Designing and Spirituality
Dear students and friends,
Recently, one of my student was featured in China Press, a local Chinese Newspaper in Malaysia. Eric Choong is a leading fashion designer here in Malaysia, and is famous for designing glamorous evening and wedding gowns. I have known Eric for many years now… What many people don’t know is that besides fashion, the other main interest in his life is Buddhism.
Since I’ve known Eric, I have seen a transformation in him. He gives so much for the Dharma despite his busy schedule packed with fashion shows and designing time. I am so happy to see him excel in his career while pursuing a spiritual path… he shows to others how you can still be yourself, yet be involved in the Dharma.
In the featured article below, Eric shares how spirituality has brought many positive changes in his life. I’m glad that he shares his experience as it would definitely benefit many people. Do take a look at this article… You can see a fashionista diva & spiritual person in Eric Choong all rolled into one.
I am proud of Eric and his sincerity very much.
Tsem Rinpoche
China Press Newspaper
Date: 31/05/2012
Section: Pull Out
Click image above for larger view to read the text in Chinese
点击上图放大阅读中文
Page 1
Title: 25 years in Fashion Industry, Learnt to have Peace of Mind
Having a career in the fashion industry for the past twenty five years, Eric Choong faces obstacles from time to time but the main obstacle is not derived from a lack of ideas but more from his mind. He was close-minded until he met H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, who shared with him a phrase: “Everything changes but nothing changes”, which opened his heart…
Click image above for larger view to read the text in Chinese
点击上图放大阅读中文
Page 2
Title: With a Disturbed Mind, Everything will be Negative
The main topics Eric Choong discusses with reporters and friends are usually about fashion and the latest fashion trends, but what he shares on Facebook is totally different, it is all about spirituality and his practice.
Can fashion and spirituality go hand in hand?
Eric told frankly that in the past, he did have unhappy times as fashion designer.
He understood that lack of ideas is part and parcel of an artist’s life; but his main obstacle came from his doubts about life which he could not find answers for.
Eric’s stubbornness eventually made him a bitter person. He kept asking questions but unable to find the answers. He began to dislike many things and many people around him, and eventually cutting down on socializing with others. The situation lasted for two to three years with no resolve. At that time, he thought that’s it for him, and his career would end anytime.
Your Mind is the Culprit
During his unstable period (about 5 years ago), Eric was invited to a religious gathering where he got to know about Kechara and Tsem Tulku Rinpoche.
On Wesak Day that year, he met Rinpoche and told Rinpoche about his situation. Rinpoche’s answer to him was “Everything changes but nothing changes”. It struck him, and that very sentence transformed him ever since.
Rinpoche advised him to continue his life but change his mindset. With that approach in life, he was not depressed anymore and opened up his mind.
Click image above for larger view to read the text in Chinese
点击上图放大阅读中文
Page 3
Title: Fashion and Spirituality, Balance is the key
When Eric Choong changed his view, he saw transformation reflected in his surroundings – including with his friends and environment. Rinpoche advised him to write a book, to help others. Eric’s book was published 3 years ago. He uses his fame and status to influence people for good, and not for material purposes.
From the book, we get to know how Eric strikes a balance between fashion and spirituality.
Lamp of Your Life, Guide You to the Path
Eric shared that he remains active with Kechara’s activities, and Rinpoche’s skillful and alternative teaching style suits modern people’s needs.
To him, Rinpohe is a living Buddha, a Guru, a brother and a friend all at the same time.
“Rinpoche is compassionate, kind and open-minded. He will use different methods to teach people with different personalities,” Eric shared.
Since meeting Rinpoche and Kechara, Eric found the lamp that brightened up his life, showing him the way.
One of Kechara’s purpose is to bring peace to modern people’s life. Hence Kechara launched a shrine appreciation competition titled ‘Snap, Pray, Love’ which focuses on the inspirational joy it brings to our homes. Through this, Kechara House wishes to introduce a new concept of contemporary spirituality; re-shifting from the need to be religious to becoming spiritual.
By taking a picture of your personal shrine and uploading it on the competition website: blog.tsemtulku.com/snap-pray-love, the lucky winners whose pictures best captures ‘Inner Peace’ stands a chance to win an Altar Makeover worth up to RM20,000 by Award-winning Interior Designer Valerie Choi and other great prizes.
