Speaker ﹕ Ven Zu Ren Date : Dec 2006 Organizer:

1. G challenges & • Speaker ﹕ Ven Zu Ren • Date : Dec 2006 • Organizer:

2. Ven Zu Ren’s short Biodata • He has a Ngee Ann Polytechnic (Singapore) Electronic Engineering Diploma （1988）Graduate. 1991-1992, • He was a Thai Thammayuttika Tradition monk at Wat Bovoranives Vihara, Bangkok, Thailand. 1993-2000, • He studied Buddhism in Chinese at Fu Yan Buddhist Institute（福嚴佛學院）, Taiwan and completed Elementary and Advanced Buddhist Studies Courses. • He has been teaching in Malaysia（Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Terengganu, Kuala Lumpur, N. Sembilan and Johor）, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Beijing, China and U.S.A. （New York City, New York State, New Jersey, Huston, Texas, Sunnyvale, California ）

3. Reality check • We have always assumed that each generation would be better off thanits predecessors. But young peopletoday have a lot more commitments and it is much more difficult for them to raise their incomes and generate wealth. Therefore they arefinancially worse offthan their parents when they were the same age . • This is a very big issue ( New Poverty or “Ipod” • generation—“Insecure, Pressured, Over-taxed • and Debt-ridden” ) for the many countries • around the world.

5. The " New Poverty " / Marginalized Middle Class: （1）the economic free-falling (without a parachute / safety net ) of individuals and countries who used to be affluent and who once dreamed that their affluence would go on forever. （2）people who lose their jobs when their company "downsizes" "shutdowns” or "outsource.” （3）the sense of surprise（poverty can hit so suddenly）and loss of faith in relationships, corporation and government. • Who are at risk of becoming “New Poverty” ? • People in their twenties to forties: （1）with skills, knowledge and experience easily replaced by someone in another part of theglobe or new technology or new way of doing things （Self Manufacture→ Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)→Original Design Manufacturer (ODM)）. （2）with overspending habits, poor saving and making bad investment decisions （FQ）, low EQ , low Social Intelligence/ people skill and unable or unwilling to learn new skills/ make positive changes in life. ，

7. Ipod Ggo Buddha’s Way