Bishan Youths

Study on the Human Revolution

• Slides on HR Vol. 1 & 2
• Notes on HR Vol. 1

Personal Development:

• Effective Communication

Please email to yvonnelaucc@gmail.com if you are not able to retrieve the files.

span >cocoon \kuh-KOON\ verb
: to wrap or envelop in or as if in a cocoon

Did you know?
Since at least 1679, English speakers have been using the noun "cocoon" for the silky covering that surrounds a caterpillar or other insect larva in the pupa stage of metamorphosis. The word came into English from French, which in turn borrowed it from an Occitan term for "eggshell." Linguists believe the Occitan term was probably born of the Latin "coccum," a noun that has been translated as "kermes," the dried bodies of some insects that can be found on certain trees. The verb “cocoon” has been with us since at least 1881.

The above explanation is courtesy of Merriam-Webster Dictionary. As the above suggests, a caterpillar goes through a metamorphosis stage, at which it is called 'cocoon', before it transforms itself into a beautiful butterfly. In similar sense, this youth fostering hope to transform each one of us, the Bishan zone youths, into a better & wiser person.

Carrying the metaphor further, we all know that a cocoon actually needs to undergo a painful struggle to break itself off from the shell in order to become a butterfly. (Much similar to Buddhism fundamental of "Discarding the transient and revealing the truth".) And we have heard of the story of how, a young boy tried to "help" the cocoon by assisting it to break open the shell. And the butterfly did got out from its shell, but dropped dead on the floor as soon as it tried to spread its wings to fly. The boy later learnt that the struggling process is actually an essential phase for the butterfly, to train its 'muscle' of its wings, so that when it finally breakaway from its shell, it is ready to take flight.

In similar sense, the senior leaders are all out ready to foster you (not just this program I am referring to, but various other platforms as well, like the Nationwide Youth Leaders Conference), by providing you with the shell (i.e. the nutrients for growth). Whether or not you will emerge as a flying butterfly utimately depends on whether you are willing to wage a struggle to break-free from your lesser self, to take initiative to seek.

In one of Sensei's guidance, he mentioned something to the extend that ultimately it is the disciple who decides who he choose to be his mentor and to follow this person. And if he fails to live out as a true disciple, it is in no way the fault of the mentor.

So, Bishan youths, are you ready to take flight and fight alongside our mentor?!

With this, I would like to propose this training course to be code-named "Cocoon'07".
(Not happy with this name? Counter-propose now!)