained in an analogy.
Despite being a Malaysian teaching in a school in Thailand, Kenneth has never felt like he was treated differently. He shares an office room with 4 other teachers who always make him feel like he is part of them.
“It is very old school and comes without an air conditioner, but the chilly winds coming from the surrounding mountains and woods are enough to make up for the absence of an air conditioner.
It has a small fridge and a little coffee section at one corner, so it’s a great help for most of teachers, including myself, who love coffee. The room is so comfortable, I couldn’t ask for more.”
Before classes start, some students would appear at the doorway and greet him “Hello!” or “Good Morning!” cheekily.
Once Kenneth went back to Malaysia for a visa run and when he returned, some students came running towards him and gave him a big tight hug. One of them said, “Kit thung Teacher Ken mak loey!” (Missing Teacher Ken so much!)
The transition from teaching young adults to children definitely has its challenges. After all, Kenneth is still learning a language that the children can understand as well as learning to communicate in their native language. It’s certainly not easy to pick up a new language, but the whole process makes him feel happy and feel wonderfully occupied, at the same time, it makes him learn and improve as a teacher.
On Future Plans and Regrets
“Absolutely not,” Kenneth said on his blog, affirming that he has no regrets in resigning from his well-paying lecturing job.
“I just want to live my life as meaningfully as possible and do my part well as both a traveller from Malaysia and a good teacher who can contribute positively to a place I dwell temporarily,” said Kenneth.
“I may be earning less money than in Malaysia, but I’m not kidding when I say I have the best job in the world.”
[Source: https://vulcanpost.com/315121/malaysian-lecturer-kenneth-best-job-thailand/]
All images are taken from MrDefinite.net
Follow more stories on Kenneth’s Facebook page: WanderfulOdyssey
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Kenneth Lee as a lecturer a well pay job, resigned packed up and began his long travel to Asia. He even made a bold decision to teach in a small school in a remote area of Thailand rather than being a lecturer teaching in the comfort of an air-conditioned room. It is all about teaching and teaching with the heart, enjoying the spiritual happiness and chose to move on to what was next in his life. With less worries and a journey that comes with many uncertainties and changes. He has no regret taking up this teaching job and having to work hard to improve his students’ standards . At the end of the day, it comes down to how he felt he can do something meaningful in his lives. He is doing his part well as both a traveller from Malaysia and a good teacher who can contribute positively . Inspiring read.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Such a noble and selfless act. Kenneth is a role model for many wishes to do the same but are held back by many reasons. But let this be a reminder that ‘when there is a will, there is way, especially when it comes to helping others. ?
Kenneth is a true inspiration, for all…leaving the comforts of his life to educate the kids in the remote village of Thailand
Its an act of kindness and compassion for this young guy.
Thsnk you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful story.
Kind regards
Leonard Ooi
KPSG
What a choice Kenneth Lee made….quit his well-paying job as a lecturer. And now he is teaching in a small school in a remote area of Thailand.He has no regret quitting his job for a journey that comes with many uncertainties and changes to a completely new place.
All he wanted was to live his life as meaningfully as possible and a good teacher who can contribute positively to a place which can help his students.Even though the work load is slightly more because he could not speck their languages.
He gave up his comfortable life, his material possessions, and he is now enjoying a greater degree of spiritual happiness and has less worries.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspiring post .May more people will be inspired by him.
Kenneth has a big heart. Many young people will strive to achieve more money and better career status at that age but he instead choose to be a teacher in Southern Thailand, earning much lesser and is a happier person. It is inspiring to see people give their time and comfort in order to care and to benefit others. It just pushes us to always do more and focus out. Nothing is more happier if we focus out.
Thank your Rinpoche for sharing his story.
Very wise man with a wise decision. Less money but less stress and lower risk of depression too. Adventurous,fun,happy and carefree lifestyle. That’s my cup of coffee in life. No pressure! Hehe 🙂
Thank you very much Rinpoche for this very inspiring story to motivate and inspire more people.
Everybody wants happiness. We are wired to believe happiness is equal to wealth. We’re told our mission in life should be get a good education, work, get promoted, get paid well, build up a wealth portfolio, live a comfortable life till death comes a calling. Some do better than others, but one thing may be the same, that the happiness is often elusive. That is because more “success” means more responsibilities that lead to more problems.
That is why Kenneth has come to realise that a stripped down acoustic version of living brings more happiness. Contentment is key.
“Life is not about ourselves but about giving happiness to others”, says Tsem Rinpoche.Kenneth Lee proves how true this is Giving up a well-paid job as a lecturer in a college in Malaysia, he travels to Southern Thailand to be a teacher in a children’s school in a remote village, willing to forgo a job with high pay and a comfortable life for one which pays much less, and a life where he has to make do with basic amenities. This very inspiring story shows how spiritual happiness is more meaningful and more enduring happiness of a material kind.
