Episode 4: Seeing suffering for What it is

Before mindfulness, before understanding, there was just pain.

Not physical pain — but the quiet suffering of wanting things to be different.

I remember reading the Four Noble Truths for the first time. At first, I didn’t understand them. Why would life be suffering? Isn’t life supposed to be joyful — filled with birthdays, weddings, achievements?

“We celebrate life’s beginnings, yet few ask why we suffer along the way.”

But the more I looked at my own experiences, the more it made sense.

We suffer not just because life is hard, but because we resist what is happening. We believe that we — or the world — should be some other way.

We chase happiness, success, love, approval — and when we don’t get them, we feel something is wrong.

But the truth is, things are always changing. Nothing stays the same. And when we hold on, we hurt.

That was the first noble truth: There is suffering.

Not as a punishment. Not as a flaw. But as a reality.

And that changed how I saw my past, my fears, and even the pain in others.

I began to notice how much I clung to expectations — of myself, of others, of life.

But the more I looked, the more I saw: suffering isn’t personal. It’s human.

It connects us, humbles us, wakes us up.

And just recognizing that truth — without running, without fixing — brought a strange kind of peace.

A painful, beautiful, necessary peace.

Episode 3: Facing Suffering: The Chance to See My Inner Self

Just when I thought I was getting somewhere, life threw me another curveball.

COVID-19 hit, and everything I had worked for seemed to crumble overnight.

Plans I’d made, goals I’d set — all swept away by an invisible force that changed the world.

I found myself in a place I had never been before: uncertain, scared, and vulnerable.

I had to look for jobs just to cover expenses. I had been a man who once stood on top of things, who built a career with pride — and now, I was facing something I had never experienced: a deep sense of humility.

It was humbling, to say the least.

But I began to realize something: the more I tried to control the situation, the more I suffered.

The more I resisted the flow of life, the more exhausting it became.

So I stopped fighting.

Instead of struggling to hold everything together, I started to follow the current.

I let go of the need to fix everything. I let go of the need to know what would happen next.

I started to trust the process.

The very thing that had once terrified me — uncertainty — became the space in which I could finally breathe.

I remembered the lessons of impermanence and mindfulness.

Instead of clinging to the idea of “how things should be,” I allowed myself to experience them as they were — messy, unpredictable, and raw.

And in that surrender, I found a deeper connection to myself.

In the midst of this suffering, I saw a crack.

A crack that allowed me to glimpse something deeper within myself.

Not the person I thought I was, not the one who had it all figured out, but the real me. The one who could feel vulnerable, uncertain, and still remain open to life.

Suffering wasn’t something to avoid.

It wasn’t something to fix.

It was simply a part of the human experience.

And by facing it, I could see myself more clearly — without the stories, without the masks, without the need to be “perfect.”

This wasn’t a moment of triumph.

It wasn’t a quick fix.

But it was a shift — a shift towards being rather than doing.

For the first time, I wasn’t just surviving. I was awakening.

Episode 2: The first breath

Reading No Death, No Fear was like being seen for the first time.

Not by another person — but by something deeper.
It spoke to a part of me that had always been there but was buried under years of worry, ambition, and unconscious living.

I didn’t fully understand everything in the book, but I didn’t have to.
All I knew was that I wanted to live with more awareness, to stop missing the life that was happening right in front of me.

One morning, I tried something new.
I sat on a chair in the garden, watching the trees and flowers, listening to the birdsong, and enjoying the wind as it touched my skin.

Breathing in. Breathing out. Then came the thoughts — of what had happened.

At first, my mind wandered everywhere — to my son’s recovery, to work, to regrets. But each time I caught myself drifting, I gently returned to the breath.

It wasn’t peaceful. It wasn’t easy. But it was real.

For those 30 minutes, I wasn’t trying to fix anything. I wasn’t planning or solving. I was just being.

That morning didn’t change my life in a dramatic way. But it planted a seed.
A tiny, silent seed of presence.

And like all seeds, it needed care. So I kept coming back — not every day at first, but enough to notice a shift.

Sometimes I would just walk around the garden, or lie in bed watching my breath.
Sometimes I would place my hand on my chest during stressful moments and return to my body.

