Speaker: Liam Chai

23-Year-Old's Journey of Unlearning

Liam Chai carries a depth of presence that transcends his 23 years.

In 2011, while on track to study medicine, he began reading the writings of visionaries like Gandhi, Lao Tzu, Thoreau, and Fukuoka -- and found himself grappling with questions and new perspectives that shifted his sense of possibility.

Moved by a compulsion to "be the change," the then-teenager opted not to apply for university, and instead, created his own self-directed higher education. He read 200+ non-fiction books, built a tiny house, learned Spanish in 3 months, meditated 100 hours in 10 days, grew salad on rooftops in the heart of London, and spent a summer talking to strangers in public.

In his own words, he explains, "I had become disillusioned with the ‘go to school, get a job, retire’ motif. Truth is I was on a search for utopia – an alternative to what I had been told was the only way. What I found instead was a way to eradicate suffering and cultivate genuine happiness. I’m making that exploration of eradicating suffering so it no longer arises my life’s mission, and on the journey I want to be of as much benefit as I can to others."

Some questions he's holding include: What is true security and how can we cultivate that? What role does money play in a life of service? Do we lose the sacred when we measure? What is the value of a temporary pleasure? If temporary is defined as that which is changing, what is not a temporary pleasure? And if everything is changing, and hence temporary, is it meaningful to give it a valuation? If not, and if money is primarily a valuation tool, does money implicitly encourage an illusion of permanency?

With the courage of a sincere heart, his recent experiments amplify the human spirit across England. From spreading smiles at a pop-up Karma Kitchen in London to holding a heart of service amongst family, the array of sights and insights from this pilgrim of life carries a lightness and depth that extends far beyond his years.

Join us on June 18th, as we dive deeper into this 23-year-old's journey on a path less traveled.

RELATED CALLS
Jayesh Patel

Jayesh Patel

Dec 24, 2011

Living Service, at the Gandhi Ashram

Paul R. Fleischman

Paul R. Fleischman

Feb 15, 2020

The Wonder of the Universe is Wondering in Us

Nipun Mehta

Nipun Mehta

Mar 8, 2014

Where Do We Find Gandhi Today?