Kenneth has been a hands-on teacher from the start. The children love him as they know he is caring. In order to communicate with them effectively, he learns the Thai Language in earnest . He may not be with them forever, but right now, he is giving them his best . Yes, right now, he has “the best job in the world”.
Editing the last sentence of paragraph one above : “This very inspiring story shows how spiritual happiness is more meaningful and more enduring than happiness of a material kind”. Thank you.
This Kenneth really bring happiness to himself and the young students as well. Money can’t buy happiness. Real happiness only exist when we bring happiness to others.In other words, is benefits others without any agenda. “Changes run faster than plan” , we must grab any opportunity to do more to benefits others and make our life contented.
I hope this write up will inspire more people to join any education program to remote area.
Thanks Rinpoche.
With folded hands
Jason
I cannot understand why he gave up his well-paid job and his nice home to move to Thailand. I would look for another job in Thailand, where I would get at least the same payment. But everybody has to decide this for themselves. If he is happy to live this way it was the right decision for him.
In a world that promotes materialism it is heartwarming to see people who forego material wealth, worldly comfort, career advancement to embark on something more meaningful in life.
The thing is all these stories often lead to the person confessing this alternate path, the road less traveled is so much more fulfilling and better. Yet many are still not deterred from chasing materialism, wanting that dream career, getting that dream house, driving that dream car, etc. It is almost as if people do not really want to believe that these stories are real. That these people did find a better life and are happier. It is almost as if people want to believe that they are only saying this as a form of denial because they cannot make it in the materialistic world.
I believe these stories because there are equally if not more accounts of wealthy, powerful and famous people who are depressed, unhappy and found no meaning in life.
Maybe I speak for myself, but I always feel that there is yearning in all of us to be of benefit and help others. Given the the fact when we are born to this life, we forget all our past associations and relations to others, those who have graced our lives or those who have acted to sort of a small stone in our shoes. Either way they were connected to us and contributed to the color of our previous existence. So this yearning, perhaps has some seeds of altruism in them, but perhaps it is just yearning to connect to something that was in the past.
Anyhow really rejoice for Kenneth Lee, the Chinese Malaysians having sprouted up the shores of Malaya during the colonial times, came to Malaysia on in search of relief, fortune, opportunity and etc. And living standards and conditions are not always ideal and they had survive to under such situations and some thrived, had families and etc. To pursue a path that is somewhat more altruistic.
Kenneth Lee having his best job after gave up his comfortable life and his material possessions. Kenneth choose to focus out to benefit others with no regrets in resigning from his well-paying lecturing job.
His inspiring story made me relate to some of my dharma brothers and sisters, they chose to resigned from their high paid jobs and picked dharma as full time job. I strongly believe we chose dharma over corporate high pay jobs because dharma lead to greater degree of spiritual happiness.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this post. I appreciate my dharma work even more after reading this post.
Always in advertisement when it advertises “The best job of the world”, it would be the man whom’s job is travelling the world, enjoying beautiful sceneries, dealing with beautiful people and etc…basically the job is enjoying life.
What Kenneth meant by the best job of the world, I believe is a job that he is happy with how he spend his life by contributing and giving; not about getting high pay or having easy life. He is ENJOYING his life, by giving, by unlearning the old way of living, by re-learning the meaning of life. He is happy and enjoying his life, this can see from his face 🙂
Selfless people like Kenneth here is a dime a million. Not many people these days would be as passionate and courageous as Kenneth to forgo the luxury of a secure, well paid job for one that is totally opposite. Yet Kenneth shows his true nature… kindness and compassion and from this he shines even brighter than those earning 5 figures! And what’s amazing is he is HAPPY doing this.
I think that he would be the envy of most people because not every day we come across someone who decides to choose the road less traveled, to step out of their comfort zones and benefit others to be this happy doing it. Some might even consider it crazy yet the crazy ones are those that makes the world go round, that creates an impact and changes the future. Salute to Kenneth for his passion, compassion, courage… we need more inspiring stories and people like him to remind us that serving others is the road map to happiness. Thank you Kenneth!
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.
The story of Kenneth is so inspiring. It is very rare to see a young guy with good profession will choose to benefit others.