Judges for the competition are travel and cook book writer Corinne Trang, Fashion designer Eric Choong, and photographer Brandon Lim. The closing date for the competition is 30 June.
Eric emphasized that we should not limit ourselves by thinking that art and religion cannot complement one another or go hand in hand in life. Religion can actually be integrated with our life to bring peace and harmony to us.
Source: http://www.chinapress.com.my/node/323233
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
This article about Eric Choong inspired me to change my mindset.
As someone who works in the creative field, I related to how Eric felt when he was depressed and disliked many people and things around him. I felt the same as well and cut myself off from the world.
However, Eric Choong’s merits allowed him the rare opportunity to meet Rinpoche on Wesak Day last year, which turned his life around, and it ‘s funny that I actually got to *meet* Eric Choong on Wesak day this year! At the Kechara House Gompa no less!
Eric is indeed a very very humble person. It was a surreal experience for me to meet him and I recall my brother Erik telling me that, I was shuffling and jiggling my entire body with excitement as I was speaking with Eric Choong. Ha!
Eric, this post about you really inspired me. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this with us.
Eric is a sincere and talented designer who is very humble and always helpful. He was instrumental in helping us with the media coverage of the launch of If Not Now When, which is now in its third edition http://vajrasecrets.com/books/english-books/if-not-now-when-love-edition.html. Since then, he has also come up with his own book! http://vajrasecrets.com/books/chinese-books/eric-choong-in-full-bloom.html it’s only available in Chinese so unfortunately i can’t read it but i love the photos within it and it’s a beautifully designed book – very fitting for one of the top fashion designers in Malaysia! I’m so proud of Eric, that he is doing more in his life than just focusing on creating beautiful items and secular success.
This is a great article and I’m so glad that this paper did such wonderful coverage about Eric – not just about his work but about him as a person, because he really is such a fantastic guy and I’m proud to call him my friend.
Having been a part of the fashion world for awhile, I too am familiar with just how hectic and crazy lifestyles within that field can be. Also, how competitive and sometimes unpleasant it can be working in such an environment. People can be catty, backstabbing, pretentious – you name it! It’s samsara! I think the thing that has stood out for me most about Eric, from the very first moment I met him years ago in the KH gompa, is just how humble, down-to-earth he is and how unaffected he is by the outward glamor, glitz and “show” of the fashion world. At the heart of it, Eric is a friend, a truly loving person who cares more about who’s he’s talking to than the price tag he’s going to whip out to show you at the end of your time with him!
I love also that Eric incorporates spirituality into what he’s doing, so it’s not separate from his work in the fashion world. Many, many times we get these cute updates from him during his travels, where he will bring Rinpoche’s books and gifts and offer them to friends around the world. I know he has also told me privately that many of his friends in this line suffer quite a lot because of the intensity of that industry, loneliness, depression etc. So he does all he can to help them through Rinpoche’s teachings whenever he sees them. I think this is such a beautiful example of how he brings Dharma to the world he’s in and shows us how the teachings can be relevant at all levels, for all different kinds of people.
Most of all, he is a beacon of inspiration in himself, in a world which is known for being harsh, competitive and judgmental. Eric stands strong as a light, as someone who in spite of all the pressure of the fashion industry, remains peaceful, caring, generous and always thoughtful of others.
And PS: he does some rockin’ dresses!
A well known fashion designer in the Malaysian fashion industry, Eric is has enormous talent but never brag about it.He is someone who accepts all forms of people and someone who cares a lot about other people’s emotions,polite and unpretencious.He is a humble person in touch with reality.Though busy with work,he still comes for pujas and Rinpoche’s Dharma talks. Wishing you a smooth path to your spiritual practice.
Thank you for sharing this inspiring post Rinpoche.
Peace of mind cannot be bought with money. There are multi-millionaires and celebrities who seem to have it all externally but internally they are unhappy and have very troubled minds. Spirituality is a necessity to help us to have a peaceful and acceptance mind. We live in a “modern” world. “Everything changes but nothing changes” as advised by Rinpoche to Eric. Yes, we don’t need to run into the caves to practice spirituality but carry on with our current lifestyle but apply the Dharma in our life. Hence, Rinpoche’s teachings and guidance are very suitable to suit our modern people.
