Hello, I’m Phan Y Ly, and I warmly welcome you from the picturesque city of Nha Trang, Vietnam. My blog serves as a personal space where I share my experiences and insights gained on my quest to comprehend the profound truths of life. As a mother of three wonderful boys, ages 1, 5, and 16, my world is a colorful blend of family moments, nature’s beauty, and introspective musings. My days are filled with vibrant interactions with young inquirers, where I impart the concept of pure awareness. I use various digital platforms and conduct hands-on workshops to facilitate this exchange of ideas.

My workshop, Nhu Khong, is uniquely designed. It integrates engaging improvisational exercises, guiding attendees to uncover their inherent, ever-present pure awareness. These activities are tailored to demonstrate how this awareness remains constant amidst life’s complexities, aiding in navigating them with clarity and openness.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I cherish every connection and am eager to hear from you!

Enclosed is a piece I penned three years ago, a reflection that encapsulates the essence of my journey. May it offer you both entertainment and inspiration.

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Monologue of Awakening: The Maze and Reality

The Labyrinth of the Mind
Awakening from the deep slumber of my mind, I realized that the myriad questions, doctrines, logic, plans, visions, and imaginations were merely intricate mazes, trapping me within. I once thought reasoning would be my escape, only to find the maze itself was built from reason. Ceasing thoughts and turning away from all logic, I instantly fell out of the maze.

Beyond the Maze
Falling out of the maze didn’t mean losing my ability to reason, feel, think, calculate, create, or imagine. It simply meant that what was once a maze where I was lost, now became clear paths I knowingly tread. No more confusion, no more wandering. Entering and exiting at will.

A Laugh of Enlightenment
The day I stepped out of the maze and understood the true meaning of spiritual practice and methods like observation, recitation, and meditation, I laughed like a madman. Thinking of my Guru, my laughter was unstoppable; thinking of Buddha, tears of joy streamed down my face. My own imaginative ego and practices seemed so laughable.

A Poetic Reflection on the Buddha’s Gaze

The Compassionate Eyes of Buddha
“Buddha’s eyes, so kind and soft,
With gentle gaze that lifted oft.
I tried to mimic, day by day,
Those eyes that shone in a hopeful way.

“Perhaps the Buddha, with optimism bright,
Had eyes that sparkled with pure light.
Confident and bold, a sight to behold,
In those eyes, stories of wisdom told.

“Another time, I sought to find,
The thousand-year gaze, dreamy and kind.
A bit elusive, yet profound,
A distant look, where mysteries abound.

“Buddha’s presence, like radiant sun,
Emanating grace to everyone.
Surely, a figure so divine,
With elegance and brilliance, did shine.

“Beside him, everyone must feel,
A stirring heart, emotions real.
Buddha, with perfect awakening’s seal,
Truly, a masterful and skillful deal!

“Sitting in quietude one day,
All concepts and dreams just fell away.
Left bare and simple, without ado,
Eyes blinked open, dreams were few.

“Looking around with a sheepish smile,
At myself, laughing all the while.
Buddha, with a quirky frame,
Do you see him? It depends on your aim!

“Simple and unadorned, true to the core,
Practicing or fixing, Buddha’s much more.
A deliverer, no different from you and me,
In laughter, the truth, we finally see.”

Rediscovering Buddha
Never having Buddha statues at home, I now see Buddha as a close, timeless friend. A friend who’s cool, candid, full of wisdom and awareness. Every day, I view life through new eyes, unfiltered by thoughts or concepts. Mountains are mountains, rivers are rivers, without the veil of rationale.

The Illusion of the Ego in Practice
Seeing through the illusory ego of spiritual practice, I realize it creates more delusions than the ego concerned with mundane survival. I’ve grown weary of books – too complicated, redundant, and full of assumptions. Instead, I find joy in simple tasks like picking vegetables, washing dishes, or playing music. Heaven on earth is crystal clear and present, not a fleeting illusion in the clouds of thought.

A Poem on Shattered Illusions

The Bliss of Broken Dreams
“Blessed are those whose dreams are shattered,
A time of ease, with illusions scattered.
Broken dreams of love and kin,
Of kindness, wealth, and positions we’re in.

“Of being a spouse, a parent, a friend,
It’s time to live real, not just pretend.
Reality, not pragmatism, is the key,
No longer weaving dreams of what could be.

“No more fleeing life in fanciful flight,
No more lost in daydreams, night after night.”

Conversations of Reality
The talks of street vendors are more grounded and practical than those on spiritual paths. Their concerns are straightforward – earnings, health, daily plans. Such simplicity and clarity in their conversations.

The Futility of Complex Debates
I’ve grown tired and amused by intricate and hair-splitting arguments. The complex theories I once adored now sound like gibberish. I’m astonished that such things were ever revered. They only led deeper into grand illusions. Laughing at myself, I realize that I too had to imagine to the extreme, to become utterly stuck, before I could let go.