Thanks
很久以前，当教育水准不那么的进步和经济能力又有限时，许多人因为识字不多，了解能力又不是那么好，往往就这样造成他们要面对种种的困难而得到更好的就业机会。因为面对生活上的种种的压力，而心灵的这一块也已经让他们忽略了。
现在， 大多数的父母都有能力让自己的孩子受好的教育。但因为忙于工作，因为要赚取更多钱来给自己与家庭过着舒适的生活，无形中也忽略心灵的这一块。每天都重复一样的东西。因为没有持修心灵的这一块，每一世都重覆的轮回，到回来经历一遍又一遍。
要放弃是很容易的事情。但是，在还没有想清楚的时候放弃，会让你有一天觉得后悔当初的选择。相比之下，如果明了一切， 觉得是时候放下。而且还会勇往直前，达到目标， 再回首也无悔了。
Kenneth Lee 的选择，是让人非常钦佩的。他愿意放下自己优厚的薪水，放下一直以来很舒适的环境，无怨无悔老远从马来西亚去到泰国一个小镇里的学校教书。无他，他目的是要活得更有意义和履行成为一位有贡献的游客和老师。
感谢仁波切的分享。希望有接触此博文的年轻人可以依Kenneth Lee 为榜样来为自己的将来打算。
1)What a wonderful young man, I wonder how many people in the world would actually choose their dream job and what they love to do over wealth? It might not be the highest paying job but it is also definitely not the worst job for him. I feel happy for this young man because he knows which is more important in life (money or compassion?) And he chose Compassion. This is a prove that money cannot buy everything. I really can’t stop looking at the pictures above, look how happy he is. It is like he have found the true happiness of his life, or maybe he have.
2)I cannot deny that some people actually works hard in order to benefit others for example like donating their money to the ones in need, but still most people are to attached to money because they want to buy luxury things and want to live a luxurious life which is also not a bad thing but then when you are too attached to it, then it’s bad. It is bad to be attached to things but everybody has the personality as well even I do, but it is better to not be attached to things. Everyone in this world are brought into this world bringing nothing and of course we will leave this place bringing nothing along except for our good and bad karma. Because of attachment, many people who have passed away are trapped in the spirit realms because they cannot let go of the things they hold dear to, sometimes when don’t even realize that they are dead. And it is very sad.
3)Being attached to things can come in many different ways such as being attached to someone (like your family members, friends, enemies and love ones) and being attached to things (like luxury items, antiques, food, cars, house, and etc that is why there are many antiques that are haunted). And sometimes you don’t even know what you are attached to. I myself personally know that I am extremely attached to food and since I have already found out, I should try to not be so attached to it day by day. It is impossible to stop being addicted to something instantly but at least we can decrease it day by day.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the inspired real life story of Kenneth Lee for having his best job in the world, which I really do agree. It is always happier and more satisfying when we see our work can add more value into others’ life. Kenneth has realized one thing that the money, comfortable life and possessions will not give him ever lasting happiness and self satisfaction because as a matter fact, the lifeless money and materials will not take away our negative side of our mind and we will have to them away at the time of death. By helping others and contributing to the less fortunate ones will definitely make our life more meaningful and keep us away from self depression because we are focusing on others. There is no room for us to think about ourselves negatively.
众生都希望找寻高薪厚职，以为这样就能快乐的生活下去。当找到了如愿的工作，又被所谓的金钱，权力，人际关系等欲望牵扯着。看了这遍文章提醒了我，每一份工作都能成为世界上最好的工作，只要我们能够感恩和知足现下所拥有的，现下就得到快乐了。更重要的是拥有一颗菩提心， 凡事都以利益他人为先，那么我们的苦比起他人的快乐是微不足道的。
I love these kinds of stories. Such people are uplifting and inspiring. A lot of people who complain about depression would be cured instantly if they’d up and out of themselves and eased another’s burden and brought others to higher potentials and happiness. To paraphrase a verse from the Lama Chopa: In short, the immature pursue their welfare only, while Buddhas act solely for the welfare of others; discerning the faults of the one and benefits of the other, please inspire me to be able see myself as the same as others, and to give them as much importance as I do myself.
I totally agree with Kenneth. Living a life is not just about making money to satisfy ourselves materially. It is true that we will be happy momentarily, yet when we ponder about it on a deeper level, there is nothing that is being achieved.
However, when we are truly doing something that is meaningful and beneficial for others, it is true that we may not be earning a lot to lead the life of luxury. But what satisfy us and make us happy is that we know that we are making an impact for others, for the society.
Through Kenneth’s example, it has reminded me that we should always be focusing out and not focus on ourselves. It is true that for Kenneth he may face many challenges during his initial change. But I believe, deep down in him he knows that he is able to share the knowledge and previous work experience to help and improve the living situation of the children that are attending the school. With that in mind, it just makes what he is doing more beneficial, making that small difference for the people that cross paths with him.