Seminar Event, “Dharma Defeating Obesity”, with overwhelming public support and endorsement from Sathira Dhammasathanproviding full event coverage through multiple media channels had far exceeded coach KiangEkaphop’s expectation.
The event organizer, coach KiangEkaphopKunarkornpaiboonsiri hadreceived full support and permission from senior nun Sansanee to use the premise on Sathira Dhammasathan to hold the event on Sunday, June 12, 2016. Prior to the start of the event, coach Kiang and his team will give alm with senior nun and 10 other junior nuns to make merit for good fortune for all parties involved.
Beginning at 9:00 am, from the Dharma Pavillion, the event will be broadcasted live on Facebook and Sathira Dhammasathan radio station (with much reported fanfare and excitement from registered attendees) with OuChopagaViriyanon(event MC), senior nun SasaneeSatheansuk, Dr. PitipornRattanataweeboon, obesity and diabetes specialist from Sirirajhospital, and coach Kiang (event organizer). Coach Kiang will be sharing his knowledge about the right mindset to have prior to the event’s other sessions to maximize the benefits to the attendees. From there, attendees will participate in workshops to cover topics such as self-awareness and understanding of (negative) desires which provide in-depth knowledgeon how to control desires to overconsume food. The technique, developed personally by coach Kiang, will give workshop participants the knowledge and tools necessary to control their eating desire. And part of the workshop, healthy and other popular but unhealthy foods will be prepared to test the will of the participants in order to help them develop the ability to ‘truly control’ their desires (which often lead to obesity and other health problems).
During the next session, special guest MC, Mam SirivipaKultangwattana will share her experience on being overweight and how to overcome it. She will also bring along her personal Yoga instructor to teach participants simple and easy techniques to exercise correctly and effectively. Yoga is quite beneficial as it serves as another way to lose weight as well as being a fun activity which can also help with relaxation. The techniques taught can also be practiced by the attendees at home by themselves.
After Yoga session, coach Kiang will share his techniques in using Dharma precepts to overcome negative desires and tell about his personal experience with obesity and how he overcame his struggles. His style of ‘coaching’ is based on his extensive study from numerous institutions in Thailand and uses dharma teachings to solve problems at the root cause of sufferings and how to go about relieving it using coaching style and approach that is fun and interesting. His coaching will focus on motivation, losing weight as a group to ensure accountability and provide support for one another within group settings. Participants are required to participate (to ensure results) for two months. Doing exercises in in groups help create relationships and allow for moral support and encouragement for other team members. Having such support is crucial to their successes and in reaching their stated goals.
In the afternoon, guest will meet Dr. Pitiporn, an obesity and diabetes specialist from Siriraj hospital who will share with them knowledge about diseases and complications caused by obesity and how to prevent such occurrences.
In closing the event, the prayer will be led by senior nun Sansanee. Coach Kiang said that he “feelsincredible” as he admits that he was quite concerned earlier about the lack of public interest in the event. But the overwhelming interest shown had energized him and that he expressed his gratitude and thanks to senior nun Sansanee and also to the members of Sathira Dhammasathan and many others for help making this event a success from months of preparations and hard work. Coach Kiang also wanted to share that the desire to eat is one of the most difficult to overcome but if we develop mindset to control such desire, we will become“free”. We can use mindfulness and wisdom as tools to tame our mind just like farmers train monkey to climb coconut tree to get coconut.Likewise, we can develop ourselves to do what we set out to do, but this also requires commitment and persistency. And throughout the process, we will face many obstacles along the way. But the most difficult part is going through it the first time. After that, to do so again will be much easier. But you do need to follow Buddha’s teachings and believe that dharma can help you overcome anything, even obesity.
Senior nun Sasanee also shares that Sathira Dhammasathan isalways open to new generations of people. As for the event “Dharma Overcoming Obesity”, it is a way to help people by using knowledge and expertise that coach Kiang already possessed to help others. Mam Surivipawho is good and kind hearted and who has always been helping Sathira Dhammasathan from the beginnings, this is almost like a ‘coming home’ visit once again. The things she does come from the heart. And that she does what she does for the benefits of people’s happiness. As for the people attending the seminar event, if they really want to gain benefits, they have to change their ways from ones that led them to gainweight to ones that is the “right” way and that they need to have commitment, awareness, and control over their negative desires and do so consistently until it becomes their habits. And lastly, she wished them good health and much success in meeting their goals.