以前的我总以为人的心是不能多用的，做事情必须要全情的投入，不能分心，这样才能有所成就。 可是，这样的信念在我遇到了仁波切之后而有所改变。以前总以为只要把工作做好，赚多点钱，生活才会有所保障，哪里知道，努力了这么久，好像又回到了原点，一些无法控制的因素，导致自己没有办法又再陷入经济的难题。现在，透过了金甲衣护法的修行，一切好像变得有点不可思议，不但在事业上的成绩有所改善，连陪家里人的时间也比较多了，心灵上也感觉到平静了许多，只要一切的东西，能达到平衡，就能做到心想事成了。
Eric is someone who is humble and modest.he has an admirable quality that not many people possess.He has accomplished a lot but doesn’t feel it is necessary to advertise or brag about it.
May you achieve tremendous merits with your Dharma practice through Rinpoche’s guidance.
Always a friendly and helpful person, Eric is always ready to talk to visitors to Kechara and always eager to lend a hand or two in any of Kechara’s events. Not only that, Eric attends puja regularly in Kechara.
Eric recently put together a fashion show combining Tibetan motifs with his designs at the Wesak Day event in Sunway Pyramid. I enjoyed the performance and his designs.
Eric is a wonderful person. I met him when our mutual friend brought him to Kechara during Wesak day 5 years ago. He told me that he was looking for a Buddhist teacher in Malaysia. He wants to learn Buddhism because it makes sense and helps him let go.
Ever since then, Eric has been supporting Kechara and attending as many talks as he can to learn. He’s extremely busy especially when he has fashion shows coming up. However, he’d still make it a point to get involved and learn. I find him very sincere and humble always.
He is a great example of how a busy person can commit to developing his spirituality and his career simultaneously.
Eric Choong is definately one of the friendliest celebrity designer (ehemm…not that i know all of them…).
He always participate in cleaning and doing house keeping for Kechara, never once he is too proud of his fashioin Diva status, and refuse the cleaning work. I respect him for this.
Eric onece has told me his wishes in this life, is to spread the dharma through his aspiration in the fashion industries, i though that is fanstatic, be cool and yet still spiritual, the best of both world.
I paray and wish Eric fulfilled his dream, and benefits many other through his talents and aspirations
I’m happy for Eric to have also benefitted from H. E. Tsem Rinpoche’s teachings. He is an example that spirituality can be and should be incorporated into daily life and not left in the temple. It’s that whatever we are doing, applying dharma principles does bring happiness to ourselves and others, and once we have experienced the benefits, how can we keep it to ourselves? It would be natural to share it. One way to check ourselves is to take a hard look. How have we influenced others around us?
I don’t know Eric very well yet Eric always pays attention to our Weibo (Chinese Twitter) of Kechara Tea House in Shanghai and forwarded or commented on our Weibo. And he even introduced some his friends who traveled to Shanghai from Beijing to visit our Tea House! How nice!
I can’t imagine that once Eric was a bitter person! Dharma changes a person yet nothing changes!
Thank you Eric for being a nice person! 🙂
Christine SH
HE IS GOOD EXAMPLE.IS NICE ARTICLE IN CHINES.HE IS GOOD MASTER HE SO MUCH HELP KSA.HE IS NICE PRESON.THANK YOU FOR SHERING.
I know Eric through Kechara. He’s a very sweet guy. He always share with me how difficult he was in the fashion business. Now he didn’t feel that way any more. He told me he never knew that dharma can grow so deep into his heart. He said now he looked back, he felt so silly as who he was. He said if he could have met Rinpoche earlier, things could be even better.
Thank you Eric for bringing spirituality into fashion. 我为你而豪！
Eric Choong 是个很有心的时尚家，不管路途多遥远，都难不倒他！因为有心，事就成！是现在很多时尚家，少有的特色。
我今天在这个大家庭，也是Eric的引领，他人很亲切，他的介绍和解释，让人很容易明白和接受，完全没压力！！
谢谢！Eric 你的用心和耐力。
A very well known designer in Malaysia! A celebrity fashion icon!
