ABSTRACT
A lot of what I write reflects what I have learned. This chapter explores what I’ve done outside the therapy room, and why. It is important to note up front that many of my views might be the opposite of Western thinking. So I invite the reader to consider my cultural roots as background for understanding this chapter. It might help if you read with contemplation. You will see both surface phenomena and underlying viewpoints to help understand the cause of my life’s actions. A lot of my beliefs come from Buddha’s teaching (i.e., to purify and carefully look inside yourself, then focus on how we can change others). I learned at a young age to mindfully choose my actions among so many chances. Whatever we select, we are responsible for. The choices I select are intended to bring good deeds for others, which is why I selected this career path as a psychologist: teaching and training in helping areas. While most people’s focus in selecting a career is to make money, my focus is to make merit. The experiences shared in this chapter show how merit-making determinations can be achieved even when the road is rough. For me the counseling field is more than a career: it is life task.