The Reconstructed Reality
I recognize that the reconstructed reality in my mind – the virtual reality I lived and struggled in – was just the bottom of the well. Emerging from the maze, I began to explore the real world like a newborn, with everything turned upside down. Ten years ago, I had flipped once: mountains were not mountains, rivers were not rivers. Now, awakened like a newborn, I see clearly: mountains are indeed mountains, rivers are indeed rivers.

A Poem on Realization and Awakening

From the Well’s Bottom to the Sky’s Expanse
“Once at the well’s bottom, I saw the sky,
Convinced the heavens were confined thereby.
One day, peering out, a startling sight,
The boundless sky, oh so vast and bright.

“Now, free from the well, a startling view,
The sky so vast, the well but a small clue.
Before – a sky trapped within the well’s rim,
Now – the well a speck in the sky’s vast hymn.

“A world reversed, words cannot convey,
Thought the well’s exit was the final way.
But empty-hearted, I begin anew,
Learning to use what I thought I knew.

“The mossy edges, the water deep,
Still there, but my enlightened heart can peep.
Once asleep in dreams, lost in countless themes,
Learning much, but lost in restless streams.

“Now awake, discerning dream from truth,
Viewing life anew, with the vigor of youth.
Knowledge and experience reborn,
Insights fresh, like a new day’s morn.

“Complex arguments no longer blind,
Instead, they sharpen the awakened mind.
Thought my laughter had reached its end,
But now, I begin to comprehend.”

Post-Awakening Life
Before spiritual practice, I lived with an ego obsessed with survival, where mountains were mountains, rivers were rivers. As I practiced, I formed an ego of abstract concepts, where mountains were not mountains, rivers were not rivers. Now awakened, no longer trapped in any illusions, whether of survival or spirituality, mountains are again mountains, rivers are rivers.

The Reality of the Unawakened
In this reality, most are like blind wanderers, lost in their own wells of illusion. They are characters played by their delusions, swinging wildly, causing chaos, yet believing they are nurturing and supporting each other.

The Danger of Blind Intelligence
I marvel at having survived in a world where many are sleepwalking, mistaking their weapons for roses, hurting each other while thinking they’re helping. Intelligence is a dangerous weapon in the hands of the ignorant. It’s like virtual reality glasses – smart but creating a false reality. Without the awareness to remove these glasses and see reality clearly, intelligence becomes a perilous tool.

The Irony of Effort in Delusion
Like someone in virtual reality, exerting all their strength to fight imaginary monsters while causing real harm to those around them. Clearly, they’re in Nirvana but blinded by their glasses, they remain in Sams

ara. Removing these glasses reveals the Nirvana that’s always been here.

A Poem on the Irony of Intelligence and Struggle

The Paradox of Wisdom and Suffering
“So I laugh when someone laments,
‘Why am I so smart, yet my suffering never ends?’
‘I’ve tried so hard, yet I’m pushed to extremes.’
I can only smile and say: Open your eyes to your dreams.

“Stop imagining with eyes that can see.
Open them wide, ask no more, just be.”

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Enlightenment Unveiled: Insights from My Personal Awakening

Q: Discovering the Mental Labyrinth – How Did You Realize Your Confinement?
A: The awakening to my entrapment within a mental labyrinth dawned upon me when I consciously ceased asking mental questions, pursuing theories and reading books. About a week after halting this endless chase, it became clear how my beliefs and thoughts were merely complex mazes of the mind, obscuring my grasp of reality.

Q: Escaping the Maze of the Mind – What Was Your Strategy?
A: Liberation from this mental entanglement arrived when I stopped all forms of logical reasoning and mental constructs. It wasn’t about solving the puzzle within the maze but about halting the search entirely. This meant letting go of everything, even the subtlest attachments like treasured memories or inspirational quotes from revered teachers.

Q: The Experience of ‘Falling Out of the Maze’ – Can You Share Your Moment of Clarity?
A: One morning, sitting on my bed, I was struck by the realization that my mind was cluttered with beautiful quotes and teachings. Recalling my vow to cease all searching, I chose to release each mental image of teachers and teachings. This decision triggered a powerful reaction, revealing my deep attachment to these words. As I let go, the world around me – curtains, doors, tables, chairs – appeared in unprecedented clarity and vividness. I was suddenly perceiving life without any filters.

Q: The Transformation of Buddha’s Image Post-Awakening – How Do You See Him Now?
A: Following my awakening, the Buddha transcended the role of a religious icon in my eyes. He turned into a close, understanding companion, a timeless friend whose wisdom deeply resonated with my own journey.

Q: Life After Enlightenment – How Do Mundane Tasks Feel Now?
A: In the wake of my awakening, mundane tasks have transformed into moments of joy and mindfulness. Simple activities like picking vegetables or doing the dishes have become celebrations of life and presence.

Q: The Role of Intelligence in an Awakened Life – How Has It Changed for You?
A: In this new phase of my life, intelligence has shifted from a tool for fabricating illusions to a means of deepening understanding and awareness. It now beautifully coexists with emptiness, enhancing rather than ruling my decisions. Intelligence has become a wonderful instrument, not a dictator of my choices.

These FAQs encapsulate my journey from illusion to awakening, highlighting the profound shifts in perception and understanding that accompany such a transformative experience.