Shalimar Ilejay (傳妙), Member, Audio Section

Shalimar, or simply Wowee, came to Ocean Sky in 2007 when she was having a lull from work. From the beginning, in addition to attending meditation classes, she plunged right into volunteer work. Wowee started with cleaning the images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas together with Consuelo de Luna, the coordinator of Environment Protection Section. Soon, Wowee took on a part-time job, working in market research, which she liked because it didn’t require her to stay in an office. By then, Shifu had also asked her to be receptionist once a week.

Later, Wowee helped out in various activities as an acolyte in the Chan Hall, like preparation and setting up for a major ceremony, serving as Chan hall receptionist, guiding lay people during a ceremony, and the clean up and restoration afterwards. Since Wowee is quite good at operating electronic equipment and controls, most often, she would take charge of the sound system for an event.

Wowee has also joined the Tour of Bodhi Mind twice in a row, traveling to Chung Tai, and marveling at the magnificence of the parent monastery. While there, she also helped out in various capacities, like helping to set up the bases and boards for putting up tablets for a ceremony.

With all the auspicious merits that she had accumulated from her study and practice of Buddha’s teachings, and helping out in the monastery, Wowee found a job that is right up to her excellent qualifications. She is now the country manager of a company based in Malaysia, CBSA Philippines. It is a content developer of business data, that puts out an online directory.

Wowee is grateful for her years of studying Buddhism here in Ocean Sky. She said: “I am now more compassionate, giving, tolerant, and flexible when dealing with all kinds of people. It was like my lessons in the monastery prepared me for this present job. I now have 46 people under me and we are still expanding. If not for my meditation training, I would not have been able to control my short temper with so many problems I have to deal with everyday. I miss my Ocean Sky family, and I can’t wait to resume my volunteer duties, because I feel good and happy when I’m in Ocean Sky.”