BUT…. He is unbelievable humble, very helpful, always gives us ideas, and very funny!! ^^, Hehehhe ^^,
Eric Choong ^^, He always laugh & bring happiness to everyone. Im here to thank you from bottom of heart… We love you!! hehehe = p
Eric加油！祝愿你的事业更上一城楼! ^^,
认识Eric好几年了，当时的我还是个新人，当每次我出席克切拉任何活动或庆典都不难看到他的身影。Eric让我印象深刻的是他那份坚持的心，他时时刻刻准备协助后辈而完全没有架子，他那份认真的态度让我感动。
在他身上我看到谦卑，非常赞赏他在佛法学习到的都运用在日常生活上，这才是真正的佛法修行。要在时装界打滚并站稳脚确实不容易，我相信要不是因为Eric遇到佛法，他是不容易挨过这漫长的25个年头。
Eric你要继续保持这股士气，继续的把佛法融入你的服装设计，因为佛法=设计：设计=佛法， Everything Changes，Nothing Changes！
Eric加油！祝愿你的事业更上一城楼
Eric is a wellknowned fashion designer and also the Advisor to Kechara Saraswati Arts Sewing Dept.He is very, very humble and always willing to lend a hand,share lots of his ideas and helped us raise funds.Eric is a good example for bringing arts and religion together cos he proved it well….for Dharma Eric wil go that extra miles..Thank you Eric.
Eric is a very well known designer in Malaysia, he is a celebrity fashion icon since many years back, in such a high profile industry, life is full of attention and attraction, Of course jealousy is always around to make you suffer especially in this industry. Well Eric has no affect of all these because he met Rinpoche.
I have read Eric’s book and i realised Eric is such a spiritual person in a way that he is compassion, humble and very easy to get along with. I like him very much, he is fun and sincere. He met his Guru in life and to practice the spiritual path, Eric is an icon and inspiration 🙂
I still remembered meeting Eric for the first time during the launch of his ‘In full bloom’ few years back. During the set up at the top floor of Bangsar Village, Eric will dirty his fingers to do the deco and set up himself. He is also a perfectionist. When I get to know him better later on, he came across as a humble person and polite. I am glad Eric has found happiness, especially when he is in the fashion industry surrounded by materialistic things. Thank you for sharing your spiritual journey with us Eric.
Eric Choong他是著名的时装设计师，没有架子，人非常友善，还很谦逊。每当我看到Eric Choong，他总是脸上带着笑容，跟大家问好。总是把快乐带给大家。也把佛法带到時尚世界，认更多人受惠。
祝你在灵修的路上更上一层楼！加油！加油！加油
認識Eric Chong 是在KSA當義工。第一個印象是言談很溫和， 常帶著微笑，隨和的男生。是位值得信賴的一位朋友。Eric 加油。
Dear Eric:
I’m rejoice for your transformation. From your real-life example, proven that fame, status, money and worldly knowledge can not and will not bring happiness to people. You inspired many people to learn and practice Dharma. You are a good testimonial that Buddhism is for everyone.
Thank you very much for publicizing Dharma and Kechara to many other peoples. I did receive a call from one of my girl friends. She asked me about Kechara after read your interview in China Press.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing. Take good care
With love,
VP
Anytime I see Eric,he always wears smile on his face ,he is caring,humble and friendly person.I truely rejoice for him,he is not only learning dharma,he realy puts dharma into pratice.I will take you as an example and pratice dharma as good as you.May you always be the shining example to others who are still finding their spiritual path.wish you all the best!!
Eric Choong has been practising dharma for many many years, and he has incorporated the spirit/principal of dharma into his fashion industries and daily life.
Whats inspired is that he could be what he is…” a Diva”, and yet still be spiritual in his daily life. Hence, many wrong perceptions that one has to give up everything in life when you practising dharma, is proven wrong again by life example of Eric.
We wish Eric continue to shine in the fashion industry, and be the biggest Diva, so that everyone knows, to be spiritual, lies within!
Nice write-up of Eric by China Press! I especially love the way he blends fashion and spirituality
Hey Eric, LOVE your altar! Nice 🙂
I was there when Eric did this interview.I enjoyed his interview very much, eventhough it was in Chinese. Eric was so sensitive enough to even ask the journalist to interview him in cantonese so that I could understand. How sweet of him.
The fashion world can be cruel, the superficiality, pretentiousness, competitiveness etc, and I’m sure if one is not mentally strong enough, they’d eventually crumble and take their life, just like Alexander McQueen. Although he was depressed with the passing of his mother, which led him to take his own life, he would have been in a bad state to begin with.
