Life hacks - Dr Tony Fernando

Service Description

Session 1: “Life hacks from the Buddha” Joining in person at Nyima Tashi Synopsis: Dr Tony Fernando is the author of a recently published book called “Life Hacks from the Buddha”. In this talk he will be sharing some of the main points in his book. This book distils ancient wisdom into 50 simple, easy-to-follow hacks, including mindfulness, generosity, living simply, avoiding harm, and cultivating compassion. One of the greatest causes of suffering is our tendency to cling to ideas or beliefs. We hold on so tightly that we dismiss other perspectives as wrong. Whether it's how to stack dishes or parallel park, or more serious matters like political or religious beliefs, this grasping leads to conflict. Learning to "ungrasp" or hold our ideas lightly, while giving space to others, is a key teaching of the Buddha that leads to peace. You don't have to abandon your beliefs—just avoid clinging too tightly. Bio: Tony is a practicing psychiatrist and sleep specialist who has worked in academia for more than two decades. His research has focused on sleep medicine and medical compassion. He came from a large Catholic family in Manila. He was a postulant at the Abbey of our Lady of Montserrat, a Benedictine monastery in Manila. He obtained his medical degree from the University of the Philippines and his psychiatry and sleep medicine training from the University of Pennsylvania. He recently completed his PhD on medical compassion at the University of Auckland. He has received many teaching awards from the faculty of medicine at the University of Auckland. He was awarded by the President of the Philippines in 2012 for his work on medical education. In 2015, he received the highest award given to doctors by the NZ Medical Association, the Chair's Award, for his work on physician well-being. He received his temporary ordination as a Buddhist monk in Myanmar in 2017 and was given the name Bhante Dhammosadha.