anattā
“Anatta” is a term from the ancient Indian language Pāli, meaning “selflessness”. The concept of selflessness is a fundamental principle that runs throughout Buddhism. It is also one of the most unique and difficult concepts to comprehend in Buddhist teachings.
“Yi Sum”
The phrase “Yim Sum” refers to practicing Buddhism by relying on the mind. It signifies an attempt to understand our illusory mind, to explore what the so-called “self” truly is, and to gain insight into our true mind.
On this long spiritual journey, we begin by recognizing and managing our emotions. Gradually, we come to understand our mind, and ultimately, we gain insight into what we call the “self.”
Founders
Carina Lau – Founder, Course Designer & Tutor
Carina holds dual Master’s degrees in Philosophy and Buddhist Studies from the University of Hong Kong. She was the first officially appointed Buddhist chaplain in Hong Kong, serving at Queen Mary Hospital from 2011, where she provided compassionate care grounded in Buddhist principles to terminally ill patients, their families, and healthcare professionals.
In 2016, she began teaching emotional management courses and training Buddhist care practitioners in Hong Kong. After relocating to the UK in 2020, she established the Emotional Management Course, combining her deep knowledge of Buddhism and Traditional Chinese Medicine with over a decade of hands-on care and teaching experience.
As the founder, course designer, and lead tutor, she has created a unique curriculum tailored to modern emotional challenges. Her mission is to make the Buddha’s profound teachings on the mind accessible, practical, and transformative—offering timeless wisdom in a language and format suitable for today’s world.
Chris Tang – Chair
Chris holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and a Master’s degree in Philosophy from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. After graduation, he worked for a Fortune Global 500 company, specializing in environmental compliance—ensuring that consumer products met international eco-safety standards.
HIs journey took a transformative turn after encountering the teachings of Master Sheng Yen, particularly his concept of spiritual environmentalism. Deeply inspired, he shifted his focus from protecting the external environment to nurturing the internal environment of the heart—freeing it from the pollutants of greed, anger, and ignorance.
Now living a peaceful, minimalist lifestyle in the British countryside, he balances small-scale farming with his passion for promoting inner sustainability. Through his personal story and lived experience, he encourages others to return to their true nature and protect the inner oasis of the mind.
Agnes Wong–Communications Lead & Secretary
From a young age, Agnes was influenced by her grandfather, a farmer, who instilled in her a deep love and respect for nature. This passion led her to become one of the first 600 certified arborists in Hong Kong accredited by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), as well as a qualified ISA Tree Risk Assessor.
In Hong Kong, she served as a horticultural consultant for property developers and worked with the government’s Development Bureau on urban greening and tree management policies. She also contributed to several major infrastructure projects, including the Hong Kong International Airport and the M+ Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District.
Despite her professional achievements, she carried a lifelong fear of death and loss that prevented her from living freely. After encountering the anatta Emotional Management Course, she began to understand and transform her inner suffering. Now living with confidence and peace, she is committed to sharing what she has learned with others who may be struggling in similar ways.
Judy Yiow- Treasurer
Judy is a graduate of Ming Chuan University in Taiwan. In his younger years, she was driven by ambition and a strong desire to rise above the emotional difficulties of his childhood through hard work and personal success. After marriage, she ventured into business and eventually became a successful entrepreneur.
Yet, as her business flourished, she noticed a growing silence from her partner and an increasing emotional distance from her daughter. In search of answers, she turned to various paths—exploring self-help, spiritual teachings, and psychology—but continued to feel lost and unfulfilled.
It was through the teachings of Master Sheng Yen and the Buddhist path that she finally caught a glimpse of the root causes of her suffering: greed, anger, and delusion within herself. Years of deep inner work helped her realize that the pain she carried was never caused by others—it originated from within. Her personal journey of hardship and awakening taught her just how difficult—and how precious—it is to truly face, understand, and transform oneself.
Now, she is devoted to sharing this path with others, especially the elderly, in the hope that they too may find peace, clarity, and joy in their later years.