And as Eric truthfully revealed that it can be hard, he too went through a “down” time during his career. If not for meeting Rinpoche, learning the Dharma and injecting spirituality into his life, it would have been hard for him to come out of it. Thank you for being so honest Eric, and using your story to inspire others! I saw how sincere you were during your interview, how passionate you were, and your want to bring the same happiness and peace to others.
I like how the article ended with the saying: “Religion can actually be integrated with our life to bring peace and harmony to us.”
Religion is to be applied to how we conduct ourselves in our daily lives to make others happy and leave an impression on them. It need not be separate.
Final note: with the altar competition, Snap Pray Love, let others know that your entire home can be a spiritual space, instead of your altar being just a religious corner in your house. Upload photos of your altars to win the amazing grand prize!
Eric Choong is a great person, he is so kind and cute. He always shows his smilling face wherever he go and brightens up the room. I am glad that this article bring dharma and happiness to all around the corner. I wish we can always get the peaceful minded firmly.
I read this article in newspaper…
心困扰处处是非圈~ 对，处处是非圈，一切都得让我们自己放下，别让是非与不良道德的攻击影响我们学佛向善的旅程，我们会低落，会不由自主的寻问，找答案，为何一个制造是非的人，却面对人们处处两个面，无论我们寻找多久，所谓的真相，走到最后，都没有一定的答案。
只有[心]可以给我们自己找到安定的方案。为何我们还要把周围他人的杂物，不良行为，抛进自己的思绪而踌躇不前。
Rejoice for Eric and convince ourself we shall do more to spread the dharma seed. Wish you always happy and excel in the spiritual way.
I only got to know Eric Choong in the last 1 or 2 years, and find him to be a very humble, calm and sincere person, always with a gentle smile and a great sense of humour! I cannot imagine him as someone who disliked his surroundings and other people like what it said in the newspaper above… He must have really taken Tsem Rinpoche’s advise and teachings to heart and applied and integrated Dharma into his life. He made the effort to change his mind and now he is so happy! I’m so happy for you Eric and your story is a great inspiration for everyone =)
Eric Choong, 我记得是在3年前认识他！其实蛮搞笑的 ！
当天，我收到 Ｋｅｃｈａｒａ ｓｅｎｄ 给我的邮件。 说推出了一本关于宗喀巴大师传漫画书， 我脑海出现 ｔｈａｔ ｉｓ ｓｏ ｃｏｏｌ ， ｉ ｍｕｓｔ ｇｅｔ ｏｎｅ ｃｏｐｙ ！！
那天Ｙｖｏｎｎｅ与我一起到 Ｓｕｎｗａｙ Ｐｙｒａｍｉｄ 的 Ｋｅｃｈａｒａ Ｐａｒａｄｉｓｅ的 ｏｕｔｌｅｔ．在那里有一位带着粗框眼镜，看来蛮新潮的招待员不停的介绍各式的东西给我。最后终于找到了我要的漫画！
当时我心在想， 着店铺里的服务生，态度很好！ 下次还可以再来！ ；-）当我在柜台付账时， Eric Choong 把他的书送给我，我吃惊！ 他还在书里签名， 让我作纪念！ Hehehe ， I am really bad, I still don’t know who he is. I thought he just a writer .
当我离开，到餐厅用餐坐下来看看书才发现，他是著名的时装设计师。原来当天，他是来这里当义工！
对不起 Eric。 ；-）
就是这样， 第一个印象！ 让我非常的欢喜。也这样我在次来到 Kechara !
Eric , Please continue the heart ! You warm more people !
For a fashion designer who is surrounded by beauty and glamour Eric is extremely down to earth. Eric is inspiring as someone who has successfully managed his life so that there is no separation between his work and his spiritual practice. Spirituality is made glamorous and why not?
It is wonderful that Eric uses every media opportunity to tell the world about Tsem Rinpoche and what Dharma has done for him. He doesn’t get carried away with fame.
I am glad that Eric met Rinpoche at a time when he needed spirituality most. He was able to take Rinpoche’s advice to heart and transform his mindset to a positive one and to find a peaceful and calm ‘center ‘ in the storm of his fashion designer’s world. So now he he is able to infuse spirituality into his work as a designer, and strike a happy balance between Dharma and the secular. All of this has been made possible by his Guru Devotion.