These were small things. But in a world spinning fast, they felt like acts of rebellion — like reclaiming my own life.

That was the beginning of my practice.
Not a perfect beginning, but an honest one.

And from that first breath, the journey continued…

Episode 1: The First Crack

 “Sometimes it takes a crack in your life for the light to come in.”

In September 2020, I was working in the next room when I heard a loud “thud.”

It was my son — he had jumped off the bed while playing, slipped, and fell.

At first, he seemed okay. But soon after, he started feeling uncomfortable and began vomiting. I rushed him to the nearest hospital.

After some scans, the doctor told me:

“There’s internal bleeding between his brain and skull. He’s awake now, but the bleeding won’t stop. If we don’t act fast, he’ll slowly slip into a coma.”

That moment shook everything in me. But I knew I couldn’t panic.

I had to stay calm — not for me, but for him.

I asked the doctors for advice, and they told me to transfer him immediately to a major children’s hospital where he’d get the best care.

That night, and the four that followed, I didn’t sleep.

I watched my son breathe. I held his tiny hand.

I was afraid that if I closed my eyes, it might be the last time I’d see him alive.

On the fourth day, the doctors decided to operate.

They would open his skull and remove the blood clot.

I signed the consent form with trembling hands — and a heart breaking in silence.

But the surgery was successful.

My son survived. And in the days that followed, something inside me changed forever.

Out of gratitude, I committed to eating vegetarian for a month.

But deeper than that, a question emerged:

“What really matters in life?”

I picked up a book — No Death, No Fear.

And in those pages, I met myself:

My fear.

My pain.

My longing to be awake, to live each moment deeply, and not sleepwalk through life anymore.

That’s how my journey of mindfulness began — not with books or teachers, but with a child’s fall, a father’s pain, and a glimpse of life’s impermanence.

Series: How Did I Build MineEco system? Part 3 - Overcoming obstacles

 

Series: How Did I Build MineEco System? Part 3 - Overcoming Obstacles

Building MineEco was not a straightforward journey. Like any complex system, it faced multiple challenges, from technical hurdles to operational bottlenecks. In this part of the series, I will share the key obstacles encountered and how I tackled them to keep the system scalable, secure, and efficient.

Architectural Complexity

• Challenge

Designing a robust microservices architecture while ensuring seamless communication between services was a significant challenge. Managing service dependencies, avoiding circular dependencies, and ensuring data consistency across services were crucial concerns. For example, after an order is booked, processing next steps to avoid bottlenecks is a challenge

• Solution

• Event-Driven Architecture: I implemented an event-driven approach using Azure Service Bus and Kafka to enable asynchronous communication between microservices.

• Saga Pattern for Transactions: To maintain data consistency across services, I introduced the Saga Pattern, allowing distributed transactions to be handled in a resilient manner.

• API Gateway & Load Balancing: Using Azure API Management and NGINX, I ensured that requests were routed efficiently while implementing rate limiting and authentication layers.

Performance and Scaling

• Challenge

Handling increased traffic and ensuring smooth performance as the user base grew. While shopping seasons, such as Black Friday or Christmas, there would be significant requests to the system. But on normal days, the number of requests drops dramatically, leading to underutilized resources and increased operational costs.

• Solution

• Caching Strategy: Implemented Redis for API caching to reduce database load and improve response times.

• Database Optimization: Used SQL indexing, partitioning, and read replicas to distribute database load effectively.

• Auto-Scaling & Load Balancing: Deployed services on Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) with auto-scaling policies to dynamically allocate resources based on demand.

• Cost Optimization: Implemented serverless computing for low-traffic services, reducing costs during off-peak hours by automatically scaling down unused resources.

Security & Data Protection

• Challenge

Securing sensitive user and transaction data, preventing unauthorized access, and ensuring compliance with regulations.

• Solution

• JWT Authentication & OAuth 2.0: Enforced authentication using JWT tokens and OAuth 2.0 for secure API access.

• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Defined granular permissions to restrict access to different system components.

• Data Encryption & Compliance: Stored sensitive data with AES-256 encryption and ensured compliance with GDPR and PCI DSS for payment security.

