Eric Chen: Background

Current Interests Writing Social Entrepreneurship Internet Content Business Zen Buddhism & Christianity Filipino language (Tagalog) Psychology & Sociology Waldorf Education & Anthroposophy I would like to meet partners who support my life work and mentors who can guide me.

Goals / Wishes

• Start social enterprises in Third World countries to empower the poor
• Earn enough passive income to do inspirational work full time
• Visit my overseas friends, especially the Filipinos and Australians
• Create a sanctuary to support people doing life changing non-profit work
• Research & create new alternative political & economical systems
• Bring Heaven to Earth: eliminate human suffering and anguish

Role Models

Mandu, Francis, Firefly, Clara: My new friends demonstrated the qualities of compassion, focus and diplomacy as they helped me with my work. They are my role models on how to work with Earthlings - to stay focused on my life work, to show compassion, to act mindfully and be street smart to avoid falling into harm's way.

Professor Muhammad Yunus: In contrast to many charities, I see the concept of micro lending undertaken by the Grameen Bank as providing a sustainable and effective way to change the world. I would like to follow his examples to do such work in the future.

Neale Donald Walsch: I see Neale as a role model for developing a successful life inspiring people through speeches and books. Although I disagree with some of his practices (such as charging exorbitant rates for his seminars), he shows me what I might be achieve in the future.

Lee Kuan Yew: He is a capable political leader with good strategy and foresight, and many Singaporeans owe their material prosperity to him. I believe that he is sincere in serving the people and not focused on his egoistical needs. Although I sometimes strongly disagree with his policies and decisions, I believe that there is much we can learn from him.

Books that impacted me

Conversations with God Series: Neale wrote some controversial books which made a lot of sense to me. I found in them a meaningful worldview, allowing me to accept the human condition and put my trust in a Higher Power.

The Heart Sutra: I have heard my mother recite this popular Zen Buddhist sutra for years, but its meaning was never obvious to me. One day, I read the English translation, and was overwhelmed by tears to stare into its depths.

The Platform Sutra: This helped me step into the essence of Buddhism, in a way beyond words.

The Taoist I Ching: This text speaks of the changes of nature and of the mind, putting me in contact with new ideas.

don Miguel Ruiz's teachings: This deepened my spiritual understanding.

Don Juan's Teachings: This deepened my spiritual understanding.

The Cashflow Quadrant: A book by Robert T. Kiyosaki opened my mind to the idea of creating passive income, starting me on my path to financial freedom. However, it is dangerous if we come to his work with only greed in mind.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: This classical book started me on understanding and applying self-improvement in a systematic manner. However, I find this book not spiritually fulfilling enough for me.

The Einstein Factor: This book made me self-conscious of my blind obedience to authority. After that, I began to question what people told me and to take control of my life.