17/08/2026
I have been studying and practising mindfulness for most of my life.
Many people have a certain image of mindfulness, meditation, Zen, or even “spiritual practice”:
Mindfulness practitioners are often seen as very “floaty” people, relying on intuition, teaching from the heart, talking about energy or spiritual experiences, sharing personal stories, and sometimes leaving everyone crying at the end of a class. (Mindfulness teachers, please don’t attack me! )
But those who know me well know that I am actually quite the opposite.
I don’t teach by telling emotional stories from my own life. I don’t use inspirational quotes or emotional experiences to move people. And I don’t believe that a class is valuable simply because everyone feels deeply emotional afterwards.
So, in theory, I choose reason over emotion.
Modern psychology is fascinating. We can start with a person’s behaviour, feelings, thoughts and beliefs, and slowly explore deeper layers , their expectations, desires, beliefs and sense of self. It is a very systematic and beautiful way of understanding ourselves.
But when I return to mindfulness itself, I discover something even more interesting:The essence of mindfulness is actually not about analysing ourselves more and more.
It brings us back to something very simple - the mind and awareness.
We don’t always need to take a three-layer Bandung drink and analyse every layer: What is this colour? What is the second layer? What is the third layer? Sometimes, mindfulness is about simply seeing what is there.
As the Buddhist teaching says:
“Form is not different from emptiness; emptiness is not different from form.”
The process may be slow, but the result can be profound.Sometimes, the deepest understanding does not come from analysing more.
It comes from simply seeing.
So, when it comes to teaching and practice, I actually choose feeling over thinking.
Does that sound contradictory?
Yes. And it is precisely because of this contradiction that I have gradually developed my own three principles for teaching mindfulness.
My Three “Don’ts”
1. No ghosts or supernatural stories, only science.
Mindfulness can be very deep without being mysterious.
I believe modern psychology, neuroscience, body awareness and long-term practice can help us understand mindfulness. We don’t need personal stories or supernatural ideas to make it interesting.
2. No fixed school or tradition, but respect the roots.
I respect different traditions, and I don’t believe there is only one way to practise mindfulness. But “not following one school” does not mean mixing everything together randomly.
Methods can cross cultures and generations. The way we teach can be modern. But the core principles and practice traditions should still be respected.
3. No blind attachment to old forms, focus on the essence.
Mindfulness is not about bringing an ancient practice into modern life exactly as it was.What matters is whether we understand its essence.
The external form such as posture, instructions, environment and techniques is only a method. It is not mindfulness itself.
What we ultimately learn is how to see ourselves more clearly, understand ourselves better, and build a more conscious relationship with whatever is happening in our lives.
So, what I really want to offer is not a mindfulness course that takes people to “another world”.It is a practice that helps us return to the body, see ourselves more clearly, and live with greater awareness.
Starting from modern science and moving towards ancient wisdom. Bringing East and West together, while staying grounded in actual practice.
Not mystical. Not superstitious. Understanding with reason, but practising with feeling.
Not chasing the feeling of: “Wow, I feel so amazing after learning mindfulness!”
But slowly developing real awareness of the body and mind. This is the mindfulness I want to teach. And this is also the direction that CATalist Academy’s 10-Week Mindfulness Teacher Training stands for. If this is the kind of mindfulness that speaks to you, you are welcome to join us.
Mindfulness can be scientific. And in this noisy, confusing and sometimes crazy world, perhaps it can help us stay truly awake and clear-minded.