Integration with Third-Party Services

• Challenge

Seamless integration with payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal), external APIs, and logistics services without disrupting the core system.

• Solution

• API Abstraction Layer: Introduced a middleware abstraction to handle third-party integrations, reducing direct dependencies.

• Webhooks & Message Queues: Used event-driven webhooks and message queues to process third-party interactions asynchronously, improving system stability.

• Fallback Mechanism: Implemented circuit breakers and retry mechanisms to handle failures gracefully and prevent cascading service failures.

Real-Time Monitoring & Issue Resolution

• Challenge

Detecting and resolving system issues proactively before they impact users.

• Solution

• Centralized Logging & Monitoring: Implemented Azure Application Insights, Grafana, and Prometheus to monitor system health in real-time.

• Alerting System: Configured alerts for critical events such as API failures, latency spikes, and database slowdowns.

• Automated Incident Response: Integrated Azure Functions to trigger automated workflows for issue mitigation.

• Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Established post-mortem analysis practices to prevent recurring incidents and improve system resilience.

Conclusion

Despite the numerous challenges, overcoming these obstacles helped MineEco evolve into a resilient, scalable, and high-performance system. By leveraging the right technologies and architectural patterns, I ensured that MineEco could sustain growth while maintaining reliability and security.

In the next part of the series, I will delve into Implementing and Testing the System, sharing lessons learned from scaling MineEco efficiently while keeping expenditures under control. Stay tuned!

From Idea to Implementation: Transforming the Ordering Experience with MineOrder

 Abstract

This article presents the journey of developing MineOrder, inspired by a 2019 experience at a Tim Hortons drive-through in Toronto that highlighted inefficiencies in the ordering process. The plan focused on creating MinePOS and MinePOP, enabling customers to place orders through QR codes and receive notifications when their orders were ready. However, the COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges, temporarily halting progress in the food and beverage industry. Instead of remaining passive, the author enhanced their skills during this period, leading to a successful revitalization of the project in 2023, ultimately delivering a solution that optimizes wait times and improves customer satisfaction.

Idea: My experience in Toronto in 2019 at the Tim Hortons drive-through made me think about simplifying the ordering process. While waiting in my car to buy a coffee, I realized how much time was wasted. I wondered if there could be a smoother process, such as allowing online orders or enabling payment as soon as I arrived at the parking lot.

Plan: Based on that idea, I developed a plan to create a system called MineOrder, featuring two main components: MinePOS and MinePOP. This system allows customers to scan a QR code at their table or in the parking lot, place orders in advance, and receive notifications when their orders are ready. The goal of this plan is to help businesses minimize wait times and optimize the customer experience.

Challenges: However, this plan had to be put on hold when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, causing numerous difficulties for the F&B industry and forcing many businesses to adapt to survive. In this context, developing a new solution seemed more challenging than ever. Instead of being passive while waiting for the pandemic to pass, I proactively enhanced my skills by joining reputable software development companies to learn and update my knowledge in preparation for a stronger comeback.

Execution: By 2023, as the pandemic subsided and the market began to recover, I decided to revisit my original idea. With a more detailed plan and updated skills, my team and I worked tirelessly to develop MinePOS and MinePOP. We utilized the time during the pandemic to research and improve the system, aiming to deliver the best possible experience for customers and help businesses recover after the crisis. This is the convenience that MineOrder brings!

Lessons Learned

1. Identifying Opportunities: Real-world experiences can serve as a catalyst for innovative ideas. Observing inefficiencies in everyday situations can inspire solutions that significantly improve customer experiences.

2. Focus on Self-Improvement: Instead of feeling disheartened by the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to view it as an opportunity for personal growth. By focusing on self-improvement and enhancing skills during challenging periods, individuals can better prepare themselves for future opportunities. This proactive mindset helps navigate current obstacles and positions one for success when the situation improves.

3. Continuous Learning: Investing time in learning and skill development is vital, especially in rapidly changing industries. Engaging with reputable organizations and expanding your knowledge base can enhance your ability to execute your vision effectively.

