Hi my name is Malcolm, a Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher and founder of O-Tribe.

 

When reflecting on my journey to becoming a teacher, I'm reminded of how life can take us on a path that may not have been obvious. My journey to teaching was sparked by a seemingly small event. This small event? During my teenage years, a friend gifted me a book by the Dalai Lama titled 'The Art of Happiness'. As I immersed myself in the book, light bulbs appeared left, right, and center. Those words of the Dalai Lama inspired me to explore Buddhism, Meditation and Mindfulness.

 

 

The reality is, our paths can often be set much earlier than in our teenage years. Perhaps it was my disposition, or maybe it was my calling. However, as I backtrack even further before the book was gifted to me, there was indeed a moment that pivoted me towards the book.

 

Indeed the book was a pivotal moment in my life. However, I'd like to backtrack a bit, as there was a moment in my life which I feel was an even more significant pivot. Before my introduction to Buddhism and Meditation and Mindfulness, I had a serious conversation with my Mum about ‘life’ and how that would unfold for me.

 

Based on what she knew and believed to be true (not only hers but also society's expectation) was to finish school, go to university, get a good job you'd stay at for life, get married, buy a house, have kids, and then see your life through, have the children take care of me and then of course, die. Imagine the lead balloon feeling in your gut when you hear something that is so contrary to who you are as a human. This lead weight bore down on me as I felt deep sadness and a sense of loss. This was the weight of disconnect between my soul's reason for choosing this human experience and my need to uncover my very reason for Being.

 

 

 

As I coach more people, I'm learning that this is a typical story. As our world awakens, I'm meeting more people who are working through such trauma and the burden of expectations. This is where the word "should" emerges and it's one that I've consciously tried to eliminate from my lexicon.

 

As an introspective Being, the essence of that conversation with my Mum lingered. Depression set in and as it embedded itself into my core, my zest for life dissipated. Months had passed and the feelings lingered, as did the questions. "What is life meant to be like for me?" I thought to myself, "and, as a designer, what would life look like if I lived my life by my own design?"

 

Truth, authenticity, community, service, compassion and independence are core to who I am, as is the desire to learn, travel, explore, and evolve as a Human Being. As I sat with myself and began to have an honest 1:1 conversation with myself, that lead balloon feeling began to turn into a strong, resolute choice. Yes, deviating from the path of expectation (let's call it 'should') towards a path of meaning and service would carry risks. The risks of disappointing others, or the risks of being ostracized by my family. But following a preordained path was the single riskiest thing I could do to my Soul, my very Being.

 

A profound and fundamental shift occurred. My entire body moved from sadness, tension and discomfort to a feeling of release, relief, spaciousness and aliveness. A valve had been released and the pressure was lost. When I experienced this I was so fascinated by the power of the mind; that my thoughts can ultimately affect my physiological state. And from then on I was fascinated by the mind and its ability to transform my reality.

 

Of course, the path is never linear. However, as one looks back, every step, every twist, every end, every beginning, every interaction, every thought shows that every experience was a necessary building block. It got us to where we are.

 

 

Not only did the book introduce me to positive psychology, it also introduced me to Meditation. When I completed the book, I became fascinated and enthusiastic about Buddhism and all its practices, so much so that I began to read more on the topic. I absorbed every book I read and sought conversations with people who'd been learning and practicing Buddhism, Meditation and Mindfulness. The resonance was loud and I felt alive again.

 

As the mediums of information changed, the Internet, YouTube, mobile apps and many social media accounts became part of my learning toolkit. Headspace was the first app I used that helped me focus on my practice. I used the app for a few years and it helped me with my anxiety and stress, cultivating focus and remaining calm and relaxed in stressful situations.

 

 

 

Still, I felt dissatisfied. As useful as all the information that I'd absorbed was, there was still a lack of foundational knowledge and depth in all the offerings. And so my travel journey began. Where else would an awakening Soul want to explore? Tibet, the home of the Dalai Lama himself. The journey there was full of challenges, but it was worth it. I was awestruck by the energy of the place, the scenery and the vibration of the Tibetans. The country's history, culture, traditions, spiritual practices, and way of life were quickly introduced to me, and I absorbed every moment of it.

 

Returning home, it was clear that I'd embarked on a journey of discovery. I set about planning my next journey, this time taking my practice to a whole new level. In 2019, I decided that I wanted to devote my life to the practice by staying in a Thai Buddhist forest monastery. So I left everything behind, said my farewells and embarked on a more profound experience. It was here that I developed a much deeper understanding of the principles, philosophy and ways of Buddhism. I learnt a lot about the different ways of practicing Mindfulness (one of my favourites was mindfully sweeping the pathways in the forest), reflecting and meditating on death and impermanence along with many different Meditation techniques that I now use and have evolved into my practice and teachings.

 

Learning first hand from the monks was powerful because they shared their years of experience. To see them live a life of grace, peace and austerity also inspired me to question even more about life. To move from the relative comforts of the west, to eating one meal a day — and surviving! — gave me mental clarity that I'd never experienced. The monastery was remote, but it wasn't isolated. As novices, we accompanied the monks through neighbouring villages to collect sustenance (food and drinks). The monastic code means that monks and novices have neither possessions nor money to buy food. The generosity of the surrounding villages was nothing short of incredible. This is the definition of Community in its living, breathing, welcoming, supportive and nourishing state.

 

What if we could create the same sense of community in our reality?

 

Leaving the monastery felt right, as I sensed the need to return home to be of service to the world. After leaving, I travelled around South East Asia immersing myself in the different cultures, traditions and spiritual practices.

 

After being away for almost 3.5 months, I came back to Sydney at the end of 2019 and was inspired by my experience. I wanted to share what I had learnt from my experiences; not just this one, but the entire body of experience. After months of study with Dr Itai Ivtzan, I intertwined my personal experiences with the science of Meditation and Mindfulness. The scientific knowledge is what I felt was missing.

 

 

Cementing spirituality with science gave birth to O-Tribe. The "O" in O-Tribe is the complete circle of bringing both science and spirituality into my teachings. It's also a representation of a spiritual circle. The circle represents unity, wholeness, infinity, and completeness. It's a symbol that has been used for thousands of years to represent the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth.

 

In many spiritual traditions, the circle represents the sacred space where the divine and the human meet. For example, in Native American cultures, the circle represents the sacred hoop, which symbolises the interconnectedness of all life. In Hinduism and Buddhism, the mandala is a circular symbol that symbolises the universe and the interdependence of all things.

 

During the extended lockdowns of 2020 & 2021, I was able to help many people through the challenges of isolation. In addition, I was able to help guide many people on a path towards their true nature and purpose.

 

Teaching has been my world since 2020, and I love every bit of what I do. It is such a blessing to be able to connect with my students on such a deep level. "To teach is to learn twice." And in the wisdom of that quote by Joseph Joubert, as I share my knowledge and experience with them, I too am learning through them. It’s this wonderful synergy for which I'm grateful.

 

 

As I sit with gratitude for the experiences that have shaped my life, I am still discovering, deepening and learning my own practice through regular travels, meditation retreats and weekly immersion in the Buddhist Sangha (Sanskrit for community). Wherever I study and deepen my practice, I feel they all have one common thread. This is to connect as one and live a life of joy and peace.

 

As a lover of community and connectedness, joy and meaning, love and life, I invite you to connect with me. I would love to share stories, learn from each other, support each other and live a harmonious life on this planet as one.