I’ve known Eric for about 4 years+ now. I love his sincerity and am inspired by his tenacity working through challenges in his extremely competitive industry. He is a very down to earth guy who promotes Rinpoche and the teachings so very often. I was with him in Ipoh just this past sunday and he shared with a group of orphanage kids about his profession as a fashion designer. Eric’s mom was there and he shared how his mom was supportive of him throughout his journey, giving him the advice if he were to choose this path, he will need to go all the way with it.
And Eric shared how he was going thru such a tough time and at the point of giving up when he met Rinpoche. As stated in the news article, it was how those few simple words of wisdom changed his life.
That can happen to anyone of us, if we allow it to. And why not? What is there further to loose. And the truth is there’s all to be gained when we change ourselves.
Wishing all peace and happiness.
In the past , before I joined Kechara , I have “met” Eric whilst on work projects in fashion shows etc . The fashion world is a complicated arena . Heavy competition , rumour mongering , back stabbing etc was common . Most people in this industry are selfish and defensive . Maintaining a high reputation was utmost important . In order to “survive” one had to be “hard”, and at times almost too painful to bear .
Hence I can clearly understand how “Everything changes nothing changes” is a great teaching for this sort of environment . Eric has clearly subdued his mind following this teaching and he is such a humble person , always friendly and approachable . Also a very respectable figure in the fashion industry ! Really rejoice in his achievements !!
What’s amazing is that Rinpoche’s message has a wide universal appeal. Hence, everyone from the young to the old will find a place in Kechara. Hence, it is not surprising that Eric Choong found Rinpoche’s advice both meaningful and applicable to him and his situation in life.
What is amazing is that he persisted and change himself to fit Dharma in his busy schedule. It has changed his life completely and he brings this message to many into the world of Malaysian fashion industry. May this message of spirituality bring lots of people into the Dharma and to pursue deeper practice.
On Sunday 3rd June, Eric gave a motivational talk to a group of children at Joyful Home, a home for abandoned and abused children, situated in Ipoh. He shared about his childhood and challenges he faced as he grew up, and how he overcame his problems in studies and career. I’m sure the children learned something about life from Eric as they listened attentively and rejoiced in Eric’s success and eventual fame as a designer. The visit to the home was organised by the Ipoh Study group under Wan Wai Meng. Those of us from Kechara who attended were very impressed by Eric’s frankness and sincerity to help others and his guru devotion.
Eric is very humble and funny person, he always friendly when we meet each other in Kechara event, even he is popular fashion designer but he doesn’t show off himself . he really practice his dharma in daily. he is good example for us to learn . Rejoice !
Eric is a nice person. Always happy and I love to be in his company. Glad that he found dharma and Rinpoche
Eric Choong is one of the good examples that blend in spiritual teaching into his life and career. It doesn’t confuse him instead it help him to move on and becoming a better and successful designer. Inspiring!
Eric Choong is also a very humble and cheerful person and very nice friend. His success proven that dharma is for everyone and suit the modern life for better future.
Eric’s appreciation of Dharma and Rinpoche’s teachings blend into his fashion and life. He shares what he faced once his life was unbalanced and how he found the balance after meeting Rinpoche.
If you ever seen Eric shares about Dharma, his Guru and fashion, you will find he is such a sincere person who let Dharma sinks into his thoughts, his life and convince you.
Thank you Eric for showing fashion and Dharma never contradict each other but can goes hand in hand.
Eric Choong is a smart designer! He embraces teachings from Rinpoche which makes him a better person and ultimately the enlighten thought. Apart from these he also taps into the creative energy which enhances his creativity and designs.
Personally I like Eric a lot. He is one of the most humble person I’ve met. I believe that he has gone through many hardship before this and Im glad and happy that he met Dharma and Rinpoche. Eric inspired me to become a humble person, as he shows to me, even though he is a very sucessful designer, he still remain very humble and willing to learn from time to time!
All the best to you Eric! 🙂
Eric has been a long time student of Rinpoche. He is in an industry where one can be easily distracted yet he sets his priorities right and is consistent in attending all Kechara activities. May Eric inspire more fashionistas to find a balance in their lives, just as he did.