Episode 2: Embracing Impermanence – Finding Peace in Change

Continuing the Journey: Embracing Impermanence – Finding Peace in Change

In the first episode of my journey, “The Path Within: Transforming Myself Through Buddhism,” I explored the foundational principles of mindfulness and the profound impact they have had on my life. Through the teachings of Buddhism, I discovered a pathway to self-awareness, acceptance, and transformation. As I delved deeper into these teachings, I began to confront the realities of impermanence—a theme that resonates powerfully within the Buddhist philosophy.

In this episode, “Embracing Impermanence – Finding Peace in Change,” I reflect on my evolving relationship with change and the transient nature of existence. Drawing from personal experiences and insights gained through mindfulness, I share how embracing impermanence has transformed my understanding of life’s uncertainties, fostering resilience and a sense of peace amidst chaos. Join me as I navigate this intricate dance of change, revealing how each moment, fleeting yet unique, offers invaluable lessons on growth and self-discovery.

Image source: Internet

Mindfulness as a Practice of Presence

In my 20s and 30s, I found myself in a good job that I genuinely enjoyed. Yet, beneath the surface of my apparent success, a subtle anxiety lingered. While those around me viewed my life as stable, I often grappled with a persistent thought: What if one day, this is all gone? I worried about my future and what I could do next to keep pace with society’s ever-evolving demands. These thoughts sometimes robbed me of restful nights as my mind raced with uncertainty about what lay ahead.

Looking back, I see how this constant worrying stole my joy in the present moment. Even though I had what I needed, my mind was preoccupied with fears of impermanence. It wasn’t until I embraced mindfulness that I began to accept life’s transient nature. Instead of resisting change, I learned to accept that nothing is permanent. Everything is in a state of flux—and that’s perfectly okay.

The Role of Impermanence in Mindfulness

As I entered my 30s and 40s, I began to truly grasp life’s unpredictability, especially with the birth of my first son. His arrival filled me with immense joy, yet it also confronted me with the fragility of life. Witnessing his growth and facing moments of illness, I became acutely aware of our limited time here. Each challenge he encountered was a stark reminder that the only certainty is change. However, I didn’t fully comprehend the concept of impermanence at that time.

This awareness shifted something within me. Though I lacked the vocabulary to articulate it, my experiences with my son illuminated the transient nature of existence. I learned that while we can cherish moments of happiness, we must also prepare for uncertainty and sorrow. Instead of viewing these moments as burdens, I began to appreciate the lessons they brought.

Through mindfulness, I discovered the importance of non-attachment—not only to outcomes and identities but also to difficult emotions. When feelings of anxiety surfaced, instead of clinging to or pushing them away, I acknowledged them, reminding myself that this, too, shall pass. This practice enabled me to observe the shifting nature of my experiences without being swept away by them.

Mindfulness encourages us to focus on the present moment—not to avoid the future, but because the present is the only moment we truly possess. Acknowledging impermanence deepens our commitment to this practice. When we realize that every experience and every breath is fleeting, we naturally draw ourselves into the here and now, understanding that trying to hold onto the past or control the future is futile.

Growth as an Impermanence Process

Impermanence teaches us that change is not just inevitable; it is essential for growth. In a world where many, particularly older generations, seek permanence and stability, the fear of change can feel overwhelming. Society often promotes the belief that we can maintain our positions and routines until retirement. However, my studies in "Managerial of Changes" during my MBA revealed that change is a catalyst for growth; stagnation is merely a step backward. This understanding aligns closely with the essence of impermanence: nothing lasts forever.

Embracing this reality has transformed my perspective on change—especially in relationships and my career. Previously, I struggled to accept the end of relationships, whether friendships or romantic partnerships. Letting go felt daunting, as if I were losing a part of myself. However, grasping the concept of impermanence helped me recognize that every relationship serves a purpose at a specific time in our lives. This understanding illuminated the truth that endings often pave the way for new beginnings. By letting go of attachments, I created space for healthier relationships that align more closely with my evolving self.

In my career, I faced significant transitions that initially felt like setbacks. Sticking to the same routine day after day led me into a state of desperation and stress. Acknowledging the need for change, particularly to develop new skills for my software development career, was a turning point. Accepting that I had fallen behind, I began to enjoy the learning process, exploring new job opportunities and joining two medium-sized software development companies to understand more effective approaches to software development and delivery.

