My journey had me stumbled upon a quirky retreat in the midst of rice fields and river sounds where I learn such wisdom from a loving and passionate 80 y.o. Mongolian professor.
From the moment I step into Michi Resort, I am drowned in beauty, intelligence and cultivation of the mind. The 3 things one need to live a ‘good’ life, according to Professor Kung while we’re sipping on his special wine and listening to the cry of passions of Ella Fitzgerald, Flamenco and Classical Music.
Beauty
Beauty here is not the temporary physical and material definition that does not last. Beauty here is about being able to see the perfection in the midst of all imperfections. Beauty here is about being able to see all the beauty within us and in all of our surroundings. Seeing the world and ourselves with such amazement, appreciation, understanding and gratitude.
Just as we look at a beautiful painting, old school jazz and untouched nature, they are not ‘perfect’. There are so many things ‘wrong’ about them, but something somehow it is extremely beautiful.
And as I train my eyes to see beauty, I am surrounded by beauty.
Intelligence
Intelligence is not just about IQ or how ‘smart’ you are. It is not just about the mind. It is a measure of how good we are in seeing, understanding and communicating with the world with verbal, visual, emotional and mathematical capacity.
Music, for example, can be explained verbally, visually, emotionally and mathematically. This is why many physicists are also philosophers. This is why great minds such as Dalai Lama and Einstein can communicate well. They speak in the same language.
One may know a lot of things about something. But if one cannot see how one thing relates to another through roots, sense and logic, then the ‘intelligence’ is not yet finished. It is about seeing interconnectedness in all things.
What about cultivation of the mind?
Aaah, cultivation of the mind is about going on a journey within (aka Michi Retreat) – a spiritual journey. It is about discovering beauty, intelligence and wisdom most of all. To go beyond ego and pride. To embrace ourselves as human being and not human doing. Again, it is the journey. It is one’s choice to just look into the road or to start walking onto that road and begin the journey to the unknown.
Again, thank you for the lesson. I thank you Professor Kung. Thank you Michi. Thank you Bubu (Professor’s loyal dog). Thank you Mira for the company. Thank you God for this feeling of fulfillment. I am humbled.