LIFE BEYOND THE CLASSROOM | LUMEN 31
Andrew Koh
“ Life evolves – that ’ s a given . Hence , I am learning to flow like the river in response , and be still as a mountain in reaction .” These are the words of Mr . Andrew Koh , one of our IB English and TOK teachers or , to refer to him more accurately , Dr . Andrew Koh . Earlier this year , Andrew qualified with a doctorate in Traditional Chinese Medicine , and his knowledge in this domain informs his views on a holistic approach to life .
“ At the core of Chinese culture and philosophy is the idea of yinyang 阴阳 and arising from that , the concept of he 合 , translated as ‘ harmony ’. He 合 is about integration . He 合 underscores how I live my life ; not , I must hasten to add , that I am ‘ successful ’ at it , but I try .” So how does this manifest in his everyday life ? “ Like a number of my colleagues , I read , watch movies , take walks , and socialise . My reading ranges from philosophy and spirituality to history and the sciences , and includes graphic novels like Wonder Woman , the Green Lantern , Dr . Strange and so on . My taste in movies and documentaries is similarly broad . The last documentary I viewed before writing this reflection was on the predatory methods of seahorses – fascinating creatures .”
One would imagine that a person with such a diverse array of interests , would wholeheartedly embrace the idea of balance in his life . The reality , however , is not so straightforward . Dr . Koh explains that , on the contrary , “ the idea of balance does not sit well with me . He 合 ( integration ) does and it is , I believe , the current that connects my work and my private life . Even writing about work and private life in the manner I just did , feels too compartmentalising , too fragmenting .” As is often the case , a superficial view of culture can lead us to form some mistaken assumptions about it , assumptions that Andrew is keen to challenge . Nevertheless , Andrew recognises that he looks to ideas and practices beyond Chinese culture when ruminating on the ideas of balance and wellbeing : “ I recently realised my need to revive two of my neglected practices : Vipassana meditation and taijiquan . Vipassana meditation is grounding and when done in a sustained manner , offers me insights into the emptiness ( Sanskrit : sunyata , Chinese : kong 空 ) of phenomena .”
Spend some time with Andrew and his breadth and depth of knowledge on this matter never fails to astound . In his mind , he connects these Buddhist philosophies to the modern discipline of psychology , and the mindfulness movement ’ s indebtedness to these ancient teachings . However , the connections do not end there , and Andrew elaborates , “ There is also much this method of meditation shares with the Christian ones , such as the monastic traditions of the Benedictines , Cistercians , Carthusians , of St John of the Cross ’ s Dark Night of the Soul , and most clearly for me , the reference to the prophet Elijah and the presence of God ( 1 Kings 19:11- 13 ). In the stillness of quiet sitting , one observes the movements of life .”
Returning to his interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine and related Chinese philosophies , Andrew ’ s eyes light up as he recalls his teenage years , the time he began his long journey of learning
in the internal martial art of taijiquan . For Andrew , this is a discipline which aims to condition the body and mind until one reaches a still point , and one which , in Andrew ’ s opinion , is “ constantly underestimated ” as “ its slowness belies its lethal application ”. It ’ s not long before Andrew is making those fascinating connections across religions and cultures again : “ I soon came to a deeper knowledge of the term , taiji 太极 . The practice of taijiquan allowed me to grasp the dying of a grain of wheat ( John 12:24 ), to comprehend that form is emptiness and emptiness form ( 色即是空 , 空即是色 . The Heart Sutra ), and to understand that changing , to use the gerund , is the only constant ( Bhagavad Gita ).”