About Us

 

Philosophy

The use of the word myndfulness was first recorded in 1530 by the English court scholar and priest John Palsgrave.  It is a direct translation of the French word “pensée,” taken to mean “thought” or “careful consideration.”  Early use of this word bore no connotation to any Eastern transcendentalism or Asian religious belief.  It was not until 1921 that the word “mindfulness” first appeared in a Buddhist context as translation of the ancient Indian-Pāli word “sati” by Professor Thomas W. T. Davids, a British scholar of the Pāli language and founder of the Pali Text Society.  Prior to this, “sati” was translated as meaning recollection, recall or remembrance.  In this instance, the word myndfulness instead of “mindfulness” is used to demarcate preconception.  The back-translation of its Chinese equivalent 靜觀 (quiet observation) captures the essence of the original meaning of the word.  In myndful learning, one seeks to be thoughtful and observant.

 

Mission

Our Association upholds the Confucian doctrine of “education without discrimination.”  We advocate equal learning opportunities regardless of age, race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, religion, income or ability.

 

Vision

We strive for universal access to education where education is not limited to academic knowledge but encompasses a broadened vision of life and culture including art, music and sports.

 

Guiding Principle

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”

John Dewey, Art as Experience (New York: Capricorn Books, 1934), p.12

 

Core Values

Myndful Living

While living in harmony with nature may seem to be a romanticised ideal in our modern society, we should endeavour to strike that delicate balance between technological advancement, economic growth and environmental conservation.

Myndful Learning

Every person, at every stage of life, should have the means to acquire knowledge and skills in order to fulfil his/ her aspirations and contribute to the society.

 

Scope of Work

Environmental Protection

We encourage reduce, reuse, recycle, repair and redistribute.  We run recycling workshops and act as a redirection point for unwanted goods.

Reverence for Life

We believe that every life deserves respect and dignity.  We strive to help and empower the underprivileged, which includes not only humans but also animals in need.  We assist animal rescues and adoption events.

Equal Opportunities

We believe that everyone, regardless of background and education level, should have equal access to his/ her own desired knowledge.  We offer a wide range of enriching activities for all walks of life.

Lifelong Learning

We believe that everyone, regardless of background and education level, has his/ her own expertise which we encourage them to share with others, especially those who are less privileged.  We believe in learning through both giving (sharing one’s knowledge) and receiving (learning from others’ experience).