What happens when a former Special Forces operative turns his attention from confronting external threats to confronting the hardest enemy of all—the mind?
In this episode, Ven Drachom reflects on his experience in Singapore’s Special Forces, the meaning of responsibility, and his journey into Buddhist practice. He shares why the happiness we chase externally is temporary, how self-cherishing creates suffering, and why the ultimate goal isn't simply to feel peaceful but to develop clarity so we can do more for others.

✨ 3 Takeaways from Ven Drachom:

🧠 Your mind is your greatest resource
Rather than constantly looking outside ourselves for happiness and fulfilment, train the mind that shapes how we experience life.

🥋 Become a spiritual warrior
Being a spiritual warrior means turning inward to confront self-cherishing, attachment and the mental patterns that create suffering, rather than treating the outside world as the enemy.

🌱 Happiness is cultivated from within
External pleasures are temporary, but cultivating inner contentment allows us to experience a more stable sense of happiness that isn't entirely dependent on changing circumstances.

About the Speaker:
👤 Venerable Tenzin Drachom is a Singaporean Buddhist monk whose extraordinary life has taken him from the front lines of Singapore’s Special Forces to the path of spiritual practice. Before becoming a monk, Ven. Drachom spent 32 years in the Singapore Armed Forces as a Special Forces commando. He was part of the team that stormed Singapore Airlines Flight SQ117 during the 1991 hijacking, an operation that rescued all the hostages and was completed in just 30 seconds. He also underwent some of the military’s most demanding training, including the US Navy SEAL course, and served as an instructor who trained generations of officer cadets.

Yet behind this formidable military career was a lifelong connection to Buddhism. Raised in a Buddhist family, Ven. Drachom began practising in his teens and continued to deepen his practice throughout his years in the military. After retiring from the SAF in 2013, he travelled to Dharamsala, India, where he began his monastic journey. He was later ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and received the name Tenzin Drachom. Today, he draws on the same discipline, resilience and mental training that shaped his military career to cultivate wisdom, compassion and inner freedom, while sharing the Dhamma through teachings, meditation and retreats.


📄 Transcript: https://bit.ly/hol-ep-72


⏱Timestamps:

(00:00) He Went From Special Forces to Buddhist Monk
(00:42) The 30-Second Mission That Changed Everything
(02:03) What Are You Actually Here to Do?
(03:16) 3 Questions That Could Change Your Life
(04:00) Why Chasing Happiness Doesn't Work
(05:08) Your Mind Is More Precious Than Anything You Own
(05:44) The 3 Levels of Success Nobody Talks About
(08:11) The Real Enemy Isn't Outside You
(09:47) Why You Can't Stop Your Mind From Thinking
(13:25) How Self-Cherishing Creates Your Suffering
(15:10) Are You Trying Too Hard to Improve Yourself?
(18:42) What If Compassion Means More Than Helping?
(19:20) You Can Create New Karma
(20:00) The Goal Isn't Peace—It's Clarity

Resources:

Special thanks to our sponsors:
Mee Toh Foundation, Buddhist Youth Network, Lim Soon Kiat, Alvin Chan, Tan Key Seng, Soh Hwee Hoon, Geraldine Tay, Venerable You Guang, Wilson Ng, Diga, Joyce, Tan Jia Yee, Joanne, Suñña, Shuo Mei, Arif, Bernice, Wee Teck, Andrew Yam, Kan Rong Hui, Wei Li Quek, Shirley Shen, Ezra, Joanne Chan, Hsien Li Siaw, Gillian Ang, Wang Shiow Mei, Ong Chye Chye, Melvin, Yoke Kuen, Nai Kai Lee, Amelia Toh, Hannah Law, Shin Hui Chong, Dennis Lee, Kayliam, Darren

🙏 Sponsor us: https://handfulofleaves.life/support/

🎬 Editor: Azraf Mahir
✍️ Transcribers: Cheryl Cheah, Tan Si Jing, Ng Yah Tyng
🎨 Visuals & Sound: Anton Thorne, Tan Pei Shan, Ang You Shan

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