Frequently Asked Questions

What is WISE?

Wisdom Inspired Supportive Endeavour Selangor (WISE) is a non-profit society registered in Malaysia. Its mission is to guide anyone who is keen to find and realize the inner untapped potential wisdom within that leads to a joyful living with oneself and others in the midst of lifes' offerings. We give workshops, talks, retreats, seminars, and distribute publications, products, and other materials to disseminate right information and wise discourses, widely offering guidance and support.

How did WISE come about?

WISE began with the establishment of Clove&Clive in 2006 by a group of individuals who was dedicated to cultivating the mind and the nurturing of “being” here and now through conscious loving and conscious living. Every week, Clove&Clive hosts classes, workshops, seminars, talks and monthly retreats that transformed the lives of many. The enthusiasm of the participants with their own growth kept the center going since inception. Ten years after, WISE expanded the good work of Clove&Clive, and has a vision and funding structure to better serve the community of fellow practitioners. Since March 2023, in continuing with the same good work and growth for a retreat village, WISE is incorporated as a society for more opportunities of collaboration.

I am new, what courses shall I take first?

We have prepared a course roadmap as a guide for navigating your way through the different classes offered. Click here to find out more.

How is WISE being funded?

WISE's vision is to run retreats, workshops, and courses in line with its mission. With an initial seed funding contributed by supporters and members of the WISE foundation, most events in WISE are offered freely to participants — as sponsored events. WISE, as a charitable society, is able to continue sustaining its operations by receiving public donations.

Does WISE have a retreat center?

Yes, we have rented and renovated a 3-storey bungalow in Gasing Heights, Petaling Jaya where daylong, weekend, silent and self-practice retreats are held regularly. Named WISE Sanctuary, it is conducively located near a forest and in a quiet neighbourhood. For retreats that span longer periods or has large number of participants, we rent spaces in conducive and suitable environments within Malaysia.

In a nutshell, what does WISE hope to do?

Promote teachings for living with Wisdom and Awareness.
Inspiring liberating insights for awakening (to live as it is).
As its name imply, WISE was inspired by the collective wisdom of those who teach and learn this universal truth and who wishes to create a supportive environment for this endeavour to continue. Feed the wholesome mind and it shall prevail over the unwholesome mind as an eventual result — a wisdom that will serve well for all.

Does WISE subscribe to or align with any particular faith/religion?

The short answer is: No.

Each faith/religion has their own beautiful way of expressing the Way. The wisdom that was given in those ancient times must surely remain relevant to our present society as Truth or Reality is unchanged by time. 

The teachings offered at WISE are based primarily on the essence and wisdom of the Buddha’s teachings which can be realized for oneself. At the same time, WISE respects and adopts any faith or teaching that points toward the direction of developing transcendental wisdom, which upon right practice and investigation leads to a direct experiential proof of what is being pointed by the faith or teaching. Any teaching that can be directly realized and becomes an embodiment of wisdom in oneself is what WISE envisions in sharing and cultivating. It is such directly realized wisdom which can help to address the stresses in daily living in a more lasting and impactful manner. Mindfulness/awareness is the precursor towards this lofty goal of wisdom.

Making these practical teachings available, without the ritualistic beliefs surrounding such faiths, participants learn how to explore directly the principles behind the teachings and with right practice, this will translate itself to self-realization. This profound realization becomes a living wisdom which extends throughout the fundamental core of one’s being.

Some of the other great sages and teachers you may hear mentioned at WISE are Sayadaw U Tejaniya (a Vipassana teacher from Myanmar), Jesus (based on A Course in Miracles), Ramana Maharshi, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Lao Tzu in Tao Te Ching, St Francis of Assisi, Hui Neng (a Zen master from China), Rumi and Byron Katie, among others. We are always open to teachings which resonate with what we have realized for ourselves and are not limited by religious or other labels. 
As the teachers themselves are meditative practitioners of a particular faith, any invocation initiated is purely optional to the participants. 

The teachers may use or refer to ancient terms used by the wise so that participants can have an in-depth understanding of what those terms truly mean, but they will take into account participants who have no prior knowledge of those terms and will provide suitable English translations.

The teachers are more inclined to show the Way of what they have come to realize rather than to set up a separate thought system. Over the years, we have found that the effect of self-realization which comes from the practice will manifest itself as a greater appreciation of whatever faith each individual is already professing and a more compassionate acceptance of all faiths and people, hence promoting unity and oneness rather than separation. 

In summary, WISE does not impose any faith, belief or practice of any kind. Participants are constantly reminded and invited to question what they doubt or could not comprehend of the teachings they learn through WISE. 

No prior knowledge of any kind of faith is necessary on the part of participants. All that is required is an open and curious mind that is ready to explore, learn and realize for themselves the Realities behind the words of all the great sages and teachers who have appeared in our known history. Their teachings are their offering of understanding to let us realize for ourselves who we truly are beyond the façade of separation and egocentricity.