<![CDATA[Comments on: A Month as a Monk and Chinese Business Meetings]]> Dear Amber, we hear the inside scoop of life within in a Buddhist monastery in Taiwan. And we hear some more insights into the culture of doing business in China--specifically the dynamics of a Chinese business meeting. Share your experiences too in the comments section!]]> 2008-10-03 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: johns]]> I really enjoyed hearing about the temple. Both guests were great. In business, I agree that the dinner is often the most essential meeting. Every important business contact we have insists on dinner. You cannot pass on the invitation to drink together. You must do it. Notice that most important meetings are held in private rooms and can get quite loud.

I find myself making excuses to leave KTV's early. They are great however if you are just there to get to know each other and have fun singing and playing dice. Business in China, for me, has been a great experience and a way to get to know some very fine people in fun and happy settings.

]]> I really enjoyed hearing about the temple. Both guests were great. In business, I agree that the dinner is often the most essential meeting. Every important business contact we have insists on dinner. You cannot pass on the invitation to drink together. You must do it. Notice that most important meetings are held in private rooms and can get quite loud.

I find myself making excuses to leave KTV's early. They are great however if you are just there to get to know each other and have fun singing and playing dice. Business in China, for me, has been a great experience and a way to get to know some very fine people in fun and happy settings.

]]> <![CDATA[By: shanghaichanges]]> Another great insight into China!!!

]]> Another great insight into China!!!

]]> <![CDATA[By: bento]]> Pete would make a good politician, he firmly denied you're offered lap dances in the KTV.

remember that movie "Before the sunset"? with Ethan Hawk? Celine (Julie Delpy) suggests Jesse to visit Buddhist convents because nuns there offer good looking visitors oral sex, as a former boyfriend of her was offered.

So, Pete, did you get a lap dance in a convent?

 

 

]]> Pete would make a good politician, he firmly denied you're offered lap dances in the KTV.

remember that movie "Before the sunset"? with Ethan Hawk? Celine (Julie Delpy) suggests Jesse to visit Buddhist convents because nuns there offer good looking visitors oral sex, as a former boyfriend of her was offered.

So, Pete, did you get a lap dance in a convent?

 

 

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> I was very interested in Pete's experiences in a Buddhist Monastery in Taiwan.I remember before I vistited Taiwan in 2006 seeing an episode of Lonely Planet/Globetrekker on TV [Hong Kong and Taiwan 2005] where the presenter Megan McCormick stayed overnight in a Buddhist Monastery in Puli in central Taiwan and was woken at 4:30 am for prayers.Her comments in that show led me to believe you could go and stay there.I would have loved to have had such an experience but alas couldn't fit it in to my schedule.I'm not sure how readily available such an experience is but would love to know more about it.Thanks Pete [and Amber] for this fascinating discussion.

]]> I was very interested in Pete's experiences in a Buddhist Monastery in Taiwan.I remember before I vistited Taiwan in 2006 seeing an episode of Lonely Planet/Globetrekker on TV [Hong Kong and Taiwan 2005] where the presenter Megan McCormick stayed overnight in a Buddhist Monastery in Puli in central Taiwan and was woken at 4:30 am for prayers.Her comments in that show led me to believe you could go and stay there.I would have loved to have had such an experience but alas couldn't fit it in to my schedule.I'm not sure how readily available such an experience is but would love to know more about it.Thanks Pete [and Amber] for this fascinating discussion.

]]> <![CDATA[By: artkho]]> amber,

if you give us a silent DA show, it has to be a special videocast. :D

 

 

]]> amber,

if you give us a silent DA show, it has to be a special videocast. :D

 

 

]]> <![CDATA[By: light487]]> I have heard that a lot of the teaching occurs while you are eating in the traditional sense that you are feeding your spiritual self with the symbolism of eating physical substance.

 

]]> I have heard that a lot of the teaching occurs while you are eating in the traditional sense that you are feeding your spiritual self with the symbolism of eating physical substance.

 

]]> <![CDATA[By: pearltowerpete]]> Hi checkingoutchina,  johns , bababardwan

Thanks for your kind comments. This was a fun interview with Amber, as always. The monastery is called Fo Kuang Shan and the website as mentioned in the podcast is woodenfish.org. There are temples around the world, and they are very welcoming of people of all stripes.

Hi Bento

Bawdy speculation about monks and nuns is at least as old as The Canterbury Tales. But rest assured, we kept our tunics on during my visit.

Hi light487

Eating (or fasting), as well as the preparation and clean-up of food, can be deeply meditative acts. The idea at this monastery is that food is a form of nourishment that allows us to go on with our lives. The monks also place a lot of importance on not wasting food, or making a lot of fuss about it. I'm still thinking about the meals I ate there.

 

 

]]> Hi checkingoutchina,  johns , bababardwan

Thanks for your kind comments. This was a fun interview with Amber, as always. The monastery is called Fo Kuang Shan and the website as mentioned in the podcast is woodenfish.org. There are temples around the world, and they are very welcoming of people of all stripes.

Hi Bento

Bawdy speculation about monks and nuns is at least as old as The Canterbury Tales. But rest assured, we kept our tunics on during my visit.

Hi light487

Eating (or fasting), as well as the preparation and clean-up of food, can be deeply meditative acts. The idea at this monastery is that food is a form of nourishment that allows us to go on with our lives. The monks also place a lot of importance on not wasting food, or making a lot of fuss about it. I'm still thinking about the meals I ate there.

 

 

]]> <![CDATA[By: lawowalker]]> Pete,

What does East Asian studies allow you to do. In otherwords what jobs can you get. Do you hook it up with another degree? I looked at the website but its to a place in New Zealnd which isnt really Asia at all. Do they change the location from time to time?

]]> Pete,

What does East Asian studies allow you to do. In otherwords what jobs can you get. Do you hook it up with another degree? I looked at the website but its to a place in New Zealnd which isnt really Asia at all. Do they change the location from time to time?

]]> <![CDATA[By: frances]]> It was an interesting juxtaposition between the discussion of the monks who seem to value neither the emotion nor the communal aspects of eating, and the businessmen who seem to rarely conclude any business without food and wine!

]]> It was an interesting juxtaposition between the discussion of the monks who seem to value neither the emotion nor the communal aspects of eating, and the businessmen who seem to rarely conclude any business without food and wine!

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> frances,

Yes;good observation and well put.It makes one almost wonder whether this was a deliberate contrast.It made for a great show all around.yin/yang and all that.

]]> frances,

Yes;good observation and well put.It makes one almost wonder whether this was a deliberate contrast.It made for a great show all around.yin/yang and all that.

]]>