當佛法遇見時尚，會是怎麼樣的一個新面貌呢？問宗柏伸就最清楚了。宗柏伸在時尚界縱橫超過廿五個年頭，他有很多對服裝潮流的感慨，可是卻對佛法有很多讚嘆領悟隨喜。我想他是幸運的，在充沛著物质慾望如此張牙舞爪的俗世世界，卻偏偏讓他碰上佛法，安撫他在慾流的創傷，這若不是他前世的祈禱，又怎會有如此大的福報呢？
祝福宗柏伸在他的時尚世界走得更順遂，靈修路上更日愈精進；造福人群。
Eric is very kind and nice people, when we meet him, he will say hello and chat with us just like close friend regardless how famous are him.His sharing definitely will inspired more people , especially those looking for changes of their life,peace & spirituality practice.
Eric’s spiritual journey inspired me very much , despite all the hardship and obstacles, he keeps firm in what he want to achieve in his spiritual journey,the beautiful part is that he never gives up even the challenges were critical and tough. From Eric, I learned that he has very strong faith in dharma and guru! I really rejoice for him. May Eric’s spiritual path continue and brings benefits to others.
Really happy for Eric
Eric Choong, a fashion designer, whose other main interest in his life, is said to be Buddhism. He is recognised by our Guru that despite a busy schedule packed with fashion shows, yet he has seen a transformation in Eric, which shows to others how you still can be yourself and yet be involved in Dharma. Eric shared that Rinpoche’s modern, fearless, and skilfull alternative teaching stlyle suits more modern people’s needs. Since meeting Rinpoche, Eric has found the lamp of his life! We rejoice for Eric and thank him dearly for sharing with us how religion can be integrated into our daily life to bring us peace and harmony.
Eric is very nice big brother. The first time I really talked to him was during the preparation for the debate competition. I was like ‘WOW!’. He’s so down to earth, humble and very kind to share with those juniors on his dharma knowledge. He’s passion in guiding me on those debate points. His encouragement inspire me that learn from the past experience, improve and apply it in the next one.
It’s true about what Eric mentioned about “With a Disturbed Mind, Everything will be Negative”. I have the same experience that disturbed mind actually block us from moving forward to next steps and it creates inner fear for failure due to the negativity we met around us. The inner fear creates laziness and distract our focus to do better work and everything around us is IMPOSSIBLE.
It’s so important to transform our mindset and FOCUS. I am still working on it. Hehehehe…
Dear Eric, thank for sharing with us. You are a very good example to show us.
“Everything changes but nothing changes”, this phase is easily to understand but not easily to transform our ignorance mind set. As an example by Eric we know that through Dharma we can transform to be better person and our carrier also will be better when we are a better person.
I know Eric for a few years till today, every time when i sees him, he will call your name with a happily smile on his face, he is always so happy and cheerful no matter when and where you sees him…
His spiritual journey made him changed, I believe so, because for anyone that met him, it will be very difficult for them to not believe…
Thank you Eric for this sharing, it gives so much pump for us to continue in spiritual path… may you have all the best and the best to go with your spiritual journey…
I am happy that there is a transformation in Eric ever since he met Rinpoche and the dharma. Spirituality has helped him during those rough patches and has transformed his life.
Eric is a humble and pleasant person who is so eager to learn the dharma. Even though he is Chinese educated, it did not prevent him from wanting to learn more dharma. He puts in effort to learn and at any dharma talks by Rinpoche, you can find him writing and scribbling notes on his little note book. He is always smiling and ever ready to lend a helping hand.
Eric, I am so glad that now you have found a balance in your life.
I had no idea who Eric was, when I met him at Kechara House about one and a half years ago. At that time, I was quite a stranger there and Eric was so nice and warm when he approached and introduced himself. He even showed me around and offered his assistance should I need any.
Having met Rinpoche must be the real turning-point of Eric’s life. He not only overcame his problems but found his way back and went onto greater fame. It’s amazing how Dharma can empower us to effectively meet the difficult challenges in life.
I congratulate Eric on his achievements and sincerely wish there are more to come in the future. I’m so happy to have him as a friend!
It is great for Eric to show that the secular and spiritual can co -exist in harmony to add meaning and purpose to one’s life. Eric is very interested in gaining knowledge. Even though he is chinese educated and the classes in English , that did not stop him from learning.He will jot down lots of notes and translate them into chinese with help of a dictionary.
