Assistant instructor in Taiwan:
"Working in Acem gives me energy"

Seven years ago, Joy Lu was sceptical about meditation. Now she is one of the driving forces in Acem Taiwan. In November 2004, she qualified to become an assistant instructor.

Joy Lu used to associate meditation with Buddhist nuns or monks, and with strange people seeking Taoist immortality. Her curiosity was aroused when she realised that Acem Meditation represented something quite different from what she had imagined, and she enrolled in a beginners' course.

The course lived up to Joy's expectations. She found the method to be down-to-earth and that it improved the quality of her daily life. She did not find it easy to meditate on a daily basis. Little by little, however, she experienced that increased well-being came out of her new habit. Her demanding evening classes after full-time work as supervisor in the Ministry of Finance in Taiwan were gradually made easier by surplus energy from her daily meditations. Joy decided to become a regular meditator.

"Acem caught my interest, especially the retreats. They made me realise new aspects of myself. Gradually, I felt the urge to give something back to Acem. The way Scandinavian instructors worked appealed to me. I decided to apply for the leadership training programme. It felt natural to contribute to Acem."

In November 2004, seven years after she learnt to meditate, Joy formally qualified as assistant instructor in Acem Meditation in Acem's centre in Taipei. The attending members listened attentively to Joy while she read her term paper, which compared Acem Meditation and Buddhist meditation techniques. Her presentation was followed by eager discussions. After an oral examination, Acem Taiwan could celebrate its third assistant instructor. Joy is highly capable, energetic and wins over the hearts of the course participants. She is also an effective organizer, and has been responsible for much of the administrative work in Acem Taiwan.

Joy has travelled to Scandinavian retreats twice, and completed part of her leadership training in Norway. She has assisted in several beginners' courses led by experienced instructors, and she has acquired more confidence in teaching Acem Meditation.

"I am not afraid of standing in front of audiences anymore. Actually, I find that I rather like it. The participants in the courses also seem to appreciate what I have to say.
What I really hope is that I can stimulate others to learn to meditate. I would like to move to Hsinchu, my home town, in some years time. Maybe I could start up an Acem branch there"

This year, she plans to arrange beginners' courses in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and, she says - not without pride - in her home town, Hsinchu.

Many sorts of work can make you tired. In contrast, Joy finds the work she does for Acem energizing. She says that she has lost her initial scepticism towards meditation, and she has come to appreciate the unpretentious attitude she has discovered in Acem. She gave Acem Meditation a chance, and it paid off, for Joy as well as for Acem meditators in Taiwan.