Liam Chai carries a depth of presence that transcends his 23 years.
In 2011, while on track to study medicine, he began reading the writings of visionaries like Gandhi, Lao Tzu, Thoreau, and
Fukuoka -- and found himself grappling with questions and new perspectives that shifted his sense of possibility.
Moved by a compulsion to "be the change," the then-teenager opted not to apply for university, and instead, created his own self-directed higher education. He read 200+ non-fiction books, built a tiny house, learned Spanish in 3 months, meditated 100 hours in 10 days, grew salad on rooftops in the heart of London, and spent a summer talking to strangers in public.
In his
own words, he explains, "I had become disillusioned with the ‘go to school, get a job, retire’ motif. Truth is I was on a search for
utopia – an alternative to what I had been told was the only way. What I found instead was a way to eradicate suffering and cultivate genuine happiness. I’m making that exploration of
eradicating suffering so it no longer arises my life’s mission, and on the journey I want to be of as much benefit as I can to others."
Some questions he's holding include: What is true security and how can we cultivate that? What role does money play in a life of service? Do we lose the sacred when we measure? What is the value of a temporary pleasure? If temporary is defined as that which is changing, what is not a temporary pleasure? And if everything is changing, and hence temporary, is it meaningful to give it a valuation? If not, and if money is primarily a valuation tool, does money implicitly encourage an illusion of permanency?
With the courage of a sincere heart, his recent
experiments amplify the human spirit across England. From spreading smiles at a pop-up
Karma Kitchen in London to holding a heart of service amongst family, the array of sights and insights from this pilgrim of life carries a lightness and depth that extends far beyond his years.
Join us on June 18th, as we dive deeper into this 23-year-old's journey on a path less traveled.
Five Questions with Liam Chai
What Makes You Come Alive?
Tapping into that spirit of spontaneity - spontaneous service, spontaneous giving, joy, compassion, love... Acts of kindness in flow state :-) <br /><br />Reminds me of what Pancho says in an interview he did, <br />"Whatever you do repeatedly"basketball, or cooking, or meditating"after ten thousand hours you become an expert at it; you perform that activity automatically, without thinking. Can you imagine if we practiced kindness and generosity to the degree that we didnt have to think about it? Wed be like Michael Jordan on the basketball court. His body knows what to do; he doesnt have to think about it. What if we practiced love and kindness and generosity and courage like that? Wed be making a whole new world. And we dont have to wait. We can start right now."
Pivotal turning point in your life?
My first ten day meditation retreat.
An Act of Kindness You'll Never Forget?
My brother's paying off my parent's debts.
One Thing On Your Bucket List?
Enlightenment ;-)
One-line Message for the World?
Lean into the uncomfortable