Eric is helping to spread the universal values of Buddhism he had benefitted from as expounded by his Guru , and to tell everyone that it is possible to integrate Buddhist practical wisdom into one’s daily life irregardless of whatever career or situation they are in.
I didn’t know about Eric Choong until I came to Kechara but what it strike the most to me is fashion design and spirituality can go hand in hand. I find it intriguing and very promising that spirituality does help you in your working life. It doesn’t mean your problem will go away magically but we can deal or resolve our problem in a different way when we have different perspectives on things. 🙂
Eric is a very down to earth guy I have known. He is friendly and always helpful. And I am glad to know that Buddhism has provided him with a guiding light in his life to move forward. Thanks to Rinpoche’s advice and teachings.
This can happen to anyone if there is a trust in their guru. The results will come when there is faith and persistence.
Congratulations Eric for your hardwork in continuing with your passion and may
Rejoice for Eric! He is right that our mind is culprit. Most of the time, we are so close-minded with our own perceptions and assumptions. Hence we had unstable emotions and cant have a clear mind in life and we are stucked. We learn from Eric that we can blend spiritual element into our career which can also lead to our daily life. To read and understand is not enough but we need to transform ourselves and practice Dharma in our daily life. I am glad that we have Rinpoche along our spiritual path. Happy for Eric and you sre our role model 🙂
“Everything changes but nothing changes” very profound and very true. Everything comes from our mind.
Knowing Eric from the Chinese Lamrim class, he is very hardworking, authentic, humble and helpful. His sharings and ideas always let me look at things and learn things from different angle.
Rejoice on this article and with his name and reputation in the fashion industry, hope can bring more Dharma to more people.
Eric, 你的用心、用功、谦虚与助人的精神，一直以来是我学习的对象与推动力。愿你在灵修上更上一层楼！加油！
I am glad to come across this posting. It gives me a reminder that we could balance normal life with spirituality if we have the determination upon realization. I rejoice for Eric for his realization upon meeting Rinpoche and for his diligent practise. You are now my new role model.
Rejoice ! Eric is in dharma and dharma also in him, therefore he can integrate dharma and his high society fashion career naturally.
I remember 6 years ago when Eric first came to Kechara, he was at a distance checking us out. He liked what he saw and now he represents Kechara well.
“Eric emphasized that we should not limit ourselves by thinking that art and religion cannot complement one another or go hand in hand in life. Religion can actually be integrated with our life to bring peace and harmony to us.” — This is so true! It is the inner peace that propel us to successful path, be it in secular or spirituality.
I was a fashion designer before i join Kechara and i can feel all the sufferings that Eric has gone through in the past. Now that we understand Dharma, when we recall our sufferings in the past was just arisen from our fixed perception on certain things and unnecessary expectation that disappointed us most of the time. I’m so glad Eric managed to strive the balance between his career and spirituality, I believe that with Eric’s persistency, he will shine even brighter.
Eric 你是我们的好榜样！愿你通过佛法的加持，继续在时装界发光发热！
Eric Choong is a real nice and funny person. Always joking, laughing and happy! He brightens up the room whenever he enters! I am very happy that he found Rinpoche and transformed into a better person now. In most of the articles he is in, he always mention about Rinpoche and Kechara and how they have benefitted him. May you be happy always and excel in your spiritual path! May the articles in the papers benefit the people who read them.
He is a example for us,because he get balance like Rinpoche mentioned before,fifty percent Dharma life + fifty percent wordly life,great! He also let us konw don’t find excuse for ourself that you don’t have time to start practise Dharma,Dharma is important and precious.
Eric Choong is one of the most humble person I’ve met! Wonderful article in China Press. It is very inspiring to read about how Buddhism has help Eric when he was feeling down just a few years ago. Articles like this on national newspapers will help many people as they can more or less relate themselves to it, we all have problems after all.
Eric is right on this. Our mind is our culprit. We can never have true compassion and peace if we are unable to settle our mind. Will power is very important, it is the drive we give to ourselves to strive harder and never give up and of course, do the right thing. It is never the wrong time to do something right. We just gotta set our mind on it and go for it, even if the results aren’t as pleasing as they should be, at least we were there and we know where we stood BUT we do not stop there. We get back up on our feet and make improvements on where the flaws were in the first place.
Happy for you Eric because you have found the balance in both spirituality and career.