Viewing difficulties or losses through the lens of impermanence has softened the emotional weight of these experiences. After visiting a human body exhibit in Los Angeles, I looked at my reflection and realized that the only difference between me and others was the skin covering our bodies. This profound realization shifted my perspective, allowing me to approach challenges with curiosity rather than despair. Instead of being consumed by the fear of loss, I learned to explore the lessons these challenges could teach me.

A poignant experience during my son’s health struggles underscored this lesson. While the fear of losing him loomed large, understanding impermanence shifted my focus. Rather than dwelling solely on the possibility of loss, I cherished our time together, celebrating small victories and moments of connection. This perspective illuminated the beauty in our shared experiences, revealing new opportunities for deeper bonding and understanding.

Ultimately, impermanence serves as a profound teacher, urging us to embrace change and recognize the growth it brings. When we accept that life is a series of moments—each fleeting and unique—we become more open to learning and evolving. This acceptance fosters resilience and cultivates gratitude for every experience, no matter how transient.

Finding Stability Amidst Change and the Journey of Self-Discovery

Life is an intricate dance of paradoxes. Staying in our comfort zones cannot shield us from impermanence; we grow older day by day, moment by moment. Embracing impermanence has not only helped me navigate life’s unpredictability but also cultivated a sense of peace amidst the chaos. Understanding that change is a fundamental aspect of existence allows me to find solace in the knowledge that nothing lasts forever, including difficulties.

To ground myself during times of uncertainty, I’ve turned to various practices. Rather than viewing difficulties as obstacles, I began to see them as opportunities for growth and adventure, much like dancing between wolves. I embraced life’s challenges, reminding myself that I was still present—grounding myself by observing my breath or focusing on my steps while trekking through the jungles of life.

This understanding has transformed my relationships. I’ve come to appreciate the fluidity of connections, recognizing that they may evolve or fade over time. Observing nature’s changes, I’ve witnessed how everything forms and transforms, revealing that everything happens for a reason. There’s truly nothing to worry about. This perspective allows me to engage with others authentically, free from the fear of losing what once was. By embracing impermanence, I’ve created space for deeper, more meaningful interactions that reflect who I am in this moment, rather than who I once was.

Ultimately, accepting impermanence has illuminated my journey of self-discovery. I’ve learned that my identity is not a fixed entity but a dynamic process, shaped by experiences, relationships, and growth. Just as waves are formed by water, influenced by winds and the moon’s gravitational pull, I realize that high waves of growth eventually fade, returning to what they were—water. This realization empowers me to approach life with curiosity and openness, allowing me to embrace existence’s ever-changing nature while finding stability in my acceptance of it.

Conclusion

Recognizing impermanence has profoundly transformed my journey, guiding me toward greater acceptance, inner peace, and openness to life. By embracing the transient nature of existence, I’ve learned to let go of attachments and fears that once held me back. Each challenge and change has become a stepping stone for growth rather than a source of anxiety, allowing me to experience life more fully in the present moment.

I now understand that obstacles, problems, and challenges are not meant to defeat me; instead, they offer opportunities for improvement through the “Learn how to learn” strategy I’ve adopted.

This exploration of impermanence continues to inform my spiritual journey, providing valuable insights and lessons. I recognize that every experience, whether joyful or challenging, contributes to my growth and self-discovery. The deeper I delve into this understanding, the more I find a sense of freedom and peace in knowing that life is fluid and ever-evolving.

As I move forward, I’m excited to share new insights and growth, eager to see how this perspective will shape my experiences. In the next episode, I will explore “Embracing Change: Lessons from Life’s Transitions,” sharing personal stories and reflections on how navigating life’s changes has deepened my understanding of impermanence and enriched my unexpected journeys toward self-awareness.

For further exploration, consider these resources:

Nhat Hanh, Thich. The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation. Beacon Press, 1996.

Nhat Hanh, Thich. “Understanding the Nature of Reality.” The Lion’s Roar, 2014. 

Psychology Today. “The Benefits of Mindfulness.” Psychology Today.